About Sami Anderson

When you consider that most legal issues are life changing, it is important to work with an attorney who provides total client support and keeps you informed every step of the way.

It is essential to provide clients with service that makes them feel supported through the difficult process of divorce.

Once you have arrived at the decision to divorce, you have to decide how you will divorce. Courts do their best to resolve issues between parties, but only you and your spouse are in the best position to know what your family's needs are. I work with my clients to identify their goals and to develop a strategy to accomplish those goals. Divorce is tough but it does not have to leave your family devastated. By helping you stay focused on your goals you can achieve a result that will leave you ready for the next phase of your life.

Professional memberships

• Illinois State Bar Association
• Champaign County Family Law Bar (2008 - present)

Biography

Sami Anderson’s legal career began in 2000 when she interned for a local Champaign attorney. At the end of her internship, she continued on in the same office as a legal assistant with the purpose of obtaining experience and to determine, based on that experience, if a career as an attorney would be the natural progression. In 2004, Sami enrolled at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and made the move to Grand Rapids, Michigan. This move was a big step as Champaign had been her home since 1994.

In March of 2005, Sami married Garrett Anderson, a native of Bellflower, Illinois while he was home on leave. In May of 2005, Garrett deployed to Iraq. Sami felt that Cooley was a good fit for her situation as the class schedule permitted course work throughout the year. Garrett was scheduled for an 18-month deployment and Sami anticipated graduating in December of 2006, 7 months after Garrett’s return to the United States.

In October of 2005, during Sami’s second year of law school, she was notified that her husband had been severely wounded in action. The day after being notified, Sami traveled to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where she met the helicopter that transported Garrett to the hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, Sami was advised that Garrett would require at least one year of hospitalization at Walter Reed. In the span of only days, Sami had to make the decision of whether or not to return to her Fall semester of classes or whether to withdraw from the semester that she was already half-way through. The decision was an easy one. Cooley advised her that she would be granted only one semester of leave but she was expected to return in January of 2006 or she risked having to start the program over.

By chance Sami was introduced to a volunteer at Walter Reed who was a retired administrative law judge for the Department of Veterans Affairs. During their conversation the judge inquired into whether she intended to return to law school in January. Sami advised him that she intended to remain with her husband through the conclusion of his treatment and that caregiving and working for the same Champaign attorney was consuming most of her time. A few days later, the same judge approached Sami and said that a seat had been secured for her Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington University. Cooley, who had a “no visiting student policy”, by some miracle granted Sam a visiting student status for the Spring 2006 semester.

In January of 2006, Sami began a full course load at Columbus School of Law. Sami, in addition to course work, continued to participate in Garrett’s recovery and work.

In May of 2006, Sami and Garrett returned to Champaign. Sami began the Summer 2006 semester at Cooley as requested. Sami made weekly trips to Michigan to attend full-time classes and continued to clerk for the same attorney 32 hours each week. In the Fall of 2006, Sami, Garrett and their daughter, Skyler, born August 19, 2006, traveled each weekend to Michigan so Sam could attend classes on the weekend and worked in Champaign full-time as a law clerk for school credit.

In May of 2007, Sami graduated with her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. She sat for the bar that Summer and was sworn in as an attorney in November of 2007.

Sami continued to work for the same Champaign attorney through March of 2008, and in June of 2008, she opened a practice. To date, Sami remains in that same practice.

Based on her own experiences with securing Garrett’s VA benefits, Sami has provided legal services to other injured veterans, on a pro bono, bases, and has successfully secured both disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security Disability.

In 2008, Sami started a program, Wills for Soldiers, and provided legal assistance in the preparation of Wills and Powers of Attorney for soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan on a pro bono basis.

In an effort to provide continued support for families and soldiers, Sami became the Family Readiness Group Leader for the Illinois National Guard for the year long deployment, 2008-2009, deployment to Afghanistan.

Both Sami and Garrett are dedicated to serving in their communities and helping others.

Since becoming licensed to practice law in November of 2007, Sami has provided pro bono legal services in more than 40 cases.

Sami was a participant in a round-table discussion regarding predatory lending issues facing Guard Members and Veterans with Holly Patraeus, Office of Servicemember Affairs, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Spring 2011)

Sami has been a speaker on Veterans issues and pro bono services at Continuing Legal Education courses.

In 2009, Sami received the Minuteman Award, the highest civilian award granted by the National Guard for volunteer service.

Sami was recognized in the November 2011 Illinois Bar Journal “Serving Those Who Serve” for pro bono work relating to service members.

In 2015, Sami was named the Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow for Illinois.

Sami continues to speak across the State and nationally advocating on behalf of Veterans and their families.

Sami resides in Champaign County with Garrett and their two daughters, Skyler and Alex.

Practice Areas

• Family Law
• Divorce
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Parental Responsibilities: Decision Making and Parenting Time
• Child Support
• Maintenance
• Child Support Modification and Enforcement
• Paternity

Admission Details

• Admitted in 2007, Illinois

Credit Cards Accepted

Law School Attended

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D.

University Attended

• Illinois State University, B.S. in Criminal Justice
• Parkland College