Kent Dean received his J.D. from Chicago’s prestigious DePaul Law School
Kent Dean received his B.A. in political science from Illinois State University and his J.D. from Chicago’s prestigious DePaul Law School. He has been practicing in Illinois since 1999.
Mr. Dean is a former Assistant Public Defender who served in the felony division at 26th and California and throughout Cook County. He has dedicated his career to defending individuals from the heavy hand of the State and police. He has tried hundreds of cases, has extensive felony jury trial experience and boasts a winning track record.
In his private practice, he is one of the few private attorneys in the state of Illinois who represents parents, foster parents and children in matters involving the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). In addition, as a member of the Cook County Bar Association’s Juvenile Bar Attorney Program, he is appointed by the courts to represent the interests of numerous children as guardian ad litem.
As an advocate for parents and children, Mr. Dean supports efforts to provide people being investigated by DCFS with a so-called “DuPuy warning,” an equivalent to “Miranda Rights”. Mr. Dean has successfully guided numerous DCFS investigations away from protective custody, family separation and court involvement and has helped secure the return home of numerous children following DCFS intervention.
A Leader In His Field
Recognized as a leader in his field, Kent Dean was recently elected Vice Chairman of the Juvenile Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). In his role, Dean will help provide a forum for Chicagoland attorneys practicing juvenile law to learn about developments in the field and to exchange best practices.
In addition to serving as Vice Chairman of the CBA’s Juvenile Law Committee, Dean is a highly sought-after expert. He has appeared on ABC 7, Univision and WGN TV and has been quoted in publications such as the National Law Journal, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Defender, the Daily Southtown, the Chicago Reporter, Chicago Lawyer, the Daily Herald and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
