Dennis Shedd began his professional career as an electrical engineer with Bell Laboratories where he participated in the design of digital signaling systems, earning 3 patents.
Despite his success as an engineer, he often felt he could be doing something more useful and rewarding with his life. After taking a class in civil liberties at Harvard Extension, he was inspired to change careers. He attended law school and, upon graduation, he became an associate at Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin, one of the leading criminal defense and civil rights law firms in Boston. While there, he represented criminal defendants as well as people bringing civil rights and other civil claims.
After 6 years, he left the firm and started his own practice, concentrating solely on criminal defense, a practice that has continued except for an interlude as a Peace Corps volunteer in Papua New Guinea. Since 2000, he has worked exclusively on criminal appeals and other post-conviction matters. He has represented clients facing a wide variety of charges, ranging from misdemeanors to first degree murder, and he has served as a mentor for other attorneys beginning to work on post-conviction matters.
Bar Admissions
Massachusetts 1989
New Mexico 1995
U.S. District Court of Massachusetts 1989
U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals 1989
U.S. Supreme Court 2007
Employment
Office of Dennis Shedd, since 2000
Peace Corps, Papua New Guinea, 1997-99
Office of Dennis Shedd, 1995-97
Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin, 1989-1995
Bell Laboratories, 1977-86
Education
New York University School of Law, J.D. 1989
University of Illinois, M.S.E. 1977
Princeton University, B.S.E. 1976