Paying Tribute to Retiring PSLS Leadership

After more than 45 years of leadership at PSLS, Dave Wolowitz will retire from his post as Associate Director on May 31. Dave is the only employee still with PSLS who was here when we opened our doors on October 1,1977! Our staff, clients, and organization have benefitted tremendously from his work. He’s not only a great attorney and leader, but a friend to many at PSLS. Dave’s guidance, advice, and time at PSLS have been a true gift.

Dave began his career at PSLS as Managing Attorney of our then Geneva office and was promoted to Deputy Director of Litigation, then Director of Special Projects, and finally serving as our Associate Director for the past 15 years. Over his career, Dave has been a key player in PSLS’ fair housing, education, consumer law, and tax law practice areas, to name just a few of his areas of expertise.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed over many years to an amazing law firm with such highly committed and talented lawyers, a team of knowledgeable and effective directors and managers, and a great support staff that has made PSLS a premier place to practice law and serve our communities,” Dave said.

“I have been so proud of the lives we have changed with an emphasis on high-quality legal services throughout our history; of this organization’s accomplishments and growth through funding initiatives successfully won and maintained; of our advancements in technology; of the team approach to management that I have enjoyed; and of the many training and development opportunities that have helped employees thrive in their work and advance in their careers,” Dave concluded.

Dave has had a remarkable career at PSLS that greatly influenced a generation of lawyers and left an indelible mark on the civil legal aid world. Thank you, Dave!

Linda Rothnagel has been PSLS' Director of Advocacy Training since January 2008. In that role, Linda has been responsible for new employee orientation for all of PSLS' offices across 36 counties, coordinating PSLS' MCLE program for staff and volunteers, and supporting PSLS' attorneys on other training and with client cases.

Before serving in this role, Linda was the Managing Attorney for PSLS' Waukegan office for 22 years and the Ottawa office for two years. Linda has a long list of accomplishments, and her efforts set a standard of excellence at PSLS.

“It has been the privilege of my life to have worked for more than 40 years with our dedicated staff and leadership and our incredible clients,” Linda said. “I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to try to make our communities more just and equitable places in which to live and work.”

Thank you, Linda! We will work to continue and build on Linda’s training legacy. We wish her the very best in her next chapter! Linda’s last day with PSLS is June 2.

We have learned so much from Dave and Linda and feel privileged to have worked with them. They are indeed the best of the best.