Strategic litigator. Innovative bar leader. Technical legal writer.
Currently, Leilani Ana-Maria Pino is the sole in-house counsel for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. She is known for her thoughtful advocacy, meticulous legal analysis, and client-centered approach. As a first-generation Cuban American attorney, she brings a deep appreciation for her community and is dedicated to expanding access to resources and opportunities to the underrepresented. Her work reflects a dedication to professionalism, integrity, and advancing justice.
Bar Admissions
- Illinois (2011)
- U.S. District Court N.D. Ill., General & Trial Bar (2012)
- U.S. Supreme Court (2017)
- Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2020)
Education
Juris Doctor
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
May 2011
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & History, Cum Laude
Florida International University
May 2007
Professional Experience
Senior Legal Counsel (General Counsel)
Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office April 2022–Present- Chief legal advisor in all matters related to the statutory authority and execution of the appointed Medical Examiner including compliance, state and federal litigation, and administrative law. Provides legal guidance to executive leadership and county officials on complex legal and policy matters.
Adjunct Professor
Loyola University Chicago, School of Law July 2021–PresentAssistant State’s Attorney, Municipal Litigation
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office May 2019–April 2022Managing Attorney
Trunkett & Trunkett P.C. March 2012–May 2019Criminal Defense Attorney
Solis Law Firm November 2011–March 2012Affiliations & Leadership
- Illinois State Bar Association Government Lawyers Committee Chair (2025–Present); Vice Chair (2024); Secretary (2023)
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Board of Director (2023–Present); CLE Chair (2025–Present); Newsletter Editor (2023–Present)
- Editorial Board Member, Illinois Bar Journal 2025–Present
- Loyola University Chicago, School of Law Appointed Member, Dean’s Diversity Committee (2022–Present)
- Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois Judicial Evaluations Chair (2020–2022)
Publications
- “Demystifying Public Records,” Illinois Bar Journal (Fall 2025)
- “Improvements in the Modern Home Healthcare Industry: Responses to Nursing Shortages & New Technological Advancements,” 19 Annals of Health Law 176 (Spring 2010)
- “In the Courts: Recent Decisions Attempt to Balance the State’s Best Interest of Children and the Fundamental Rights of Parents,” 30 Child. Legal Rights Journal 74 (Summer 2010)
Speaking Engagements
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois “Protecting the Ballot: What would the SAVE Act mean in Illinois?”
- Illinois State Bar Association “FOIA Overview and Compliance Tips”
- Illinois Coroners & Medical Examiners Association “Identifying Natural Causes and the Disposition of Remains Act”
- Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program “Best Practices: Testimony for Medical Examiners”