ATTORNEY and STAFF
Alan R. Farris
Attorney at Law
Alan has served the residents of Southern Illinois as a general practitioner for nearly 40 years. His law practice includes the following areas of concentration: family law, estate planning and probate, business law, municipal law, litigation and criminal law. Alan has served as the City Attorney for the City of Sparta since 1991, as well as representing the Village of Steeleville since 2001. In addition, he also represents several other municipalities in the area. Furthermore, Mr. Farris acts as general counsel for a myriad of local businesses and corporations.
Alan has been a member of the Illinois and local Bar Associations since 1979. As a veteran municipal attorney, Alan has worked extensively in the area of Tax Increment Financing. He is a member of the ITIA and has presented numerous programs in this regard.
Mr. Farris is certified as a Family Law Mediator in order to assist in the resolution of parenting matters and has been appointed by the Court to a countless number of cases.
After graduating magna cum laude in 1976 from Monmouth College, Mr. Farris graduated Drake University School of Law and was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois that same year. He has also been admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
Alan resides in Sparta with his wife, Sarah. His son, Jeffrey, is employed with the Boy Scouts of America in the St. Louis Region. His other son, Jared, is a Senior Account Representative with Stifel Nicolaus in St. Louis.
An avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, he can be found most summer evenings cheering on his favorite major league baseball team. He is also a member of the Sparta Lions Club, serving as President for 2011-2012.
Julia R. Hayes
Paralegal
Julia Hayes received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, in 2003. Upon graduation she was employed with the legal department of Union Planters Bank in Belleville, Illinois, until 2005.
She then utilized her paralegal studies at the Sparta Community Hospital handling delinquent accounts, preparing small claims documents and attending necessary hearings as a representative of the Hospital.
Julia joined the Farris Law Office in 2006 and has been a great asset. In addition to having contact with clients, Julie's attention is directed toward completion/preparation of documents in areas of banking, municipal law, appeal work, criminal and civil litigation.
Julie lives in Sparta with her husband, Michael, and son, Zachary.