About Michael J.
Michael J. Lichner moved from the study of history to the practice of law over the course of a decade shaped by study and courtroom work. He earned his B.A. in History, with minors in Sociology and Political Science, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002. He then completed an M.A. in Education at the University of Saint Thomas in 2004 before returning to school for a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School, awarded in 2010.
After law school, Lichner built a practice that crosses state and federal lines. He is admitted in Illinois and has been a member of the Northern District Federal Trial Bar since 2013. That federal trial bar membership enables him to appear before the Northern District of Illinois as lead counsel. His registration there signals regular work in federal court and an ability to handle the procedural demands of trial-level federal practice.
Lichner is a lawyer at Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC. At the firm he handles matters that bring him into both state and federal proceedings. His day-to-day work includes preparing pleadings, arguing motions, and participating in discovery. He has experience guiding cases from initial filing through pretrial stages and, when necessary, trial. Colleagues describe him as steady in the courtroom and deliberate in preparation.
His academic background in education and history contributes to the way he approaches legal problems. The history training sharpens his attention to facts and context. The graduate work in education informs how he explains complex issues to clients, jurors and judges. Those elements combine in a practice that emphasizes clear legal analysis and practical steps for clients who face litigation.
Outside the courtroom, Lichner maintains active professional membership in the Northern District Federal Trial Bar, a status he has held since 2013. He participates in firm matters and collaborates with fellow attorneys at Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol on case strategy and trial preparation. He currently practices at Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC, handling matters in Illinois state and federal courts.
