Background and Education
Steve Imparl is a lifetime resident of Chicago, Illinois, and earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from DePaul University. He has been a Member of the Illinois Bar since 1992. Steve earned his law degree as an evening division student while working full-time as an information technology (IT) analyst and manager. Thus, besides his legal experience, Steve has extensive professional experience in information technology and business. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, With High Honor, from DePaul University where he was an Arthur J. Schmitt Scholar. Steve did his college preparatory studies at Chicago's Gordon Tech High School, (then an all boys high school) where he graduated in 1981 in the top fifteen students of a graduating class of approximately 550, was named an Illinois State Scholar, ran cross-country, and competed in intramural bowling, basketball, and boxing.
Information Technology Experience
Steve served as an information systems programmer, analyst, and manager at Peoples Energy Corporation, in Chicago, Illinois, from 1985 - 1994. At Peoples Energy, Steve managed teams of professional, management, and executive management employees and independent consultants. He developed one of the first distributed processing applications for payment processing at a North American public utility company. He also successfully managed the company’s largest software development project to provide wireless access to up-to-date customer information hundreds of field personnel making service calls at customers’ residences and businesses.
Law Practice
Steve concentrates his holistic law practice in Internet, e-commerce, and computer law. He also counsels small businesses in other sectors of the economy, and represents them in commercial transactions. Finally, Steve engages in some appellate litigation, in both civil and criminal matters. As an adjunct to his Internet law practice, Steve has been the founder and moderator of an online discussion group called "Web-Law" that focuses on legal issues related to the Internet.
While working as an IT manager at Peoples Energy, Steve served as special legal counsel, advising the corporation on the constitutional issues raised by proposed Illinois legislation that would substantially affect Illinois utility companies. Further, Steve has been a Volunteer Attorney with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), providing free legal services to indigent clients. In 1995, CVLS recognized Steve by giving him its Distinguished Service Award for his work at CVLS's downtown legal clinic.
Writing and Publications
Steve is the author of a widely accepted book entitled, Internet Law: The Complete Guide, published by Specialty Technical Publishers. Fortune 500 companies, government entities, small businesses, and law libraries across North America use this book.
Steve has also served as a National Reporter for the America Online E-commerce Project. Steve has published articles on Internet and e-commerce issues in Intermountain Contractor, a McGraw-Hill publication for the construction industry. He is a contract author for West Group and is the author of the Revised (2002) Volume 3 of Illinois Civil Practice Forms.
Steve is also writing a book entitled, Four Minds, One Commandment: Loving God, Self, and Neighbor Unconditionally. This book explores the interrelationships among the brahmaviharas (Immeasurable Minds) of Buddhism--lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity—and the Two Great Commandments of Christianity and Judaism—love God with one's whole being, and love one's neighbor as oneself, as merged into Jesus' "new" commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you."
Last, Steve writes short stories, and poetry concentrating on themes of spirituality, personal growth, and contemporary masculinity.
Professional Affiliations
Steve also serves as a member of the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, a group of experts in the Internet and e-commerce industries that provides information and education to the United States Congressional Internet Caucus about technology, public policy, and legislation affecting the Internet. Locally, Steve is or has been a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Technology Executives Club. Steve is also a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation Cooperating Attorneys List.
MaleDepression.com
Steve is the founder and director of the MaleDepression.com Web site, a comprehensive portal dedicated to the serious--and under diagnosed and under treated--problem of mood disorders in men. MaleDepression.com is a member of the European Men's Health Forum and Men's Health America. Steve has ambitious plans for MaleDepression.com, intending to make it one of the best men's health Web sites in the world.
As a result of his work at MaleDepression.com, Steve has been quoted on WebMD about men and depression, in the San Francisco Chronicle, in the Chicago Tribune, in Newsday, in Third Age, and in Men’s Health magazine. MaleDepression.com has also been mentioned in a special men's health issue of Parade magazine. Steve has also published an article about depression in Newsweek Japan.
Extracurricular Activities and Interests
Steve speaks, reads, and writes French. He also has a wide range of personal interests, including creative writing, classical guitar, music composition, studying foreign languages (French, German, Slovene, and Spanish), Slavic and Balkan history, Historical Jesus studies, mindfulness meditation, stress reduction, travel, dinosaurs, tea, and blogging. Steve is an enthusiast of flight simulation and is a pilot for the UPS Virtual Air Cargo virtual airline.
Steve also enjoys fitness walking, weight lifting, motorcycling, in-line skating, and volleyball, and is an amateur boxer. He is a member of the Chicago Athletic Association (CAA) where he is a member of the boxing team. Steve boxed in the CAA's First Annual Emerald Gloves Tournament.
An enthusiast of barbershop harmony, he sang as a baritone with the New Tradition Chorus, the Northbrook, Illinois chapter of S.P.E.B.Q.S.A., when the Chorus won the Silver Medal in the 1994 International Competition in Pittsburgh.
