Tracey L. Harkins

Tracey L. Harkins is the co-founder and managing partner of Prusak & Harkins, LLC in Chicago. She represents people facing criminal defense charges, with an emphasis on major crimes litigation involving first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated or predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated child abuse, drug cases, and weapons offenses. She represents parents and caregivers in child welfare matters involving abuse or neglect allegations and agency proceedings.

Tracey attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, where her activities included the Constitutional Law Society, Women in Law Society, Student Bar Association, and National Trial Advocacy Team. She received Dean’s Honor List recognition and a CALI Award for Trial Advocacy II. Her legal education and advocacy training support a practice built around courtroom preparation, motion practice, factual investigation, and defense strategy in serious criminal and child welfare cases.

Tracey has defended clients in major felony cases resulting in not-guilty findings, jury acquittals, pretrial dismissals, and successful suppression motions. Her representative matters include murder, attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a weapon, and aggravated sexual abuse charges. In child welfare matters, she works with parents and caregivers facing allegations from government agencies and focuses on preserving family relationships and seeking reunification when children have been removed.

Tracey L. Harkins served as President of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 2024 to 2025 and continues as immediate past president. She currently serves as president of the Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association of Illinois and belongs to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Illinois State Bar Association. Her practice combines major-crimes defense, leadership in the criminal defense bar, and focused advocacy in high-stakes criminal and child welfare proceedings.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Partner, Prusak and Harkins, LLC
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association
• President and Immediate Past President, Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2024-2025)
• President, Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association of Illinois
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Licensed State

• Illinois

Education

• Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
  Juris Doctor (JD)

• DePaul University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges