University of Illinois College of Law

About

Professor Fessler received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and his JD and LLM degrees from the UIC College of Law (formerly the John Marshall Law School).  He clerked for Chief Justice Thomas J. Moran of the Illinois Supreme Court following law school graduation.  He then practiced law in Chicago law firms for 26 years before moving in-house as general counsel for 5 years. He specialized in appellate advocacy – presenting arguments in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Supreme Court and all 5 Districts of the Illinois Appellate Court. He also specialized in commercial litigation, local government law, insurance coverage and real estate law, and served as an Administrative Hearing Officer in Will County and Chicago area municipalities.

Long active in University affairs, Professor Fessler has served as a Member of the University of Illinois Foundation, Alumni Association Board of Directors, University Library Board of Advocates, Student Affairs Advisory Committee, and Urbana-Champaign Campus Alumni Advisory Board, among others; and as an Alumni Coach for the Illinois Leadership Institute’s Imprint Program. He is a recipient of the University of Illinois Foundation’s “William E. Winter Award” for outstanding advocacy leadership, the Alumni Association’s “Lou Liay Spirit Award” for extraordinary service to the University, as well as the Alumni Association’s “Loyalty Award.”

Education

BA, University of Illinois
JD & LLM, UIC College of Law (formerly the John Marshall Law School)