About me
Vivian Hessel is the Chief Information Officer at Legal Aid Chicago, where she has worked since the last millennium. In this role, Vivian manages major technology projects, leads strategic technology planning, and develops policies and procedures for information security and information management. Since 2012, Vivian has managed and maintained technology grants for Legal Aid Chicago totaling almost $2.5 million. These grants have funded online applications for legal services, case management software, eDiscovery systems, updates to Legal Aid Chicago’s phone system, and more. Vivian regularly presents at technology and legal aid conferences across the country on topics involving legal and ethical issues, case management software, and best practices. Before taking on her current role, Vivian worked as a staff attorney and then a managing attorney at Legal Aid Chicago for 20 years. Vivian received her undergraduate degree in psychology and mathematical methods in social sciences, an honors program, from Northwestern University, and her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
