About William B. Bates
William B. Bates Jr. took a steady, conventional path into the practice of law. He earned a B.S. in Business from Drake University in 2001 and returned to Drake for his J.D., which he completed in 2005. Those years in Des Moines provided the academic grounding that preceded his move into private practice in Illinois.
After graduation, Bates entered the firm that would shape his career. He joined Woods & Bates as an associate in 2008. Two years later he became a partner at the same firm, a change that reflected the roles he had taken on and the responsibilities he assumed within the office. The titles trace a clear progression: early years learning the craft, followed by a quick elevation to firm leadership.
Colleagues describe Bates as someone who prefers the nuts and bolts of legal work. He has spent his career practicing in Illinois, handling matters that require familiarity with state rules and procedures. His day-to-day work has involved advising clients, preparing filings and appearing where necessary in state forums. That practical orientation has marked his time at Woods & Bates and shaped how he allocates his professional attention.
Bates’s workplace history is concise but steady. Remaining at one firm through both associate and partner ranks has given him continuity with colleagues and clients. It also means that his professional network is concentrated in the same legal community where he has practiced since joining the firm. That continuity can be a resource in managing cases and in advising clients on expectations in Illinois practice.
Outside of casework, Bates’s public record does not show broad academic or bar leadership roles. He has not been presented here as an author of law review pieces nor as a holder of public office. Instead, his professional identity is built around practice at Woods & Bates and around work performed within Illinois’s legal system. He currently practices at Woods & Bates in Illinois, representing clients in matters governed by Illinois law.
