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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1994.
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1994.
Where?
Employer:
Winston & Strawn LLP
www.winston.com
City/State:
Chicago, IL
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Law School:
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Undergraduate School/Degree:
University of Illinois, B.S. Journalism
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
As a conflict attorney for my firm, I'm aware of all the different
types of cases that we handle and clients that we represent. On
a typical day, I'll interact with dozens of attorneys and support
staff members in an effort to ensure that any new clients or matters
that we accept do not cause a conflict of interest. The most rewarding
aspect of my work is utilizing my knowledge and skills to prevent
conflicts of interest or other ethical improprieties from occurring.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
A working knowledge of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and recent Ethics Opinions, the ability to identify the key ethics issues in an inquirer's fact pattern, research and communication skills.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Talk to attorneys who work for your state's lawyer disciplinary agency or a law firm that handles attorney defense work to determine whether you might be interested in this type of practice.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
I clerked for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission while in law school, and then worked as an attorney for the Commission after graduating law school.
Influences and Mentors:
Marc Grinker, a legal writing and moot court professor at my law school; Wendy Muchman, supervisory disciplinary counsel for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Greylord, by James Tuohy and Rob Warden. The book chronicles appalling episodes of corruption in the Cook County court system in the 1980s and the subsequent prosecutions and convictions of dozens of judges and lawyers. After reading this book, you realize how important ethics rules are and how awful the judicial system would be without them.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
A friend knew I was looking for a new opportunity and alerted me to a job posting on the ABA's website. After reviewing the posting, I called a former colleague who was already employed at the ABA to inquire about the specifics of the job. Network with everyone you know and recognize the growing importance of the internet in finding legal positions.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association.
Recent Professional Presentations:
Conducted a seminar on legal ethics before the Illinois paralegal Association, March, 2001;
Teaching a Legal Profession class at DePaul University College of Law, Summer 2001.
Teach legal ethics at DePaul University College of Law and Loyola
University School of Law.
Memorable Career Moment:
I recently defended an attorney before the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and obtained a result whereby the attorney avoided a suspension of her law license My client's relief and gratitude over the decision reminded me why I decided to become a lawyer.
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