Sexual Assault Attorneys in Illinois: Your Complete Legal Guide
If you or someone you love has survived sexual assault in Illinois, this guide explains your legal rights, Illinois’s laws governing civil claims, and profiles five law firms that represent survivors across the state.
Introduction
Illinois is one of the most survivor-protective states in the country for civil sexual abuse lawsuits. In 2014, the state eliminated the civil statute of limitations entirely for childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2014. Survivors of abuse before that date also have substantial time under the existing framework. The state has no criminal statute of limitations for major sexual offenses against minors. Illinois’s Gender Violence Act provides an additional civil pathway for adult survivors. The result is a legal landscape where survivors have meaningful access to the courts even decades after the abuse occurred.
Illinois Sexual Assault Laws
Definitions and Criminal Offenses
Illinois’s sexual offense statutes are found primarily in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (720 ILCS), Chapter 11.
Criminal Sexual Assault (720 ILCS 5/11-1.20): Committing an act of sexual penetration by the use of force or threat of force, or when the victim is unable to understand the nature of the act or give knowing consent. Sexual penetration with a family member by force is also criminal sexual assault. Class 1 felony for first offense, punishable by 4 to 15 years.
Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault (720 ILCS 5/11-1.30): Sexual assault accompanied by aggravating factors such as use of a weapon, causing bodily harm, committing the act during another felony, or when the victim is 60 or older or a person with a physical disability. Class X felony, punishable by 6 to 30 years, with enhanced penalties up to natural life.
Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child (720 ILCS 5/11-1.40): An adult (17 or older) committing an act of sexual penetration with a victim under 13 years of age. Class X felony, minimum sentence 6 years, maximum 60 years.
Criminal Sexual Abuse (720 ILCS 5/11-1.50): Committing an act of sexual conduct by force or threat of force, or when the victim is unable to understand the nature of the act or is unable to give knowing consent. Also applies when the accused is under 17 and commits a sexual act with a victim between 9 and 17 years of age. Class 4 felony or Class A misdemeanor depending on the specific circumstances.
Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (720 ILCS 5/11-1.60): Sexual conduct with aggravating factors including victim’s age, use of force, or the offender being in a position of trust or supervision over the victim. Class 2 felony.
Illinois’s age of consent is 17. Sexual penetration or conduct by an adult with anyone under 17 is generally criminal under the above statutes. Teachers, coaches, clergy, and healthcare providers occupy positions of trust that elevate charges under the aggravated criminal sexual abuse statute.
Statutes of Limitations
Criminal SOL
Illinois has eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for the most serious sexual offenses against minors. Effective 2017, there is no SOL for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse when the victim was a minor at the time of the offense. For adult sexual assault victims, Illinois in 2019 abolished the criminal SOL for aggravated criminal sexual assault regardless of victim age. For sex offenses that retain an SOL, the general rule is 10 years from the date of the offense or the victim’s 18th birthday, whichever is later. DNA evidence exceptions allow prosecution within 10 years after identification of the offender’s DNA if committed before the SOL expired.
Civil SOL
Illinois has one of the most survivor-friendly civil SOL frameworks in the country.
Childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2014 (735 ILCS 5/13-202.2): There is no civil statute of limitations. Survivors may file a civil lawsuit at any time, with no deadline, provided the claim was not already time-barred before January 1, 2014.
Childhood sexual abuse occurring before January 1, 2014: Survivors have 20 years from the date they turn 18 (until their 38th birthday), OR 20 years from the date they discover the connection between the abuse and an injury or condition they suffer, whichever gives them more time.
Adult survivors (18 or older at time of abuse): Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, adult survivors generally have 2 years from the date of the assault to file a personal injury civil lawsuit. If the abuser is charged with a Class X felony, there may be no civil SOL. The Illinois Gender Violence Act (740 ILCS 82) provides an independent civil cause of action with a 7-year SOL for gender-related violence including sexual assault, coerced sexual acts, or gender-based violence, reaffirmed by 2024 legislative refinements. Survivors who have been through the criminal justice system or who have been silenced through intimidation may receive tolling of the SOL for the period of intimidation or pendency of criminal proceedings.
Institutional liability: Illinois law allows civil lawsuits against schools, churches, employers, organizations, and others that negligently failed to prevent or stop abuse. Institutional claims are pursued alongside or independently of claims against individual abusers.
Top 5 Sexual Assault Attorneys in Illinois
1. Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC
Phone: (312) 586-1700
Website: https://tpmblegal.com
Address: Chicago, Illinois
Attorneys: Robert A. Taxman, Steven Pollock, Brian Murray, Jeffery Bekkerman, and team
Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman is a Chicago firm with a dedicated sexual abuse practice that has secured over $500 million on behalf of clients. The firm handles sexual abuse and assault civil claims for survivors against individual abusers and institutions including schools, churches, and employers. Attorneys provide full legal support throughout each step of the case and keep client identities anonymous when desired. The firm represents clients, not insurance companies or corporations, with an exclusive commitment to plaintiff-side work. Board-certified trial attorneys. Free, 100 percent confidential consultations. Contingency fee basis.
2. The Mahoney Law Firm
Phone: (618) 961-8288
Website: https://themahoneylawfirm.com
Address: Serves statewide Illinois including Alton, Belleville, Chicago, Collinsville, Decatur, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Granite City, Highland Park, O’Fallon, Springfield, and Troy
Attorney: Ryan Mahoney
The Mahoney Law Firm focuses exclusively on sexual assault civil claims and Title IX cases in Illinois. The firm handles school sexual assault cases, hotel and travel sexual assault, workplace sexual assault, prison sexual assault, and clergy sexual assault, in addition to general civil claims against perpetrators and institutions. Illinois law provides no SOL for conviction-linked cases, and Mahoney noted that survivors facing convictions of their abusers have no civil deadline. The firm handles both civil claims and Title IX violation cases from a single practice. Free consultations. Contingency fee basis.
3. Spiros Law
Phone: (815) 929-9292 (Kankakee); (217) 328-2828 (Champaign); (217) 443-4343 (Danville); (217) 334-2344 (Charleston)
Website: https://www.spiroslaw.com
Address: Offices in Kankakee, Champaign, Danville, and Charleston, Illinois
Attorneys: James D. Spiros, Miranda L. Soucie, Danielle E. Cain, Alison D. Kimble
Spiros Law is a central and downstate Illinois firm with sexual assault and abuse practice serving survivors in workplace, institutional, school, university campus, and business-setting cases. The firm secured a $5,000,000 sexual assault settlement for a survivor and as part of the resolution obtained key policy changes at the client’s place of work to protect others in the future. Attorneys pursue civil claims against both the assailant and any institution that failed to maintain a safe environment. Free consultation. Bilingual: Spanish-language consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
4. Susan E. Loggans & Associates
Phone: See website
Website: https://logganslaw.com
Address: Chicago, Illinois
Attorney: Susan E. Loggans and team
Susan E. Loggans & Associates is a Chicago personal injury firm with an active sexual misconduct practice. The firm pursues civil claims against individual perpetrators and against organizations, businesses, and employers whose negligence or wrongful acts contributed to the abuse. Susan Loggans has extensive experience representing victims of wrongful sexual behavior and is recognized as a leading Chicago attorney. The firm handles cases involving churches, police misconduct, workplace harassment, and other institutional settings. Free consultations. Contingency fee basis.
5. Levy Konigsberg LLP
Phone: (800) 315-3806
Website: https://www.levylaw.com
Address: Chicago, Illinois (national firm)
Attorneys: National sexual abuse litigation team
Levy Konigsberg LLP is a national sexual abuse litigation firm with an Illinois practice focused on claims against institutions of trust including Catholic dioceses, prisons, schools, and juvenile detention centers. The firm has extensive experience litigating claims against individuals and entities across the country. Following the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report on Catholic diocese sexual abuse, the firm is active in representing survivors with claims against all six Illinois Roman Catholic dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Chicago. Works on contingency with no cost to hire and no fee unless the firm wins. Free case reviews at (800) 315-3806.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was abused as a child. Is there still a deadline for me to file a civil lawsuit in Illinois?
For abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2014, there is no deadline at all. For abuse before January 1, 2014, you generally have until your 38th birthday or 20 years after discovering the connection between the abuse and an injury or condition you suffer, whichever is later. If your deadline appeared to have passed under an older version of the law, you may still have a valid claim. Consult an attorney to evaluate your situation.
I was sexually assaulted as an adult. Can I still file a civil lawsuit?
Yes. Adult survivors generally have 2 years from the date of the assault to file a personal injury lawsuit. The Gender Violence Act, however, provides an independent civil cause of action with a 7-year deadline for gender-related violence. If your assailant was charged with a Class X felony, there may be no civil deadline at all. A criminal conviction is not required to bring a civil claim.
Can I sue the institution where the abuse occurred?
Yes. Illinois law allows civil claims against schools, churches, employers, organizations, and any other institution that was negligent in failing to prevent or stop the abuse. Institutional defendants often carry insurance that provides meaningful compensation to survivors even when the individual abuser has no assets.
What is the Illinois Gender Violence Act?
The Illinois Gender Violence Act (740 ILCS 82) provides a separate civil cause of action for survivors of gender-related violence, including sexual assault, coerced sexual acts, and other gender-based violence. The 2024 legislative refinements reaffirmed a 7-year filing window under this Act. It applies to adult and childhood survivors and can provide an alternative or additional pathway for civil recovery beyond the standard personal injury claims.
Closing
Illinois’s elimination of the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse makes it one of the most survivor-accessible states in the country. All firms listed above offer free, confidential consultations and handle cases on a contingency fee basis.
For immediate crisis support, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) hotline is 1-888-293-2080. The Illinois Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services division can be reached at 1-800-228-3368.