Though she focuses her practice on serving people throughout Illinois, Judy L. Cates is a lawyer with nationwide trial experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in virtually all areas of complex civil litigation. Mrs. Cates also acts as an independent mediator for parties seeking to resolve litigation through the ADR process. Judy Cates received her B.A. in Government from Cornell University and her J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1977.

Mrs. Cates is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Missouri and Florida. She is a member of the Illinois Bar, Florida Bar, Missouri Bar, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Mrs. Cates is a former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

In 2008, she was selected to be a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 lawyers. Mrs. Cates was also honored as one of the Top Illinois Lawyers for 2007, 2008 & 2009; is listed in Cambridge Who's Who, 2007-2008; and the Presidential Who's Who Among Business and Professional Achievers. As a result of a class action brought on behalf of physicians, Mrs. Cates was named a Kentucky Colonel in 2002.

Currently, Judy is an adjunct professor at both Washington University School of Law and St. Louis University School of Law.