Janea McAlister

Janea McAlister joined Katz Friedman as a law clerk in 2023 and transitioned into an attorney in the fall of 2025. Her work focuses on advocating for workers in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Labor, and Employment law. Born and raised in Chicago and coming from a family of blue-collar workers, Janea is deeply committed to advocating for individuals whose livelihoods depend on fair treatment, safe workplaces, and access to the benefits they deserve. Janea earned her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she concentrated her studies on public-interest advocacy. Before attending law school, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Since joining Katz Friedman, Janea has contributed to numerous cases before the Commission, Circuit Court, and Appellate Court, gaining substantial experience in complex workers’ compensation and employment-law matters. She is committed to advancing strong legal outcomes that uphold the rights and dignity of workers across Illinois.