Faculty and Administration Profiles

Lisa Jacobs

About

Lisa Jacobs is Associate Director of the Legislation and Policy Clinic at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where, under the supervision of Clinic faculty, students study the legislative process and participate in policy and legislative development, analysis, advocacy, and implementation.  She serves as an affiliated faculty member with Loyola’s Center for Criminal Justice Research, Policy and Practice, which seeks to advance fair, humane, and effective criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice. Lisa also provides subject matter expertise and technical assistance to jurisdictions working to improve the outcomes of youth and young adults “dually involved” in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Previously, she served as Program Manager for the Illinois Models for Change Initiative, which was funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to promote effective juvenile justice policy, practice, and programming in diverse jurisdictions across the state and nation. Before coming to Loyola, Lisa was Director of Judicial Education for the Illinois Supreme Court, with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. During her tenure with the AOIC, she assisted in implementing the Supreme Court’s Evidence-Based Practice initiatives in criminal and juvenile cases.

Lisa serves as Vice Chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, which is charged with advising the Governor, General Assembly, and other stakeholders on matters of juvenile justice law and policy. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, which champions the safety, health, and success of Illinois’ children, youth, and families by acting as a policy advocate and by connecting and strengthening the organizations that serve them. She is also a member of the Illinois Court Improvement Project Advisory Committee, convened by the Illinois Supreme Court to promote the continuous quality improvement of court proceedings in child welfare proceedings and is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts.  In January 2024, Lisa was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Judicial Conference, which is convened pursuant to the Illinois Constitution “to consider the work of the courts, to suggest improvements in the administration of justice, and to make recommendations for the improvement of the courts.”

Degrees

BA, University of South Dakota, 1992
JD, DePaul University College of Law, 1995

Program Areas

Criminal Justice Research, Policy, and Practice
Juvenile Justice Research, Policy, and Practice
Dual Status Youth