Ariel Valdes: An Ambassador for Justice
As Greater Chicago Legal Clinic honors Ariel Valdes for his 30 years of contribution to legal advocacy and the Clinic, we sat down with Valdes to learn more about his career and time at GCLC.
Ariel Valdes, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic’s Director of Operations, is this year’s recipient of the Ambassador for Justice Award. The Award comes as Valdes also celebrates his 30th anniversary as an attorney — and working for the Clinic. As GCLC has grown and evolved, undergoing name changes and office moves, Valdes has been a consistent, dedicated, and essential member of the staff and leadership team. We are pleased to honor him and celebrate his 30+ years of service to the greater Chicagoland community.
A page from the Clinic’s 1992-1993 Annual Report highlighting Valdes work in the Pilsen office
Valdes’ career at the Clinic began as a paralegal during his three summers of law school. He worked in what used to be GCLC’s Pilsen office, which happened to be located in the same building he attended grade school. Upon graduating from Northern Illinois University College of Law, Valdes returned as a full-time attorney. For many years, Valdes worked as a general practice lawyer on issues including immigration, domestic violence, adoption, and DUIs.
Reflecting on his years at the Clinic, Valdes recalled a case early in his career that continues to motivate his law practice. The police had arrested Valdes’ client on charges of driving under the influence, but the defendant argued he was never intoxicated. Valdes proved that the primary evidence against his client, a blood alcohol content test, was falsified. His client was innocent. “That case was especially rewarding because the client was under an immigration proceeding. A different outcome could have significantly affected his immigration status,” said Valdes. “It was one of those cases you really remember, that fuels my passion for legal aid and commitment to my clients and community members.”
Over the course of his broad career, he has especially enjoyed adoption and family unification cases. He enjoys bringing “happiness, and the joy associated with bringing or keeping families together.” Since the early 2000s, his law practice has focused on foreclosure and real estate. And while not every case is straight-forward or explicitly positive, “I enjoy helping people resolve a bad situation, helping to save families homes from foreclosure, and helping make the American dream a reality in purchasing a home” he said.
As the Clinic’s Director of Operations, Valdes has played an essential role in Clinic leadership and the implementation of GCLC’s strategic plan.
“Since the late 1980s, Ariel has kept our organization running,” said Executive Director, Adam Salzman. “He is devoted to his clients; he is devoted to the Clinic; he is utterly selfless in the way he practices law and the way he serves the organization. He deserves not just our appreciation but to be celebrated for all he has contributed to Greater Chicago Legal Clinic.”