William S Chick

Graduated from Scottsdale Coronado High School , May 1966.

Admitted to Arizona State University September, 1966.  Political Science Major-pre law.  Obtained Bachelor of Arts Degree from Arizona State University in May, 1970.

June, 1970 Enlisted in Arizona Air National Guard, 161st Air Refuling Group, materials facilities specialist.

August 1970 Admitted to Arizona State University College of Law (now called Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law)

Clerkship with Debus, Busy and Greene-1972

Internship with Arizona Attorney General's Office, Criminal Appeals Division

Internship with Hon. Paul LaPrade, Maricopa County Superior court Judge. 1973

Received Juris Doctorate Degree from ASU in September, 1973

Admitted to practice of law September, 1973

Assistant Phoenix City Prosecutor 1973-1977

Deputy Maricopa County Attorney 1977-81

Private practice 1981-present.

About to start my 43rd year of practicing law.  Early in my career I was a government prosecutor, going into court every day on behalf of the State of Arizona against various types of misdemeamor defendants.  After a few years there, I was hired by the Maricopa County Attnorney's office to prosecute felony cases.  I did that for about three years before entering private practice.  The time I spent as a prosecutor was invaluable.  I learned all about judges, juries, and having to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt.  I was very fortunate in those days to work with some of the best trial lawyers and judges in Arizona.  I was lead counsel in about 100 or so jury trials.  I even got to appear in front of Hon. Sandra Day O'Connor when she was a trial judge in Maricopa County Superior Court.  You could tell even then that she was destined for higher calling.  For those of us who were fortunate enough to have known her at that level, it was no surprise that she was selected by Pres. Ronald Reagan to be the first woman on the US Supreme Court.

When I first entered private practice, I handled mostly Domestic Relations cases-divorce, child custody, etc.  I also represented criminal defendants, misdemeanor, felony, DUI, etc.  In addition I had my first experiences representing people who had been injured, or families who lost a loved one, due to the negligence of others.(commonly referred to as Personal Injury and Wrongful Death)

Because I had been involved in so many prosecutions that focused on the harm done to the victim(s) of crime, it was an easy transition to representing the people and families who had been harmed by the negligence of others.  So it seems like my entire career, in one form or another, I have tried to help balance the scales of justice on behalf of people harmed by a wrongdoer.  In the past 20 years I have focused on personal injury, wrongful death and criminal defense, including many DUI's and traffic-related cases.  I believe that being on both sides of these cases, as attorney for the victim  and the accused, is of mutual benefit to my clients.  Knowing how the "other side" works helps me on either side.

Although I worked initially in private practice with a group of four  other lawyers, since 1983 I have been a sole practicioner, incorporating officially into William S. Chick, PC in 1984.  I have maintained that business profile ever since.

I have practiced all over the State of Arizona, but primariliy in Maricopa County. As far as my personal approach to the practice of law, I always try to remember the sage advice of my grandfather who told me: "if you take care of your flock, your flock will  take care of you".  I try to treat every case, big or small, in a way that will exempify the best in the legal profession.  I do my best to give each and every client a dedicated, diligent, and thoroughly professional representation.  I have been blessed with excellent paralegals and support staff over the years and look forward to many more opportunites to be of service to my clients.  .