Attorney Profile
Edward. D. Occhialino
I graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, in 1996. I later earned a Masters Degree in Literature from Portland State University. I graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2009, and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar on December 4, 2009.
Legal Background
At Northeastern University School of Law, I underwent a rigorous and challenging study and practice of the law. Northeastern takes the approach that the practice of law is as vital to one’s law school education as is the study of the law in the classroom. How can you study something without getting your hands dirty and putting that study to work? To that end, Northeastern uses a “co-op” model of education. I spent half of my law school career in the classroom, and the other half of it in the field, practicing the law.
All of my co-op experiences were tremendous learning opportunities and have affirmed my commitment to defending those accused of criminal activity. My first co-op was in the Housing Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services. While there I participated in numerous interviews with clients and helped lead a clinic to advise those representing themselves as well as staffing the “Lawyer for a Day” table every week at the Housing Court. I fought to preserve housing for tenants, and I also fought to preserve their dignity and self-respect. I spent my second co-op as a judicial intern on the Massachusetts Superior Court. I worked with the Honorable Judge Isaac Borenstein, Retired. He is a man of principle, fairness, and a true sense of justice. I learned from him that everyone has a right to fair and impartial justice, zealous and genuinely passionate advocacy, and the best counsel possible. During my third co-op with the private firm of Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin, I fought for prisoners rights. I fought to force a more transparent decision-making process on the Parole Board’s voting decisions. I worked to help a client fight a parole revocation, and sat with him during his revocation hearing. I spent my final co-op at the Committee for Public Counsel Services, better known as the Public Defenders Office. While there I carried a case-load and represented, with supervision, seven individuals under. I argued a motion to suppress evidence in court, negotiated with prosecutors, and fought for my clients and their liberty. After law school I worked again at Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin for six months. While there I assisted defending a client facing money laundering charges. The jury found her not guilty.
What does all of this mean to you? It means that you can trust me to work on your behalf and to believe in you. I came to Northeastern not only to learn the law but to learn how to forge my values, beliefs, and sense of justice to the law. I came to law school not to champion the underdog, but to fight for the traditionally marginalized and those who have been accused of wrongdoing – when wrongdoing has yet to be proven. I entered law school determined that I would never lose my belief that under the law, every individual deserves to be heard, and that every individual deserves equal treatment in the name of and pursuit of justice. I chose to open my own practice because I am passionate about using my skills, knowledge, and ability to help others.
Education
Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, MA
Juris Doctor, May 2009
Teaching Assistant: Lawyering Fellow for first-year Legal Skills in a Social Context (LSSC program), Fall 2008; Teaching Assistant, Torts, Fall 2007
Activities: Appointments Committee, 2008-09; Governing Council, 2008-09; Loan Deferral and Forgiveness Committee, 2007-08; Public Interest Requirement Committee, 2007-08; Student Bar Association, 2006-09; Tour Guide, 2007-09; Criminal Justice Society, 2008-09.
Social Justice Project: Worked with team of first year students in required first year Legal Skills in Social Context course to create training manual used at an April 2007 conference for Massachusetts legislators. The purpose of the manual was to demonstrate how Massachusetts could adopt language from international human rights into legislation. Assumed a leadership role in the project.
Portland State University, Portland, OR
Master of Arts, English, May 2005
Distinctions: 3.94 GPA; Finalist, Scholarly Essay (2004); Runner-up, Short Story (2004). Master’s thesis: Portfolio of scholarly essays exploring cyclic interpretation in Romantic and Victorian poetry.
Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Bachelor of Arts, English, May 1996
Activities: Varsity Soccer.
Interests
Cycling
Running: completed 2004, 2005 Portland Marathons, 2005 Vancouver Marathon, 2006 Bay State Marathon; 2006 Boston Marathon; 2007 Philadelphia Marathon; 2008 Philadelphia Marathon; 2009 Boston Marathon.
Literature: reading, writing, fiction, poetry, etc.
Classical Music: listening, attending concerts, collecting recordings.
Outdoors: camping with my wife, hiking.
Cooking: who does not love a good meal?
Sports: all teams New England, including holding season tickets to the Boston Breakers – Boston’s professional women’s soccer team.
