Isuf Kola is the senior attorney and founding member of Kola & Associates, Ltd. He has been practicing law since 1992. Attorney Kola received his Bachelor’s degree from Loyola University where he graduated Cum Laude. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree Attorney Kola attended Chicago-Kent School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1992.
Mr. Kola began his career in law as a clerk with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where he was assigned in both the Felony and Juvenile Divisions. He then worked for a prominent Personal Injury firm where he obtain great insight and knowledge in the area of Personal Injury. From this position Attorney was chosen to Represent multi-billionaire George Soros in one of his projects overseas, namely the Open Society Foundation in Albania. Here he acted as legal counsel for the Foundation’s in Albania.
Upon returning to the United States Attorney Kola immediately was appointed as an Assistant State’s Attorney in DuPage County. Here he quickly moved up the ranks and was eventually assigned to the Felony Trial Division where he spent most of his time while working as an Assistant State’s Attorney.
While at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office attorney Kola was assigned to variety of specialized units within the office and worked on a variety of complex cases. Mr. Kola was assigned to prosecute drug cases, violent crimes, sex offenses and financial crimes. As an Assistant State’s Attorney he work hand and in with various police agencies in investigating cases ranging from Murder, to drug offenses to predatory criminal sexual abuse cases. He at one point was assigned to a specialized Narcotics Unit that handled and prosecuted serious drug offenders.
Since leaving the State’s Attorneys Office in October of 1999, Mr. Kola brought his knowledge, background and experience into his private practice. Mr. Kola is well known and well respected in his trial skills and his knowledge of case laws. He has expanded his practice to incorporate a variety of areas, most notably immigration and criminal law. Mr. Kola uses his extensive knowledge of criminal law and prosecution to help clients facing immigration issues as a result of a criminal background.
This unique combination of a criminal prosecution background and a well versed knowledge of immigration issues has led Mr. Kola to be a leader in the area of vacating prior convictions which have dramatic immigration consequences. Mr. Kola has successfully reopened vacated convictions thus stopping client’s from getting deported. He has managed to vacate some convictions as old as 20 years old.
In addition to this Mr. Kola not only admitted to the State Bar, as most lawyers are, he is admitted to the following Courts:
- United States Supreme Court
- Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar.
- S. Court of Appeals – 2nd Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals – 5th Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals – 6th Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals – 7th Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals – 9th Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals – 11th Circuit
- Federal Tax Court
Education
- Chicago-Kent School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- Juris Doctorate 1992
- Loyola University of School
- Bachelors Degree 1989