About William J.
William J. Bethune trained first as a student of government and policy. He earned an A.B. in Political Science from Princeton University and followed that with a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Those early academic years set the rhythm for a career that has moved between public enforcement and private practice.
Bethune's entry into government service came in 1970, when he served as a trial lawyer at the Federal Trade Commission. He worked on administrative proceedings and enforcement matters during a period when the agency pursued a broad range of consumer protection and competition cases. The experience exposed him to the mechanics of federal hearings and the evidence-building needed for regulatory litigation.
After government service, Bethune shifted into private practice. He eventually joined McCandlish & Lillard P.C., where he serves as Senior Counsel. In that capacity he has advised clients, prepared filings and, when required, represented them before tribunals and agencies. His work bridges written advocacy and courtroom practice, a balance informed by his early trial work.
Bethune is admitted to practice in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland. Those admissions reflect a multi-jurisdictional practice that often touches regulatory, administrative and commercial issues. Colleagues note that his background in both public and private roles gives him a practical sense of how enforcement agencies operate and what opposing counsel typically pursue in litigation.
Across a long career, Bethune has moved between government trial practice and the obligations of private counsel. He has combined formal legal training from Wisconsin with the analytical foundations of a Princeton undergraduate education. He currently serves as Senior Counsel at McCandlish & Lillard P.C., handling matters across Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland.
