About William R.
William R. Bickerton built his legal career on steady, courtroom work and years in public defense. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Grove City College in 1991 and took his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, graduating in 1998. Those academic years gave him grounding in procedure and statutory analysis, skills that he carried into practice.
He joined the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender and served there as an assistant public defender beginning in 2002. In that role he handled a range of criminal matters at trial and saw cases through from arraignment to resolution. The job required quick case assessment, frequent court appearances and direct interaction with clients who faced serious consequences. It also provided him with experience in litigating factual disputes and managing heavy dockets under time pressure.
In 2008 he moved into private practice and established Bickerton Law. As an attorney in private practice he continued to represent individuals in criminal proceedings. His work has included trial representation and post-conviction matters. He also takes on appellate work and has argued issues in state and federal settings. His practice reaches beyond the trial court to include appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and matters in Pennsylvania courts.
Bickerton’s professional path ties together public service and private advocacy. The public defender years shaped how he approaches evidence and client contact. The private practice years allowed him to develop case strategies tailored to individual clients and to pursue appeals when trial outcomes required further review. He has navigated both misdemeanor and felony matters, and he understands the procedural steps that follow a contested trial.
Colleagues describe him as methodical and direct in court. He favors clear argument over rhetorical flourish. Clients who seek him out tend to be those facing criminal charges who want an attorney experienced in both trials and appeals. He maintains a practice based in Pennsylvania and accepts cases that involve the Third Circuit when the facts or law call for federal appellate review.
He currently practices through Bickerton Law, representing clients in criminal defense and appellate matters in Pennsylvania and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
