Sean is licensed to practice state courts in North Carolina and Washington State (currently on inactive status). He is also admitted to practice in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eastern and Western Districts 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 after placing first in the intra-school competition. After law school, Sean's first job was as a public defender. As a public defender he realized a lifelong passion for helping the underprivileged and questioning authority. He also discovered a talent for trial advocacy. Following his years as a public defender, Sean opened an office on the 13th Floor of the Hoge building in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. At the Hoge building, Mr. Cecil's practice focused on criminal defense and civil litigation. There he continued to grow as a lawyer while practicing alongside an amazing group of more experienced attorneys. 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.
While in the Hoge Building, Sean was heavily involved with the Urban Indian Law Clinic at the Chief Seattle Club in Seattle, providing mostly pro bono legal services to the club's clientele comprised of city-dwelling Native Americans. In 2012 the Northwest Indian Bar Association presented him with an award for outstanding pro-bono contributions related to Mr. Cecil's work at the clinic. 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.
Mr. Cecil worked as a contractor providing indigent defense for Wake County from December 2016 to November 2020. The demanding and high volume nature of that work enabled him to develop familiarity with local criminal procedure and the judges, D.A.'s and (importantly!) clerks at the Wake County Justice Center. He continues to fulfill his passion for indigent defense in federal court as a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel for the Eastern District of North Carolina, defending serious federal criminal charges.
Sean worked with the fantastic legal team at Edelstein & Payne until 2023. After the firm's name partners retired, Mr. Cecil opened the Law Office of Sean Cecil, PLLC, to continue providing quality legal services in the same vein (and in the same office!).
Mr. Cecil is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Federal Bar Association, the WCBA/10th Judicial District Bench Bar Committee, the Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers, the NORML Lawyer's Committee, and the Water Protector's Legal Committee.
Sean moved to North Carolina in 2014 to be closer to his wife Katie's family. They currently reside in Raleigh, NC with their two children, American Pit Bull Terrier Lucille, rescue mutt Beans, a parakeet named Pudgie-Mo, and three hermit crabs. Mr. Cecil's practice in North Carolina includes state and federal criminal defense, personal injury, wage and hour disputes, and the occasional employment or civil rights matter.
Recent Blog Posts
Recent Raleigh Nightlife Drug Arrests by ALE
New Ruling on North Carolina Wage & Hour Act Attorneys Fees
How do I get the body camera or other video from my encounter with law enforcement? With Updates for 2024
Why it is important to expunge a dismissed North Carolina criminal charge, and how to do it yourself
When is my Wake County Court Date? 2024
Recommendations
- Sean P. Cecil
- Sean was amazing from the beginning to the end of my case. Very upfront and knowledgeable about exactly what was happening and what the end result would be. He kept me informed throughout the entire process and was easily reachable via phone, text, and email. I highly recommend him!
- Sean Cecil is the nicest, toughest, smartest, widest-thinking attorney I have ever met, so much so that it is hard to believe he is – an attorney! (half joking). He earns his nirvana. I see him quickly read situations & people toward the best & fastest solutions. His attitude makes the journey th...
- Sean's hard work and creativity makes him a fantastic lawyer. I highly recommend him.
- Hey Sean, I just wanted to thank you for helping me out of that mess! You did great! Sometimes it was like you were reading my mind when you asked your questions. I really appreciate the time you took out of your schedule at a flat fee no doubt to help out a little lady like me.
- Thank you Sean. You are a blessing to the legal community. Best wishes to you and your family 🙏🏻
- In the beginning I couldn't have imagined that he would work so hard for me, for so little...I shall always be grateful to him and value the friendship we developed.