Sean Patricio Cecil

Sean is licensed to practice state courts in North Carolina and Washington State (currently on inactive status), and in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eastern District of North Carolina, and Western District of Washington Federal Courts.

A graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, Cecil represented the law school in a national moot court competition at UCLA in 2005 after placing first in the intra-school competition. After law school, Sean's first job was as a public defender, there he realized a lifelong passion for helping the underprivileged and questioning authority. Attorney Cecil has been lead counsel in several jury trials, has successfully argued motions in numerous criminal and civil cases, and has represented clients in state and Federal courts as well as countless administrative proceedings. He continues to fulfill his passion for indigent defense as a member of the CJA panel providing federal criminal defense to indigent defendants in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

In 2012 the Northwest Indian Bar Association presented Mr. Cecil with an award for outstanding pro-bono contributions related to his work at the Urban Indian Law Clinic at the Chief Seattle Club. He is a member of the Water Protector's Legal Committee, formed in response to environmental injustice involving pipeline placement and threats to native nations' sovereignty.

Sean moved to North Carolina in 2014 to be closer to his wife Kathryn's family. They currently reside in Raleigh, NC with their two small children and pit bull terrier Lucille. Mr. Cecil's practice in North Carolina includes criminal defense, personal injury, and the occasional employment or civil rights matter.

Lewis & Clark Law School

J.D.

2002 - 2005

Honors: First place, inter-school moot court competition.

Activities: National Moot Court Competition

Owner

Law Office of Sean P. Cecil, PLLC

2023 - Current

Boutique law firm focusing on Federal and State criminal defense, personal injury, and occasional civil rights or employment law cases.

Associate

Edelstein & Payne

2014 - 2023

Representation and litigation in a variety of disputes representing workers, injured people, and criminal defendants.

Defending Protesters to a Jury, Washington Chapter of National Lawyers Guild, University of Washington

February 19, 2013

National Lawyers Guild

Outstanding Probono Contributions

Northwest Indian Bar Association

2012

Award received for extensive volunteer work at the Chief Seattle Club Urban Indian Legal Clinic.

North Carolina State Bar  # 48882

Member

Current

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Current

Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers

Current

Wake County Racial Equity Network

Current

NORML

Current

North Carolina

North Carolina State Bar

4th Circuit

• Free Consultation
• Contingent Fees