Why a Top Federal Prosecutor Joined a Plaintiffs’ Trial Firm: Daily Journal Features Former U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally’s Move to McNicholas & McNicholas
As featured in the Daily Journal, former Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally joined McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP in November to lead the Emerging Litigation and Torts departments after spending nearly two decades at one of the nation’s most prestigious U.S. Attorney’s Offices. McNally’s move to private practice, especially to a plaintiff-focused contingency-fee firm, marks an unconventional and significant shift within the legal community.
McNicholas & McNicholas started handling mass torts in 2017, forming a dedicated in-house mass tort team as wildfires and disasters impacted California. The firm employs 30 to 60 clerks, law students, and recent graduates for client contact and data collection. Partner Matthew McNicholas told the Daily Journal that having clients speak with a real person at the firm is crucial because most are coping with significant loss. McNally’s decision to join the firm reflects the company’s focus on technology, including cloud systems and artificial intelligence. They’ve hired a full-time AI Director to develop an internal system trained on their own case files.
“The AI is going to, in my opinion, change the practice within the next five years. I don’t even think it’s going to be recognizable,” Partner Patrick McNicholas said to the Daily Journal. “It allows us to be very efficient, to gather information, manage information and retrieve it so that we can effectively represent many, many more clients than we could in the past.”
McNally will be responsible for developing contingency-based business and technology cases, child safety initiatives, online platforms, and civil sex trafficking litigation. Throughout his career, McNally has dedicated himself to advocating for victims and enhancing community safety – a mission he will continue in his role at McNicholas & McNicholas.
“As a prosecutor, you’re advocating for victims of crime and people who have been taken advantage of,” McNally said to the Daily Journal. “You don’t really make much money as a federal prosecutor, but you get tremendous satisfaction out of being able to go into court and vindicate the rights of others.”
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