Your Case. Our Cause.

Mike Leonard
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From Michael's interview for the Masters of the Courtroom series on ReelLawyers.com.
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0:04
the most rewarding aspect is probably
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the relationships that you develop I
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mean I still have relationships on a
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social level with people I represented
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you know in the early 1990s especially
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in a criminal case it really is a
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special relationship because you’re kind
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of going through fire with that client
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so I think to me that’s one of the most
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rewarding aspects get to know people at
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an extremely personal level and really
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every aspect of their lives and I’d say
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secondly the most rewarding thing is as
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you get experience uh I think what
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you’re really seeking is not just your
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own self-approval but the respect of
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your peers and I feel like over time
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I’ve really developed the respect of my
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peers as a trial lawyer here in Chicago
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and and as well as nationally
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to be successful in the courtroom I
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think takes a wide variety of skills but
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particularly in federal criminal cases
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and state law felony cases you have to
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be of a great comfort level of being in
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the courtroom trying cases in front of
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juries often a different group of people
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each time that you appear so you have to
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be able to operate at different speeds
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and handle cross-examination of
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witnesses and really have a sense of
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what the appropriate tone and approach
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is for every witness you know you can’t
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be the lawyer like you might see on TV
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that is always one speed that’s just not
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appropriate and it’s not effective at
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trial but I think also probably the most
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important thing is just a comfort level
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with yourself as you try more cases and
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experience success I think it’s really
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comes down to are you comfortable with
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yourself so that the jury’s comfortable
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to you that you’re credible with that
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jury that they don’t think you’re trying
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to sell them something and that they
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believe you even though they might not
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always go your way they believe that
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you’re being truthful with them and they
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can respect what you’re doing
&nbs
Practice Areas
- Federal Criminal 50%
- Employment 20%
- Whistleblower 20%
- Commercial Litigation 10%
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1991
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Honors
- International Human Rights Law Group Pro Bono Service Award
- Super Lawyers
- Leading Lawyers
- America's Top Trial Lawyers
- Criminal Defense Top 10
Biography
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D. - 1991
- Honors: National Mock Trial Team
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- B.A. - 1988
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Political Science
Classes & Seminars
- Trial Practice, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2008- Present
- Federal Trial Bar Training Program
- Pincus Education Programs
Past Positions
- Phelan Pope & John/Pope & John, Associate, 1991 to 1994
- Meckler Bulger & Tilson, Partner/Associate, 1994 to 2013
Fraternities or Sororities
- Pi Kappa Alpha
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Member
- National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
Current Employment Position
- Partner