Erika N. L. Harold is the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s Executive Director. An advocate for civility, ethics, and inclusion, Erika leads the Commission’s extensive educational programming focused on advancing professionalism among the state’s lawyers and judges to build confidence in the justice system.
Before joining the Commission, Erika was a litigation attorney at Meyer Capel, P.C. in Champaign, Illinois, representing clients at the trial and appellate levels in disputes regarding fiduciary and contractual obligations. Earlier in her career, Erika was a litigation attorney at the Chicago offices of Sidley Austin LLP and Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., representing businesses in commercial disputes and advising religious institutions on First Amendment issues.
Erika graduated from Harvard Law School, where she won a Boykin C. Wright Memorial Award for appellate advocacy in Harvard Law School’s acclaimed Ames Moot Court Competition. She funded her legal education through the scholarships and appearance fees she earned as Miss America 2003. Erika received a political science degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and as a Chancellor’s Scholar.
Erika previously served on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Equality, and on the board of Prison Fellowship, a national faith-based nonprofit that serves the incarcerated and advocates for criminal justice reform. Erika is a member of the teaching faculty for Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop.
The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) awarded Erika an Earl B. Dickerson Award, which recognizes minority lawyers and judges whose careers elevate the law as key to justice for all. Erika was also selected by the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois to receive a Vanguard Award from the CBA, honoring the individuals and institutions who have made the law and legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large.
Additionally, Erika is a bullying prevention advocate and has spoken to more than 100,000 students about peer-to-peer harassment. She was named one of Fight Crime, Invest in Kids’ “Champions for Children” and received a leadership award from the National Center for Victims of Crime. Erika is currently leading the Commission on Professionalism’s Bullying in the Legal Profession initiative, which includes the publication of a report on what is believed to be one of the first wide-scale research projects in the U.S. on this topic.
Erika was born and raised in Urbana-Champaign and remains a dedicated Illini fan. She roots on her favorite team from her home in Chicago.
Select Publications
- Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism articles by Erika Harold
- “4 ways law schools can support students, uphold First Amendment during times of conflict,” ABA Journal, December 20, 2023.
- “Navigating incivility: Emotions within family law matters can’t lead to hostility,” Chicago Lawyer Magazine, February 8, 2023.
- “We are bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice,” Courts Connect, July 27, 2022.
- “Erika Harold brings awareness to workplace bullying in civility role,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 2, 2022.
Multimedia
- “Erika Harold, Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism,” LawNext podcast, November 21, 2023.
- “Bullying in the workplace,” The Karen Conti Show (WGN Radio), August 27, 2023.
- “Soler on Andy Warhol copyright case, Carroll on Gonzalez v. Google, Harold on incivility in the law, and much more,” Legal Face-Off (WGN Radio), May 26, 2023.
Speaking Engagements
- “Judicial Toolkit: Techniques and Strategies for Combating Incivility and Sexual Harassment,” Circuit Court of Cook County’s New Judge’s Seminar, April 2024.
- “Civility in the Courtroom: High Stakes, High Pressure, High Drama,” CBA Legal Aid Committee, December 2023.
- LexCon 23, November 2023.
- “Legal Deserts: Using Technology to Serve Rural Communities” (moderator), Illinois State Bar Association 2023 Allerton Conference, March 2023.
- “We Need to Talk: Navigating Challenging Conversations About Diversity,” Illinois Council of School Attorneys, November 2022.
- “Family Law: Ground Zero for Incivility and Professionalism Challenges” (moderator), University of Illinois College of Law’s Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism, October 2022.
- “Renewing Illinois Summit,” Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, September 2022.