Katie Liss

photo of Katie Liss

  • BA in Psychology with minors in Sociology of Law; Criminology (2002)
  • JD from DePaul University College of Law (2006)
  • director, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center; advisor, DePaul University College of Law
  • member of Miami University's Pre-Law Alumni Advisory Board
  • member, Chicago Bar Association Board of Directors and Chicago Bar Foundation Board of Managers; past chair, Chicago Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section; founder/past chair, the Chicago Bar Association's Human Trafficking Committee

My Profession

"I am the Director of the Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center and a law student advisor at DePaul University College of Law. In my position, I teach our students about relevant and new family law topics by including attorneys, mediators, and judges as guest speakers as well as host networking events for students to meet with family law practitioners. In addition, I work with all of our family law students in career counseling, internships, externships, and eventual placement in jobs. I also work with our students on family related volunteer opportunities within our community.

"Prior to my current position, I practiced solely in family law for over 10 years in the Chicagoland area. As a practitioner, I handled divorces, paternity matters, adoptions, orders of protection, mediations, and served as a court appointed child representative and guardian ad litem in Cook County.

"Additionally, I am actively involved with Miami's Pre-Law Alumni Advisory Board. This wonderful board meets twice a year and engages with students in the Pre-law Program. By being on this board, I have had the pleasure of serving as a mentor to three Miami pre-law students and have met several more Miami pre-law students."

My Miami Experiences

"I started my freshman year as a pre-med student and soon thereafter realized I wanted to go a different path. I changed my major to psychology and never looked back! Learning about the dynamics of the human psyche and exploring different cultures as well various social interactions within a society really appealed to me. My courses challenged me to think and analyze differently.

"Additionally, studying abroad at Miami's campus in Luxembourg was an amazing experience — the friendships I made there are still strong today, and the places we got to see as well as the cultures we experienced are unforgettable. Also, I lived with the local town baker, which was really charming!"

Miami and the Liberal Arts

"My liberal arts education at Miami allowed me to explore various areas of learning and helped me understand things from a different lens. I definitely appreciated the lessons I learned and the people I met during an internship at the Hamilton County Juvenile Probation Division, working as research assistant to a biopsychology doctorate student, volunteering at Oxford's Crisis Center, and studying anthropology for a summer in Brazil. Each of these experiences, the courses I took, and the friends and colleagues I met along the way taught me immeasurable life lessons."

Advice to Students

"I strongly believe in the power of networking. Making connections allows you to grow both as an individual and within your profession. Once you determine what path you want to take and what you want to do, start strategically building your network. Also, find the programs and professors at Miami that can help you explore and achieve your goals.

"For those students with any interest in the law, sign up for Miami's pre-law program — director Maria Vitullo and advisor Elizabeth Zimmerman run a phenomenal program, and they will definitely help connecting you to prominent attorneys and preparing your for law school!"

[October 2019]