Diverse Legal Experiences Shape Alumna’s Path into Corporate Tax Law
Contessa Gibsons williams
Contessa Gibson Williams’ path to tax law was shaped by years of service, leadership, and advocacy before she entered law school. At UIC Law, that foundation was strengthened through diverse legal experiences, business law coursework, and a cadre of supportive mentors who helped her develop the skills for the next chapter in her professional career.
As an alumna of UIC Law’s part-time evening program, Gibson Williams chose Chicago as the place to deepen her legal expertise, expand her professional network, and continue growing in the city that shaped her. For Gibson Williams, the journey carries a message for other part-time students: a full and meaningful law school experience is possible while balancing a full-time job. She hopes students will embrace law school as a once-in-a-lifetime experience by making the most of every relationship, lesson, and professional opportunity it offers.
Before pivoting to law, Gibson Williams worked as a professional fundraiser with nonprofit organizations focused on health, workforce development, and arts education. Her legal journey began after a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA assigned to Legal Aid Chicago, which led to a senior paralegal role at the same agency supporting the Veterans’ Rights Project. With encouragement from her dear Aunt Glenda, Gibson Williams took the LSAT, applied to law school, and began her journey at UIC Law.
Since entering law school, Gibson Williams pursued diverse legal experiences in public interest advocacy, the federal judiciary, government agency practice, policy advocacy, and corporate law. Those opportunities included serving with the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (as an Alvin H. Baum Scholarship recipient), the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Honorable Sara L. Ellis), Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Counsel (under President Joseph Biden), and as a Summer Associate at Baker McKenzie LLP.
Gibson Williams was able to leverage real-world experience to benefit her law school journey every step of the way. As an Illinois-licensed 7-11 student attorney and later as a law clerk, she served clients within the UIC Law Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic (CESEC), which supports community-based organizations, small businesses, and cooperatives in advancing economic equity. Gibson Williams broadened her UIC Law experience by serving as a legal research assistant to two professors, supporting their published legal scholarship and related academic projects.
Later in her law school journey, Gibson Williams gave back to the UIC Law community by supporting students through one-on-one mentorship, working as a teaching assistant for two doctrinal courses, and as a preparedness coach for two Herzog Moot Court Competition cycles. She also held several leadership roles, including co-president of the American Constitution Society (UIC Law Chapter), Candidacy Director for the Moot Court Honors Council Executive Board, Vice President of the Corporate Law Society, Chairperson for the Midwest Black Law Students Association (National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) Board Member), and an Associate Board member for Just the Beginning, A Pipeline Organization. And as of Spring 2026, she closed out her legacy at the law school by helping to reestablish the UIC Law student chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, “the world’s preeminent law fraternity” that serves the legal profession as a national nonprofit.
Finally, Gibson Williams credits the UIC Law Writing Resource Center and Moot Court Honors Program for their distinct career-readiness activities which amplified her classroom learning. “Moot Court played an integral role in my ability to do it all . . . the legal research, working with others to produce work product for use in oral advocacy” she said. Gibson Williams represented UIC Law as a student competitor at the Isaac Julius Moot Court Competition (Canadian Law), New York City Bar National Moot Court Competition, Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition, Bryant Moore Moot Court Competition, and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (International Public Law).
After commencement, Gibson Williams will remain based in Chicago, where she will begin her career as a Tax Controversy Associate Attorney at Baker McKenzie LLP this Fall. She will concurrently pursue a part-time LL.M. in Taxation at Georgetown University Law Center. Gibson Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Clarinet) from the University of Rochester and has earned her Juris Doctor with a Business Law Concentration as a proud member of UIC Law’s Class of 2026.