Taja D. Winzeler

Taja received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Bradley University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1990.  She then attended University of Illinois Law School, where she earned the honor of arguing before Supreme Court Justice Kennedy in the Frederick Green Moot Court Honorary Round, winning the Rickert Award for Oral Advocacy.  Shortly after graduation, Ms. Winzeler joined the Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office, where she rose through the ranks from a misdemeanor assistant handling major traffic and misdemeanor cases to a major felony assistant.  As a major felony assistant, Ms. Winzeler conducted multiple jury and bench trials, motions and pleas, negotiating over 500 cases a year to successful resolutions.  Ms. Winzeler also become one of the few female Capital Trial Bar certified attorneys in Winnebago County during her tenure.  Ms. Winzeler was part of the team of professionals responsible for creating, implementing and administering the County’s first successful post-conviction drug court program during her tenure with the Public Defender’s Office.  After Seventeen successful years with the Public Defender’s Office, Ms. Winzeler commenced the adventure of private practice, along with her partner and husband, Dennis McDougall.  Ms. Winzeler successfully represented many individuals seeking assistance with issues of everyday life, such as real estate purchases, estate planning needs, small business matters, personal injury matters, traffic cases, family issues, and even criminal matters.  Ms. Winzeler’s decades of experience with the justice system, the law and dealing with other attorneys, provides her all the tools to handle any situation that you might have.  Please contact Taja Winzeler at McDougall & Winzeler, P.C. today to discuss your issue with her.