Meet a Fellow Member

This Month's Spotlighted Member: Jackalyn A. Olinger

It's always great to see the attorneys who make up the New Lawyers Division. Once a month we will feature an attorney that has been practicing law for less than ten years. If you would like to be featured, or know of someone you would like to have profiled, please contact Gina Spear at 800-424-2725, ext. 341, or Gina.Spear@justice.org.

WHO

Name: Jackalyn A. Olinger
Firm: SimmonsCooper, LLC
Email address: jolinger@simmonscooper.com
Participation in AAJ: NLD Board of Governors, Chair-NLD Special Projects Committee

WHAT

Primary Practice Areas: Asbestos Litigation

WHEN

Years In Practice Area and in the Legal Profession: 3 years

WHERE

Employer: SimmonsCooper LLC, 707 Berkshire Boulevard, East Alton, IL 62024

Law School: Saint Louis University School of Law

Undergrad: University of Illinois - Springfield

WHY

Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area: Pluses – Helping injured clients and their families find relief and justice for the terrible things, through no fault of their own, that have happened to them; and knowing that my work helps put this intricate puzzle together to hold companies liable for the things it did to our clients.   Challenge – getting discovery is really difficult sometimes.  First, it is difficult, because no one wants to answer discovery.  Secondly, it is especially difficult to sift through old and unorganized records in hopes of finding something relevant to one particular plaintiff, during a select number of years, at a particular location.

Core Skills Needed: Research and writing, deposition techniques

Advice to Lawyers and Law Students: My advise to anyone looking for a field of law to practice in is to make sure it is something you truly enjoy.  Only then will you have the passion to show up and adequately represent your clients.

HOW

Career Path to Current Position: I worked at a small law firm during undergrad as a legal assistant/paralegal.  It was a general practice firm.  Then while in law school I summered with SimmonsCooper as a law clerk in the Asbestos Discovery Department.  I was offered a position upon graduation and continue to work in that department.

Influences and Mentors: This is a tough question, because my biggest mentor is my mother.  She has been someone that I have always sought advice from.  However, she is not a lawyer.  I would say that I have many legal mentors, whether a senior law student, a professor, or one of the attorneys at my firm.  I like to soak in as much knowledge as possible from a wide variety of sources. But, my mother has always been my most important mentor.

Bar Affiliations: State of Illinois, State of Missouri, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, State of California, American Association for Justice (see above), Madison County Bar Association, Mound City Bar Association (Annual Retreat Committee), Illinois State Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition Jr. Board Member, Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition Old Bags Party Chair of Donations, Saint Louis University School of Law Mentor, Mathews Dickey Boys & Girls Club Tutor

Recent Professional Publications: None at this time.

Memorable Career Moment: In 2007, I tried my first pro bono Section 1983 case for a state prisoner who claimed to have been beaten by  three guards.  So, the case goes to trial, and I present my first witness (a fellow inmate) to the stand for questioning.  He looks at the judge and looks at me and won’t speak. I repeat my question.  He still will not speak.  I look baffled, because I just met with this man not long ago and he confirmed his affidavit and assured me that he would answer my questions.  I look at the judge, the judge looks at the witness, the judge says, “Sir, is there something wrong?”  The witness shakes his head yes.  The judge says, “What is the problem?”  My witness ducks down in his chair, looks around the room, and says “I’m scared of retaliation!”  The judge says, “Sir, you are in a federal courthouse and I have a lot of guards here to protect you, nothing is going to happen to you here.  Please answer the question.”  After this my witness proceeds to answer my questions and detail the story as if reading from a script.  I’m thinking, is this some sort of joke?  When he is finished, I’m relieved that the rest of the trial should go on without incident.

But, I spoke too soon.  I call my second witness (also a fellow inmate).  He gets on the stand.  I ask him my first question; he looks at me like he cannot hear me.  I repeat the question.  He looks at the judge and says, “Can I have some of that coffee?”  The judge says, “What?”  My paralegal in the back of the courtroom starts laughing.  The court reporter stops typing and is grinning because she’s laughing.  I’m laughing in my head.  The jurors are shocked and smiling. I can’t believe this is happening.  He repeats, “Can I have some of that coffee you’re drinking.”  The judge says, “You can’t have any of this coffee, but we can get you some water.”  He says, “Naw, I’ve had enough water during my years of prison!”

That trial would have to be my most memorable moment so far, in the courtroom at least.  Although not related to my current practice area, it is such a great story!

Interests: Reading, networking, socializing with family and friends, traveling, shopping, playing the piano, music

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