Cedric Birgans

Graduated with his B.A. in Political Science in 2023. He then attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor. During law school, Cedric became a member of UIUC’s prestigious Law Review and was later elected as an Editor. He also competed on behalf of the College of Law as a member of the Moot Court Board. Outside of the classroom, Cedric was involved in the University’s Black Law Students Association, GUILTY, a student theater group for law students, the softball team, and other social organizations on campus.

Throughout law school, Cedric also gained invaluable externship experience. During the summer after his first year, he had the opportunity to extern for Judge Andrea Wood of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Judge John Z. Lee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Cedric later worked with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Chicago, where he now practices as an attorney.

Cedric looks forward to learning from the talented lawyers at the firm and other professionals throughout the legal field as he continues developing into the best lawyer and advocate he can be.