Ariel Valdes, Director of Operations

Ariel has been with the Clinic for over 30 years. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in history and earned his JD from Northern Illinois University College of Law. Throughout law school, Ariel was a summer intern at the Clinic, and he joined GCLC as an attorney after graduating in 1991.

Ariel has experience in multiple areas of law. During his time at the Clinic, he has served as the Managing Attorney at the Pilsen office and has staffed every one of GCLC’s advice desks at one time or another.

Currently, Ariel is enjoying the life of an empty nester after years of volunteering as a cross-country coach and a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America.