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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
Name:
Robert A. Clifford
rac@cliffordlaw.com
Title:
Chair, ABA Section of Litigation; Principal Partner, Clifford Law
Offices.
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Plaintiff Tort Litigation; Commercial in general, Aviation Litigation,
and Unique Commercial Litigation on a contingency basis.
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1974.
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1974.
Where?
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Employer:
Clifford Law Offices
http://www.cliffordlaw.com
Size/Sector:
22 lawyers, 60 total staff
City/State:
Chicago, IL
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Law School:
DePaul College of Law
Undergraduate School/Degree:
DePaul University
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Jury persuasion is particularly exciting in complex tort litigation.
Challenges include evidentiary rulings and pleadings.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Familiarity with the rules of evidence, psychology of jury perception,
preparation of legal arguments, and an understanding of legal
precedents in the area.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice
Area:
Develop strong research and writing skills, a thorough knowledge
of the rules of evidence, and an understanding of conflicts of
law principles.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
I law clerked for a prominent personal injury firm, which allowed
me to try a lot of cases early in my career. I eventually started
my own practice, which has grown into the largest tort litigation
firm in Chicago.
Influence and Mentors:
Philip Corboy, Chair of the Section of Litigation in 1979/80.
Also Irving Younger and Faust Rossi. Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Slip opinions, advance sheets, and law review articles specific
to tort litigation.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position:
It took lots of knocking on doors. Personal introductions and
networking were a must. I have also made many personal relationships
in the plaintiff's bar.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Chair, ABA Section of Litigation; Member, Chicago Bar Association
and Illinois State Bar Association.
Recent Professional Publications:
Monthly letter in the Chicago Lawyer Magazine. The ABA
Section of Litigation's magazine, Litigation.
Recent Professional Presentations:
Weekly presentations for the ABA Task Force on Terrorism. I
have also recently done presentations for the Federal Bar Association
in New Jersey, the Chicago Inns of Court, and the Korean American
Bar Association.
Memorable Career Moment:
Losing my first case, and then reversing the loss on appeal.
Most recently, winning [and receiving payment of] a $30 million
verdict for Rachel Barton, the violinist who lost her leg in a
Metra train accident in 1995.
Intriguing Interests:
I'm a golf nut.
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