Jeffery M. Leving

Jeffery M. Leving (b. 1951, Chicago, Illinois) is an American lawyer who specializes in Matrimonial and Family Law.

He is perhaps best known for his work in the early stages of the Elian Gonzalez federal case. Leving was asked to represent Manuel Gonzalez, at Juan Miguel’s request, to be designated as Elian’s caregiver.

Early life

Leving grew up on the South Side of Chicago. His father was a tailor and bartender. Without higher education, Leving watched his parents struggle financially. This motivated him to rise above a potentially limited future.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Communications with a focus on radio and television from Southern Illinois University in 1974. While there he was an avid lover of the arts.

After two years of searching for the job he wanted in the media and entertainment industry, he made the decision to go to law school. As Leving says, he “looked at law as a way to better myself.”

He then went on to pursue a law degree at IIT-Kent College of Law. There he received his Juris Doctor in 1979. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi Fraternity.

Legal Practice

Right after law school, Leving took a job as a federal tax law editor for Commerce Clearing House. A year later, he accepted a job as a staff attorney for the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation.

After time, Leving realized a pattern in the family law system that he describes as being "very gender biased" and felt he found the void he needed to fill.It was because of this realization that Leving founded his firm in 1981 and it is one of the only firms in the country to focus almost exclusively on men’s issues (Fathers' rights movement). He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Leving’s past experience includes co-authorship of the Illinois Joint Custody Law, [cite book |title=Yearbook of Experts, Authorities & Spokespersons, Vol XXV, No II |last=Davis |first=Mitchell P. |coauthors=Robert A. Devaney, Randy Manos |year=2006 |publisher=Broadcast Interview Source, Inc |isbn=9780934333535 |pages=p. 387 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=i5lFu9IDQcAC&pg=PA387&dq=%22Jeffery+M.+Leving%22&num=100&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U2vibLhTfPR3ny492moGLh4uz3WRA |accessdate=2008-09-17] and testimony before both branches of the Illinois Legislature on Joint Custody, Grandparent’s Visitation and Child Support Accountability bills. He has lectured locally and nationally on family law issues.

Writing

He is the author of two groundbreaking books. "Fathers' Rights"(Basic Books), published in 1997, presents hard-hitting and fair advice for every father involved in a custody dispute. [cite book |title=Mis queridos hijos |last=Subercaseaux |first=Bernardo |year=2004 |publisher=Lom Ediciones |isbn=9789562824521 |pages=p. 10 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vhVoeoT25S0C&pg=PA10&dq=%22Jeffery+M.+Leving%22&num=100&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U0SfG2NhlJDG_yn7_QsqzWeL29b1Q |accessdate=2008-09-17] Leving’s most recent book, "Divorce Wars"(Harper Collins) is a field guide to the winning tactics, preemptive strikes, and top maneuvers when divorce gets ugly.

Leving is also the publisher of Leving’s Divorce Magazine, an innovative new magazine for divorced men that focuses on parenting and men’s legal issues.

Extra Information

In his spare time, Leving likes to paint and read items not pertaining to law. Leving’s favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate and he enjoys the movie The Godfather. His mentor, throughout his life, has been his father. As Leving says, "He was poor, but contrary to popular belief, you don’t always have to be rich to be a good parent."

References

External links

*http://www.dadsrights.com/