Attorney at Law Magazine interviewed criminal defense litigator Jennifer Beidel to discuss her career and its trajectory. She also gave advice to aspiring attorneys.
AALM Why did you choose a legal career?
JB I was raised on a farm in Central Pennsylvania, and I always wanted to be a large animal veterinarian. In order to achieve this, I studied Animal Science at Penn State. While I was at Penn State, I took a course in agricultural law and was instantly hooked. I was fascinated by the challenges that farmers faced in terms of zoning, environment, and business. They solved (or didn’t solve) these problems based on how well they understood and relied on the legal system. I realized that studying law could lead to a variety of career paths, including owning your own business, entering politics or practicing. At the time, I knew only one lawyer, a family member. I researched as much as I could, and decided to make a leap of trust that has paid off in a way I could never have imagined.
AALMWhat made you decide to become a federal prosecution attorney, and how have you prepared for this role.
JB After graduating from law school, I worked as a law assistant for the Honorable Christopher C. Conner, a federal court judge in Harrisburg. My natural tendency to solve problems led me to want to become a lawyer. However, criminal law was not for me.
In Judge Conner’s chambers I reaffirmed my desire to become a litigator. I noticed that most of the AUSAs who appeared in criminal cases were the best litigators. After two years of clerking, I was able to observe them with a keen eye. I then went into private law after having changed my opinion about criminal cases and knowing that I wanted to be an AUSA someday.
After the 2008 economic recession, AUSA’s hiring was frozen for several years. I thought I would never be able to work for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. My mentor, Chris Hall, who was also an AUSA and is now a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, kept me informed of the situation. He encouraged me to apply immediately after the hiring freeze ended. Chris encouraged me to also apply outside the area I lived in, which at the time was Philly.
It was a big step for a farmgirl from Central PA to move to New York City. I went outside of my comfort zone to get the job in the Southern District, New York working for Preet. Preet Bharara was an incredible boss. He inspired the Office through his positivity, and made everyone realize that the goal of prosecution is to do the right thing at the right time. It was a great experience to be able to work with him. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so if I didn’t push myself beyond what felt comfortable at the time.
AALMHow has your experience as a federal prosecution shaped your view of the legal system, and how you practice law in general?
JB Just like everyone else, prosecutors are human and fallible. Even the fairest prosecutors are subject to confirmation bias. Once they have decided on who to charge, and how to do so, they will tend to interpret the facts to support their belief. Defense attorneys must be aware of this natural bias. The majority of the time, prosecutors are not the enemy. They should not be demonized. Defense lawyers must work to convince them that their client should not be charged, before confirmation bias takes hold.
AALMCan You describe some of the cases that you have worked on?
JB As a senior associate in my previous firm, I had a privilege to represent Cantor Fitzgerald as part of the 9/11 litigation that was pending in New York’s Southern District. Cantor had offices at the World Trade Center. They lost 658 of their employees tragically on 9/11. Howard Lutnick survived the 9/11 tragedy because he had dropped his son at kindergarten and arrived late to work that day.
John Stoviak and I, along with my partner, Howard Cantor, had the honor of representing them in their pursuit of a recovery from their 9/11 losses. I started out as a senior attorney on the case. I managed a team that included junior attorneys and paralegals throughout the entire case. John put me into the role of second chair when the junior partner left the firm. In my work with junior attorneys, I try to emulate the mentoring and sponsorship of John, who found talented junior lawyers and gave them the tools, support and responsibility they needed to succeed.
In the 9/11 litigation we were able to secure a $135,000,000 settlement for Cantor a month before the trial was scheduled.
AALMWhat is your advice to a person who wants to pursue a legal career? How can you prepare them for success in the field?
JB It is not necessary to study pre-law or political science in college to become a lawyer. Some of the most successful attorneys I know studied things completely different from law. I use my animal science degree in a variety of ways every day. My science classes help me to better understand facts when it comes to health care or life sciences related investigations or issues. Accounting courses also help me to calculate damages and work with economists. It is better to choose a major that you are passionate about, and do it well, than one you think is best for law school.
AALM : How are you involved with the local community
JB My husband and I are volunteers for several agricultural organizations, including the Oakland County Farm Bureau and the Oakland County Fair.
As a relic from my Philly days I am also on the board for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. This foundation works to raise money and support various legal nonprofits and ensure that all have access to legal representation. I am also on the advisory board for animal sciences at the WB Saul High School in Philly, an agricultural high-school that is meant to introduce urban youth to farming.
In addition, as a result of my time as an AUSA I am a volunteer at the When There Are Nine Foundation, a scholarship organization that was founded by former AUSAs. The goal of the foundation is to help low-income women law students pursue their dream of becoming lawyers. The name pays homage to late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who said that nine women would be enough on the Court.
AALM How do you balance your legal career and personal life? What are the steps you take to maintain an effective work-life balance in your life?
JB I moved to Dykema partly because of work-life balance.
My husband and I decided to move from Philly, Pennsylvania to Michigan in 2021 during COVID to be nearer to his family. Then, I worked remotely from Philly for just over two years. My travels increased dramatically as the business reopened. I was doing more work on an airplane than anywhere else. This took me further away from my family and husband than I had hoped and it was also taking a toll my health.
We considered moving back to Philly but we missed the chance to be close to our extended family and watch our five nephews and nieces grow. We decided to stay and I knew that I had to make a move. I chose Dykema because it was a well-respected and well-known firm in Michigan.
Mark Chutkow is one of Michigan’s most respected criminal lawyers. He was previously the Criminal Chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District. Mark Chutkow was a great partner to have to help expand Dykema’s white-collar law practice.
AALMTell me a bit about your life away from the office.
JB I met my husband at a 4-H show. Both of us have benefited in both our professional and personal lives from raising animals and participating in 4-H. We like to remain involved. Our families both still raise sheep and we go to shows with them. We love to help our nieces, nephews and other young people with their projects.
We live in Michigan on a small lake, and we love to spend time there with family and friends. We also travel as much as possible. As my career advances, I find that art is a great stress reliever. I paint, take pictures, and even build Legos to balance my Type A, high-stress lawyer personality.
AALM :What would surprise your colleagues to know about you?
JB Before it had a name, I suffered from imposter syndrome. I saw myself as an aspiring Central PA farm girl who found herself suddenly snubbing Fortune 500 CEOs and hobnobbing with New Yorkers. I was always afraid that someone would find out I wasn’t a part of the group. It was only when I reached my 40s that I realized that nothing would ever get rid of the imposter syndrome.
Today, I acknowledge that these feelings are present and push forward in spite of them. It feels vulnerable to write this because I was taught that we should always project strength and resolve as members of the legal profession. I do want to let other junior attorneys (mostly women, in my experience), who are experiencing the same thing, know that they are not alone. You can overcome it.
AALM : Is there anything you would like to say?
JB We worked with AUSAs in the Southern District of New York during the 9/11 litigation. Their job was to protect the sensitive information about security that was discovered. When I applied for the U.S. Attorney’s Office one of these AUSAs was an unexpected supporter of mine. She saw me resisting aggressive tactics of senior partners at large white-shoe New York law firms during the depositions for that case. It was then that I realized that someone is always looking at you. You could be watching your opponent, a judge or third party. If you behave in a manner that is consistent to the reputation you want to build, these people could become your allies.
The post Jennifer Beidel – The Journey From Farm to Court first appeared on Attorney at Law Magazine.