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Federal Criminal Defense - 1 year out

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 11:20 pm
by Anonymous User
So I am a year out of law school. 2017 grad, T22ish top 1/3

I didn't start practicing until about 7 months ago. I am barred in Florida but moved to Chicago and practice as a Federal Criminal Defense attorney as an associate for an attorney on the CJA panel in the northern district of illinois. So it's essentially a 2 attorney firm. I am not Illinois barred yet, but taking it next month.

I think I've done great work so far as a federal trial attorney. I have appearances on over 15 cases. I went to trial twice with my co-counsel and got 1 "not guilty" vs. the Government, which apparently is a pretty big deal on a federal indictment.

How would larger firms view this experience if I were to put in apps as a lateral? I suppose that people this early in their careers do not have much federal experience or even trial experience, so do I stand a chance at lateralling up?

Re: Federal Criminal Defense - 1 year out

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:28 pm
by gaddockteeg
By larger firms, do you mean big law?

You have decent grades so I think you have a shot at biglaw/midlaw/whatever but your experience will not be a positive or a negative to biglaw firms.

Congrats on the win vs gov. That is indeed no easy feat.