Shepherd Law Says Farewell | 2005 – 2020

After 15 years of dedicated service in the legal profession, I’m closing the doors of Shepherd Law.

As a young attorney, helping people navigate the legal system was my way of answering the questions that matter most: Why am I here? What is my purpose? How can I serve?

In that pursuit, I’ve had the privilege of representing a wide range of people, young and old, American and foreign, from backgrounds nothing like my own. 

Despite their differences, most came to me during the darkest season of their lives. Walking through those valleys with them shaped not just my career, but my understanding of resilience and dignity of the human spirit.

Of the many cases I have handled, two stand out: United States v. White and Harper v. Cook County.

In U.S. v. White I defended a man’s right to speak freely, even when his words made people uncomfortable. This case reinforced a core principle of a free society: freedom means protecting speech that’s misunderstood or unwelcome.

In Harper v. Cook County I defended the right to bear arms. That case taught me the importance of challenging laws that are both wrong and unconstitutional. It was a demanding exercise in creative litigation and pursuing truth in the face of resistance.

These two cases, and many others like them, deepened my sense of the responsibility lawyers carry and the vigilance required to protect the rights that define a free people.

As my season as a trial lawyer draws to a close, Ecclesiastes comes to mind: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” I’ve argued what mattered, stood for what I believed and now it’s time to apply that hard-earned wisdom in new ways.

If you’d like to stay in touch or share reflections of your own, I welcome you to reach out: shepherdlaw@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Chris Shepherd
Chicago, Illinois
2020