Douglas B. Harper: Trial and Appeal Lawyer

photo of Chicago trial attorney Douglas B. Harper

Douglas B. Harper is a Chicago trial attorney with over 30 years of experience handling cases in the courtroom, and over 20 years of experience teaching trial skills to other trial lawyers.

Mr. Harper's career began in 1984, after he majored in English at Yale and received a law degree from NYU Law School. He began his career by serving four years as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, New York. His first year was spent handling criminal appeals exclusively, gaining experience as an appellate attorney. His last three years were spent handling felony jury trials and becoming a trial lawyer.

In 1988, Mr. Harper joined Burditt & Radzius, Chartered, which was a nationally renowned Chicago law firm with over 60 lawyers and a 25 year history. The firm's practice included representing insurance companies in coverage and defense litigation, representing food and drug companies in regulatory matters and litigation, and representing plaintiffs in personal injury and civil rights lawsuits. During his 10 years at the firm, Mr. Harper handled litigation in all those practice areas, gaining experience working with his more senior colleagues. He became an equity partner in 1993. When the firm dissolved in 1998, he opened The Law Office of Douglas B. Harper.

In addition, while maintaining his full time practice, Mr. Harper has also been a teacher of trial advocacy skills. For every year from 1994 to the present, he has served on the teaching faculty of NITA, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. NITA is a nationally renowned, not-for-profit organization known as the premier provider of learning-by-doing education for the legal profession. Its goal is to teach lawyers to become better trial lawyers. NITA offers regional training programs open to the general public, and private programs taught in-house at prestigious law firms throughout the country. Mr. Harper teaches in both programs, teaching fact investigation, depositions, expert depositions, direct and cross examination, and other trial advocacy skills. In 2009, Mr. Harper was interviewed by NITA regarding his practice and his experience teaching trial skills to other lawyers (read the article).

In addition, for every year from 1995 to the present, Mr. Harper has held the position of adjunct professor of law at Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law. As an adjunct professor, he works with Northwestern's distinguished faculty and teaches basic and advanced trial skills to law students every Fall and Spring term.

By maintaining a full time practice as a trial lawyer, and by teaching those skills to practicing lawyers, Mr. Harper enjoys a constant level of experience that benefits his clients.

Douglas B. Harper: Resume

Bar Admissions

  • State of Illinois
  • State of New York
  • The Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)

Professional Experience

  • The Law Office of Douglas B. Harper, Chicago, IL
    • Attorney, 1998 – present
  • Burditt & Radzius, Chartered, Chicago, IL
    • Partner, 1992 – 1998
    • Associate Attorney, 1988 – 1992
  • Bronx District Attorney's Office, Bronx, NY
    • Assistant District Attorney, 1984 – 1988

Education

  • NYU Law School, New York, NY
    • J.D., 1984
  • Yale University, New Haven, CT
    • B.A., English, 1981

Professional Awards

  • The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association's
    • Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service, 2005

Faculty Appointments

  • Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL
    • Adjunct Professor of Law, 1995 – present

Speaking and Public Teaching Engagements

  • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
    • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
    • Faculty Team Leader, 2018
  • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
    • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
    • Faculty Team Leader, 2017
  • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
    • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
    • Faculty Team Leader, 2016
  • Display All
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Deposition Skills, Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2015
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2015
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2014
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2013
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2012
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2011
    • Pincus Professional Education
      • Lecture and Presentation, 2011, Chicago, IL
      • Expert Witnesses: Prep, Depos, Exam and Cross
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2010
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2009
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2008
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Southeast Deposition Program, Durham, NC
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2007
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2007
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Southeast Deposition Program, Durham, NC
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2006
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2006
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Advanced Depositions With Economic Experts, Boulder, CO
      • Faculty Member, 2006
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • New York City Deposition Program, New York, NY
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2005
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2005
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • MidAmerica Deposition Program, Topeka, KS
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2004
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2003
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2002
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2001
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 2000
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Team Leader, 1999
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Member, 1998
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Member, 1997
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Member, 1996
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Member, 1995
    • NITA, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy
      • Midwest Deposition Program, Chicago, IL
      • Faculty Member, 1994

News

New Contact Information

The Law Office of Douglas B. Harper Two Prudential Plaza 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Suite 3500 Chicago, Illinois 60601‑6769 New Cases: (312) 214-7040 Main: (312) 214-2454 Fax: (312) 212‑4102

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