On paper, Sarah Reusché is everything you’d expect of a rising civil litigator: sharp, articulate, relentlessly prepared. In person, what surfaces first isn’t intensity but empathy. “The best way to be a professional is by being a person first,” she says. “You get to know people, you build trust, and everything flows from there.”
At Lavelle Law, Reusché practices civil and commercial litigation and works within the firm’s dealership law group, handling disputes ranging from contract issues to franchise matters. Her docket is broad, but her approach is consistent. She treats legal representation as more than advocacy. It is, at its core, human connection.
Her path to law was not linear. She studied psychology and Spanish at Indiana University before earning her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School. A semester abroad in Barcelona proved formative. She remembers the sensation of being visibly “other,” of not belonging. That experience sharpened her awareness of how easily people can feel overlooked. It also clarified her purpose: to ensure clients feel seen, protected and heard.
That conviction guides her across a wide spectrum of cases, from multistate dealership groups to individuals navigating crises. One case, representing a client with cerebral palsy, reinforced her commitment:“If I can use my skills to help create more equal opportunities for people with disabilities, that is such a blessing,” she says.
Her service extends beyond the courtroom. Reusché sits on the board of directors of the Lake County Community Foundation, supporting nonprofits that assist under-resourced residents. She contributes to Lavelle Law Charities and the firm’s annual food drive. For her, community work isn’t separate from practice. It’s a continuation of it.
Away from litigation, she is rooted in local rhythms. Saturdays often begin at the farmers market, where she cooks with whatever’s in season. She and her husband, Tom, a Libertyville native, unwind with ping-pong matches, long walks and strategy games like Wingspan.
She’s also a regular at Mundelein Park District yoga classes, part of a book club and strolls the Skokie Lagoons with friends. She swears by Highland Park’s That Little French Guy cafe (“Adorable, amazing pastries, great lunch, right by the Metra”) when asked for a favorite North Shore gem.
Her playlist leans indie pop (Del Water Gap, Maggie Rogers, Olivia Dean). Her dream dinner guest is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And if she weren’t practicing law, she’d open a bakery or teach Spanish—both ways of nourishing and connecting.
Through it all, Reusché remains self-aware. “Sometimes in the day-to-day grind, it doesn’t feel like I’m making this huge impact. But I want to be someone’s attorney for life. Helping them through the hard things, that’s the part I love.”
It’s easy to list her accomplishments. Harder to capture the warmth behind them. But spend even a few minutes with Sarah Reusché, and it’s clear her work may be rooted in the law, but her impact begins with empathy.
“If I can use my skills to help create more equal opportunities for people with disabilities, that is such a blessing,” she says.