Michael Agruss

Founding attorney, Michael Agruss, grew up in Chicago.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1999.  He then earned his Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois in January of 2004.  While at John Marshall, Michael was an Executive Board Member and Solicitation Editor on The John Marshall Journal of Computer & Information Law.  During law school, Michael externed at the Illinois Human Rights Commission, which resolves civil rights complaints filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act.  Also during law school, he interned at The John Marshall Innocence Clinic, handling prisoners’ cases who claimed they were innocent and had exhausted most or all of their appeals.

Licensed in Illinois since May of 2004, Michael litigated personal injury cases in Chicago for just over four years.  Then, in August of 2008, Michael moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to continue his career in civil litigation.  He became licensed in California and worked at a consumer law firm advocating individuals’ rights by representing consumers being harassed by debt collectors.  Michael returned to Chicago to continue his career in consumer law.  Then, Michael founded Agruss Law Firm, LLC.  The firm represents individuals in cases involving personal injury, debt collection harassment, debt settlement, and credit report problems.

Since 2004, Michael has tried several cases involving personal injury, debt collection harassment, and commercial litigation in State and Federal Courts throughout the country.  Michael has also handled over 1,500 debt collection harassment cases.  Michael has the unique perspective of litigating cases on both sides.  Although Michael primarily focuses his career on representing consumers and injured persons, before moving to Los Angeles, Michael briefly worked at a mid-sized insurance defense firm in Chicago.  Therefore, he knows how the “other side” thinks and litigates, which often times resolves cases quicker and provides the best possible results for his clients.

Outside of work, Michael published an article, performs pro bono work, and volunteers.  He wrote an article that examined amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act that became effective on January 1, 2008 (“Recent Developments: Illinois Joins Thirty-Nine Other States in Allowing Employment Discrimination Cases In State Court”). Additionally, as a member of the pro bono program in the Northern District of Illinois, Michael provided pro bono representation to an indigent Plaintiff in a Title VII employment discrimination case based on race discrimination and retaliation.  Since October of 2004, he also has been a mentor in The John Marshall Law School Alumni Mentor Program.  He provides career-related advice to students, and helps students transition from law school to working as an attorney.