Attorney Profile
Sean M. Smoot
Sean Smoot
Springfield
Illinois (IL)
Practice Areas:
Employment & Labor (60%), Government Relations (30%), Non-Profit (10%)
Employment & Labor
Government Relations
Non-Profit
Law School:
Southern Illinois University School of Law
Profile
Sean Michael Smoot was born and raised in Elmhurst, Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Sciences from Illinois State University and his Juris Doctor degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Prior to attending law school Mr. Smoot worked as an Investigator for the McLean County State's Attorney's Office where he assisted in prosecuting capital cases. Mr. Smoot and his family reside in the City of Leland Grove where he served for 12 years as an elected Alderman and the Police Commissioner.Currently Chief Legal Counsel for the Police Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois ("PB&PA"), Mr. Smoot is also the Director and Chief Counsel for the Police Benevolent & Protective Association Labor Committee ("PBLC").As Director of the Police Benevolent & Protective Association Labor Committee, he is responsible for the provision of legal services for over 6,500 legal defense plan participants. Mr. Smoot regularly represents police officers in Police & Fire Board and Merit Commission discipline and discharge cases, as well as, Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation, Unfair Labor Practices, Grievance Arbitration, and Interest Arbitration cases. Additionally, he provides representation to police officers throughout the state following critical incidents.As Chief Legal Counsel for the Police Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois, he regularly advises the Executive Board on all corporate, organizational and litigation matters. Mr. Smoot writes legislation, testifies before legislative bodies, and speaks often, as a recognized expert in police related areas such as Public Employment Labor Law, Pension & Benefits Law, Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation, and Police Use of Force. Mr. Smoot is the elected Treasurer of the National Association of Police Organizations ("NAPO"), a national law enforcement advocacy group representing over 250,000 police officers.
Selected To
Illinois Rising Stars 2009
Illinois Rising Stars 2008
About Sean Smoot
Admitted: 1995, Illinois
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Police Union Leadership, Harvard Law School, 2006
- Police Union Leadership, Harvard Law School, 2007
- Police Union Leadership, Harvard Law School, 2008
- Police Union Leadership, Harvard Law School, 2009
- Admitted United States Supreme Court Bar, 2011
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Advisory Committee for the National Law Enforcement Officers' Rights Center in Washington, D.C. since 1996. Member of the Advisory Committee and a featured speaker at the Chicago-Kent College of Law's Annual Illinois Public Sector Labor Relations Law Program. He also serves on the Use of Force Advisory Committee, the Police Pursuit Advisory Committee, the Racial Profiling Advisory Committee, and the Task Force on Police Integrity for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Active Member in following Associations - American Bar Association - Illinois State Bar Association - American Corporation Counsel Association - Sangamon County Bar Association - Illinois Society of Association Executives.
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Served honorably in the U.S. Army and the Illinois Army National Guard 1987 - 1995
- Pro-Bono General Counsel for Illinois Peace Officers' Memorial Committee, Ride to Remember 9/11, Illinois Police Foundation
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- Featured Speaker, Several CLE programs regarding collective bargaining, employee rights, and legal updates.
- Several articles for The Policemen's Magazine as well as numerous police labor publications and newsletters, Author
- Adjunct Professor, Criminal Law , Administration of Justice Department, Southern Illinois University, College of Liberal Arts, 1993
- Adjunct Professor, Criminal Law , Administration of Justice Department, Southern Illinois University, College of Liberal Arts, 1994
- Speaker, The Rights of Employees in Military Service, National Academy of Arbitrators, 2008
- Chapter Author, Military Service and the Law, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2009
- Stockholm Criminology Symposium, Stockholm, Sweden, Speaker, 2011
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Policy Advisor, Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, 2008-2009
- Member of Executive Session on Policing & Public Safety, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2008
Educational Background:
- Completed over 200 post-graduate hours of training in mediation, arbitration, win-win bargaining, and other forms of ADR.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Sciences from Illinois State University, 1991
- Juris Doctor degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Law, 1994
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