Janice Dantes

Biography:

Janice is the founder and owner of Pinay Law LLC, a boutique law firm located in downtown Chicago serving the legal needs of the Filipino community in the areas of divorce, child custody, child support, guardianship, estate planning, probate, and real estate. With more than a decade of legal experience, Janice has built a practice centered on compassionate advocacy, culturally informed representation, and practical legal solutions for individuals and families navigating life’s most significant transitions. Today, Pinay Law is recognized as one of the Midwest’s leading law firms dedicated to serving the Filipino community.

Known to family and friends as “Apple,” Janice was born in Angeles City, Philippines, at the former Clark Air Force Base. When she was three years old, her family immigrated to Chicago, where she was raised. Fluent in Tagalog and deeply connected to her Filipino heritage, Janice founded Pinay Law to create a welcoming, culturally competent environment where clients feel understood, respected, and empowered throughout the legal process.

Janice’s passion for family law grew from witnessing many Filipino couples—particularly Filipina women—struggle in silence with few resources to explore their legal options. The Philippines, a nation with deep Roman Catholic roots, is one of the few countries in the world where divorce remains unavailable to most citizens. Even after immigrating to the United States, many Filipino families continue to navigate deeply rooted cultural expectations and societal pressures that can make the decision to pursue divorce especially difficult.

Janice has become a trusted advocate and source of support for countless families navigating life’s most challenging transitions. She is especially committed to empowering Filipina women facing domestic abuse or financial insecurity, helping them understand their legal rights, evaluate their options, develop a plan for the future, and take meaningful steps toward safety, independence, and a new beginning.

Her experience also extends beyond family law. Estate planning, probate, inheritance, and property matters often become more complex when families, assets, or legal relationships span multiple countries. Drawing upon years of experience serving Filipino families and a trusted network of legal and professional resources in both the United States and the Philippines, Janice helps clients confidently navigate these cross-border matters while developing solutions that honor both their legal needs and cultural values.

Janice’s commitment to service extends beyond her law practice. She is a respected leader within the legal community, serving as the former president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association (FALA) and currently leading AGiLA (Attorneys Giving Legal Advice), the organization’s pro bono legal clinic and a satellite clinic of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS). Through this work, she continues expanding access to justice by connecting underserved individuals and families with meaningful legal guidance and advocacy.

Outside the office, Janice is a devoted wife and proud mother of three sons. Her husband is also an attorney, and together they share a deep commitment to serving their community.

When she’s not practicing law, Janice enjoys staying active, building meaningful connections, and bringing people together. A dedicated fitness enthusiast, she works out seven days a week and believes that discipline in life translates to discipline in her work. She is also a classically trained pianist who appreciates the creativity, focus, and balance that music brings.

Known for her warm and approachable personality, Janice enjoys networking and creating opportunities for people to connect through community events and social gatherings. She believes that some of the strongest professional relationships begin with genuine human connection and that bringing people together is one of the most meaningful ways to build stronger communities.

Through every matter she handles, Janice strives to combine exceptional legal advocacy with genuine compassion, ensuring each client receives thoughtful counsel, personalized attention, and unwavering support from beginning to end.