Lawyer Overview

Eric Rinehart has successfully and aggressively represented thousands of clients in criminal, civil, and appellate cases.  Eric employs this diverse range of litigation experience to assist his clients in achieving their goals.

Before joining Malia & Rinehart, Eric was an assistant public defender for nearly five years in Lake County, Illinois. Eric vigorously represented clients charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murder. Eric has tried dozens of jury and bench trials and has successfully argued numerous motions to suppress and motions to dismiss. Eric is known for his passionate and vigorous advocacy.

Prior to his service as an assistant public defender, Eric was an associate with the business-litigation firm of Schopf & Weiss in Chicago, Illinois. At Schopf & Weiss, Eric developed his civil litigation skills and effectively represented clients in complex contractual disputes, antitrust litigation, and employment discrimination suits.

Eric is licensed to practice in Illinois and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the Northern District of Indiana. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association, and the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Eric received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he concentrated in the areas of criminal law and clinical trial experience.  Eric was also a participant in the law school's moot court competition.  Eric graduated magna cum laude from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois , with a bachelor's degree in political science.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Felonies
• Criminal Misdemeanors
• DUI (Alcohol- or Drug-Related)
• License Reinstatement and Statutory Summary Suspensions
• Traffic Matters
• Expungements
• Orders of Protection/Domestic Violence Cases
• Civil Litigation

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Administrative Investigations, Licensing, Civil Rights, Police Misconduct, Constitutional Law, Search & Seizure Protections, Criminal Law, Criminal Fraud, DUI/DWI, Drug Violations, Federal, Felonies, Juvenile Crimes, Misdemeanor, Parole & Probation, Sex Offenses, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crimes, Employment Discrimination -- Employer, Domestic Violence & Neglect, Internet -- Cyberspace, Computer Crimes, Identity Theft, Litigation & Appeals, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Professional Malpractice Law, Legal Malpractice, Workers' Compensation Fraud

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 2001
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2001
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 2002
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2002

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Lake County Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Chicago Council of Lawyers

Pro Bono Activities

• Seventh Circuit Appellate Brief and Oral Argument - United States v. Curtis Brewer, 2002 - 2003
• Cabrini Legal Aid Society, 2001 - 2003
• Special Assistant Public Defender - Lake County, Illinois, 2008 - Present

Past Employment Positions

• Lake County Public Defender's Office, Assistant Pubic Defender, 2003 - 2008
• Schopf & Weiss, LLC, Litigation Associate, 2001 - 2003

Education

• University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois, 2001
  J.D.
  Honors: Moot Court Competition
  Honors: Mandel Legal Aid Clinic
• Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
  B.A.
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Accepts Credit Cards

Published Works

• Compendium on Reporters' Privilege--Federal Law in Seventh Circuit, (co-author), Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press, Internet Compendium, 2002

Address

33 North County Street
Suite 608
Waukegan, IL 60085-4315

Phones

(847) 249-2424

Faxes

(847) 249-2420

Emails

eric@maliarinehart.com

Websites

http://www.maliarinehart.com
http://www.maliarinehart.com