William P. Schmitz is a Central Illinois trial lawyer who joined Malman Law in 2020. His practice focuses on workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. He handles an array of cases including those arising from work accidents, automobile collisions, premises liability, and product liability. A loyal advocate, he values his clients and aggressively fights for their interests at every stage of litigation. In addition, he advises his clients to help them navigate peripheral issues associated with their claims. Bill is a proud member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.Bill is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. He earned his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Iowa.Throughout law school, Bill was recognized for his exceptional analytic and legal writing skills. He received an award for excellence in the field of Illinois Constitutional Law, as his scholarship in that subject was unsurpassed by his peers. Based on the quality of his submission to the College of Law’s annual writing competition, he was also invited to join the University of Illinois Law Review, which is among the most prestigious such publications in the nation. His celebrated article addressing the intersection of new-age technology and criminal law, titled A Fix for the Smartphone Glitch: Consumer Protection by way of Legislative Kill-Switch, was published in the Law Review’s premier edition, an honor bestowed on few works each year. A testament to his calculated demeanor and attention to detail, Bill was later elected to the Executive Board of the Law Review and served as a managing editor.Outside of academia, Bill was at the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he assisted with traffic and DUI cases and appeared in court under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711. Committed to helping injured persons, he also clerked at a law firm in Champaign, focusing on personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. Concurrently with his legal endeavors, Bill served as Head Coach for the University of Illinois A.C.H.A. Division II Hockey team, instilling in his players the same values integral to his practice of law—tenacity and discipline.When away from the office, he enjoys attending sporting events, running, and spending time with his wife Karen and dog Boca.
