Can a 35-year-old woman from another country who has never gone to college make a career as a successful lawyer in Lake County?

Libertyville attorney Carol Hannigan did just that, beginning her higher education at the College of Lake County.

Hannigan left her native England in 1967 to live in Canada. A year later she came to the United States and became a U.S. citizen ten years later.

“When I decided to attend college for the first time at the age of 35, I decide to take classes at CLC. I found the classes incredibly interesting, I was introduced to concepts and experiences I had not been exposed to,” Hannigan said.

“The professors at CLC were very encouraging. They discussed the concepts they were teaching thoroughly and they had a real passion for teaching. They turned me onto learning. I said “I can do this.”

Best of all, at CLC Hannigan found students her own age, as well as those who were older and younger.

“There is a comfort level in that,” she explained. While her practice remains in Libertyville, Hannigan recently made nearby Gurnee her home.

After her graduation from CLC, Hannigan transferred to Barat College where she earned her bachelor of arts in psychology, then to John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

“I started law school at 40 and have been practicing law since 1989,” said Hannigan, who opened her own law practice in 1992. She specializes in real estate and estate planning. Her daughter followed in her footsteps, entering law school just as Hannigan graduated.

Today, Hannigan looks back at her years at CLC as both a time of discovery and a time of hard work.

“As far as I am concerned the faculty at CLC is unmatched. They really care about teaching and they really do a good job.” Hannigan said.

And she is equally certain about her decision to immigrate to the United States.

“I love everything about America,” she said.