Bruckert, Behme & Long, P.C.

Attorney Terry I. Bruckert

Current Employment Position(s)

• President

Practice Areas

• Municipal 40%
• Real Estate 30%
• Litigation 20%
• Business 10%

Litigation

• 20%

Representative Clients

• Village of Marissa
• City of Columbia
• Village of Albers
• Village of New Baden

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1993
• Missouri, 1994
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1994

Other Affiliations

• Illinois State Bar Association
• St. Clair County Bar Association

Education

• Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, Illinois, 1993
  
  • J.D.
  • Law Journal: Southern Illinois University Law Journal, 1991 - 1993
• Quincy University, Quincy, Illinois, 1990
  
  • M.B.A.
• Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois, 1981
  
  • B.S.
  • Major: Personnel Management

Fraternities and Sororities

• Alpha Tau Omega

References

• James Vernier - Former Mayor - Village of Shiloh
• Chad Easton - Mayor - Village of Marissa
• Steve Schomaker – Mayor – Village of Albers

Attorney John P. Long

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Practice Areas

• Municipal Law
• Appellate Practice
• Libel Law
• Real Estate Law
• Wills and Estates

Representative Cases

• Owens v. CBS Inc., 527 N.E.2d 1296 (Ill.App. 5th Dist. 1988)
• Lewis v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., 600 N.E.2d 504 (5th Dist. 1992)
• Vaughn v. Granite City Steel Division of Natural Steel Corp., 576 N.E.2d 874 (5th Dist. 1991)
• Bryant v. Livigni, 619 N.E.2d 5S0 (5th Dist. 1993)

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1976
• Missouri, 1975
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1978
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1976
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1977
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1991
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1978

Other Affiliations

• Illinois Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association

Past Positions

• John P. Long, Attorney at Law, Owner, 1989 - 2006
• Sterling, Kelley & Long, P.C., Partner, 1987 - 1989
• John P. Long, Attorney at Law, Owner, 1976 - 1987
• Judge George J. Moran, Sr., Appellate Court of Illinois 5th Judicial Circuit, Law Clerk, 1975 - 1976

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, 1975
  
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Honors: Valedictorian
• University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1971
  
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Major: Physics

Fraternities and Sororities

• Phi Beta Kappa

Published Works

• The Law of Illinois, Volume I: Lincoln's Cases Before the Illinois Supreme Court, From His Entry Into the Practice of Law Until His Entry Into Congress, 1993
• The Law of Illinois, Volume II: Lincoln's Cases Before the Illinois Supreme Court, From His Return to the Practice of Law Until His Return to Politics, 1996
• The Law of Illinois, Volume III: Lincoln's Cases Before the Illinois Supreme Court, From His Return to Politics Until His Departure for Washington, D.C.

Attorney Duane Clarke

Duane Clarke earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Illinois in 1992 and his juris doctor from Washington University in St. Louis in 1995. He is licensed to practice law in the Illinois state courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, and in the Missouri state courts.

Mr. Clarke practiced law for nineteen years, six of those as a sole practitioner, before joining Bruckert, Behme & Long, P.C. in 2015. He practices in the areas of municipal law, creditor's rights, real estate law, small business law, and estate planning.

Mr. Clarke is a member of the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Practice Areas

• Creditor’s Rights
• Municipal Law
• Business Law
• Estate Planning
• Real Estate Law

Litigation

• 65%

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1996
• Missouri, 1995
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois

Other Affiliations

• Illinois Municipal League (Member)
• Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association (Member)
• Illinois State Bar Association (Member)

Past Positions

• Clarke Law Office, Attorney, 2009 - 2015
• Kaufhold & Associates, P.C., Attorney, 1997 - 2009

Education

• Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, 1995
  
  • J.D.
• University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, 1992
  
  • B.A.
  • Major: Economics

Attorney Luke A. Behme

Luke Behme grew up in Carlinville, Illinois surrounded by small businesses including his mother's accounting firm and his grandfather's farm. He has seen first hand the issues that self-employed and small business owners encounter in the planning stages and the day to day operations of their businesses. Growing up, he was an active member of both 4-H and FFA where he received his American FFA Degree.

At UIUC, he was an active member and officer in organizations such as ACES Student Advancement Committee, ACES Global Ambassadors, and ACES Student Counsel. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal sciences and received a Minor in International Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

While at St. Louis University School of Law, he was involved in the SLU Law Ambassadors program and the SLU Law Mentors program. He received a Certificate in International Law along with concentrations in Taxation/Estate Planning and Business Transactions.

While in law school, he interned with the office of the Illinois Attorney General and primarily worked on business compliance and administrative law issues. He also clerked at a small boutique law firm where he gained litigation experience.

Since being admitted to the Illinois Bar, Mr. Behme has practiced throughout Southern Illinois in the areas of family law and general civil litigation. He has also had a substantial appellate practice.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning
• Business Law
• Family Law
• Real Estate Law
• Municipal Law

Litigation

• 100%

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 2008

Specialties and Certifications

• Court approved Guardian ad Litem
• Court approved Family Law Mediator

Other Affiliations

• Illinois State Bar Association (Planning Committee for Solo and Small Firm Practice Institute - Member 2017-Present)
• 4-H (Active member)
• FFA (Active member)

Classes and Seminars

• Judicial Notice - January 2017, ISBA Family Law Table Clinics
• Preserving your Record and Offers of Proof - January 2017, ISBA Family Law Table Clinics
• Impeachment - January 2017, ISBA Family Law Table Clinics
• Drugs & Fitness to Parent - March 2017, ISBA Family Law Table Clinics
• Defense of Serious Endangerment - March 2017, ISBA Family Law Table Clinics

Pro Bono Activities

• Mascoutah Rotary Club

Past Positions

• Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Intern

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
  
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Certificate in International Law
  • Honors: SLU Law Ambassadors program
  • Honors: SLU Law Mentors program
  • Major: Taxation/Estate Planning and Business Transactions
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
  
  • B.S.
  • Honors: ACES Student Advancement Committee, Active member
  • Honors: ACES Global Ambassadors, Active member
  • Honors: ACES Student Counsel, Active member
  • Major: Animal Sciences
  • Minor: International Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

Published Works

• Janette Lohman, et. al. "Advance Rulings (Part 1)", JMT, January, 2008
• Janette Lohman, et. al. "Advance Rulings (Part 2)", JMT, February, 2008
• Janette Lohman, et. al. "Advance Rulings (Part 3)", JMT, March/April, 2008
• Janette Lohman, et. al. "Advance Rulings (Part 4)", JMT, May, 2008

Honors

• American FFA Degree

Attorney Chad Leitch

Chad Leitch grew up in Marshall, Illinois. He graduated from Marshall High School in 2014 and with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Eastern Illinois University in 2018. He graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in 2021. While in law school, he also participated in Law Journal and was a law clerk for the judges of Jackson County Circuit Court. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Indiana. He practices in the areas of creditor’s rights and municipal law.

Practice Areas

• Creditor’s Rights
• Municipal Law

Bar Admissions

• Illinois
• Indiana

Education

• Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, Illinois, 2021
  
  • Juris Doctor
• Eastern Illinois University, 2018
  
  • Bachelor of Arts

Attorney Shelby Frances Schmale

Shelby Schmale earned her bachelor' degree in accounting from Millikin University in 2015 and her juris doctor from Saint Louis University in 2022. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois state courts.

Prior to law school, Shelby worked at the accounting firm Clifton Larson Allen for four years in their financial institutions group with a focus in regulatory compliance.

Shelby is a member of the Illinois State Bar association and the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Junior Associate

Practice Areas

• Family Law
• Estate Planning
• Business Law
• Municipal Law
• Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 2022

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
  
  • J.D.
• Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois
  
  • B.A.
  • Major: Accounting