Daniel A. Kirk

Dan Kirk accepts the award from event co-chair
Pauline Levy.

Throughout his legal career, Daniel Kirk has served the public good with dedication, compassion and competence. In 1997, Dan began his career in the Cook County State Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney and served for almost five years. After a successful stint in private practice, Dan rejoined the State’s Attorney’s Office as Chief of Staff for Anita Alvarez when she became Cook County State’s Attorney in 2008. According to Alvarez, she asked him to be her Chief of Staff because, as an Assistant State’s Attorney, “Dan was conscientious in his work, respectful of law enforcement partners and showed an understanding that the work he was doing contributed to a larger agenda of upholding public safety.”

Outside of the State’s Attorney’s Office, Dan is no less committed to dedicating his time, energy and resources to his community. One of the organizations where Dan is involved is Teen Living Programs, an organization that assists thousands of homeless teens in Chicago. Teen Living’s Executive Director notes that “Mr. Kirk has served as a generous supporter, enthusiastic volunteer and staunch advocate for our agency.” Dan also is recognized as a community leader, reflected by the fact that he was selected as one of 35 participants in this year’s prestigious Fellows Program for Leadership Greater Chicago. Dan also finds time to contribute to the organized bar. Dan is an active member of The Chicago Bar Association, where he serves on the Executive Board for the Judicial Evaluation Committee and will join the CBA’s Board of Managers this year.

One of Dan’s colleagues aptly described Dan as follows: “[Dan] did not just talk about what it meant to be a true public servant; he got in the trenches, excelled in his work and inspired others to do the same.”