Schwartz's Experience on Both Sides of the Criminal Justice System Highlighted in DC Bar's Washington Lawyer

09.08.2022

Stinson LLP Partner Joel Schwartz, a former public defender turned prosecutor, provides insight into the perspectives and practices of defense attorneys as prosecutors in the September/October issue of the Washington Lawyer.

In "The Defense Attorney as Prosecutor," Schwartz details how being a public defender shaped his approach to being a prosecutor during his eight years with the Department of Justice (DOJ). His approach there was to humanize targets for prosecution from the beginning of the case through sentencing, and talks about how the roots for that approach grew out of his 10 years as a public defender – first representing Texas death row inmates and then as a trial and appellate defender in Philadelphia. 

Looking back on his career in the courtroom, Schwartz advises those in similar positions now to be true to who they are. "It's all about finding the thing in you that is real and maximizing your own talent set," he said. "I would watch other lawyers do things that I just couldn't pull off, and I immediately knew not to try to be like them."

Schwartz blends relevant government experience with a nuanced understanding of the complex laws and enforcement actions impacting clients facing white collar criminal, civil enforcement, congressional and other investigations. He applies his past experience as a federal prosecutor and public defender to handle cases for individual and institutional clients from wide-ranging industries and issues including health care, financial services, corruption, government contracting, export control, environmental, immigration and international challenges. Schwartz leads the firm's White Collar Criminal Defense & Special Investigations practice group and currently serves on the White Collar Committee and the Strategic Litigation Committee for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Read the full article.