Background
Valerie A. Letko is an Attorney at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC. Valerie primarily focuses her practice on cases involving sexual and interpersonal violence and abuse, most often where children were harmed by serial predators. She represents victims of sexual abuse throughout the country in cases against religious institutions, scouting organizations, and schools. She also represents plaintiffs who have been injured in premises liability accidents, trucking accidents and construction and workplace accidents, in addition to cases resulting from defective products.
In the fall of 2023, Valerie started a role as an Adjunct Professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, her alma mater.
Valerie graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 2016 with a B.A. in Political Science. In 2021, she graduated magna cum laude with her Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law. At law school, she was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Chicago-Kent Bar and Gavel Society. She was captain of the Trial Advocacy Team and the National Trial Competition Regional Champion in Spring 2021, earning the Best Advocate in the Midwest Award in Fall 2020.
During law school, she was a Law Clerk at the Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. Prior to law school, Valerie was employed as a private investigator, which was instrumental in inspiring her commitment to digging to find the truth and bringing justice to those who deserve it.
In her free time, she enjoys coaching the Chicago-Kent Trial Advocacy Team and spending time with her family fishing, cooking, and relaxing together.
Experience
Practice Areas
Education & Certifications
- J.D., magna cum laude, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2021
- B.A., summa cum laude, Political Science, University of South Carolina, 2016
Awards & Recognition
- Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Member
- Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Member
- Women's Bar Association of Illinois, Member
- South Carolina Bar, Member
- CALI Excellence for the Future Awards, Chicago-Kent College of Law
- Legal Writing IV, 2020
- Criminal Procedure, 2019
- Trial Advocacy II, 2019
- Trial Advocacy I, 2019
- Legal Writing I, 2018
- Team Coach, Kent Law Trial Team
Legal Activities & Leadership
- Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Member
- South Carolina Bar, Member
- Chicago-Kent College of Law,
- Trial Advocacy Team Coach, 2021-present
- Trial Advocacy Team Captain, 2021
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Illinois, 2021
- South Carolina, 2021