A Chicago native, Attorney Deadra Woods Stokes was admitted to the Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, and Northern District of Illinois-Federal Trial Bar Court of Appeals-Seventh Circuit in 1996, prior to marriage, as Deadra F. Woods.   After receiving an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Xavier University, and serving as an Industrial Hygienist with the U.S. Department of Labor, Attorney Stokes earned a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology in June of 1994, entered the private practice of law in 1995, and later became a founding partner in the law firm of Holt & Woods, Ltd.

Attorney Stokes acquired significant experience and professional popularity in the real estate, estate planning, corporate formation areas of law.  She has held the position of Hearing Officer for the Building Code Division for the Village of Robbins, Illinois since 2002, has served as past Treasurer of the Legal Counseling Ministry at Trinity United Church of Christ and for the Cook County Bar Association, and she frequently appears as a guest on Dollars & Sense talk radio WVON (1690 AM). 

Known for her down-to-earth and holistic approach to practicing law in underserved communities, Attorney Stokes is a highly sought after panelist and workshop presenter.  In addition, Attorney Stokes is a licensed continuing education provider and real estate broker and is well known for providing expertise on the art of closing a short sale.   

In 2005, Attorney Stokes became the senior partner in Woods & Evans, LLC, a boutique law firm specializing in real estate, estate planning, business formation, mediation, and bankruptcy.    In 2008, Attorney Stokes became a national figure after being appointed to serve on the Home Ownership Advisory Council for the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, co-founded by mogul Russell Simmons and activist Dr. Benjamin Chavis.  In this capacity, Attorney Stokes will bring a FRESH legal voice to the global “Get Your House Right!” campaign that will enable millions of urban professionals and young adults achieve the dream of homeownership.

Currently operating as the lead counsel for Deadra Woods Stokes & Associates, P.C., Attorney Stokes is passionate about helping Americans save their homes and preserve their wealth, and accordingly, was one of several attorneys nationally who lobbied in the nation's captital in favor of legislation to allow judicial modification of mortgages.

A friend and "Counselor" to many and mother of three daughters, Attorney Stokes has been married to her best friend Paul for 8 years and resides in a Chicago suburb. 

Professional Memberships:
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

American Bankruptcy Institute

National Association of Real Estate Brokers