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For a career just a little more than 10 years old, Steve Fairlie ’91 is certainly collecting many feathers for his cap.
A criminal defense attorney in Montgomery County, Pa., Fairlie made partner at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg and Gifford in 2003. He’s been named a “Rising Star” two years in a row by Philadelphia Magazine and was most recently cited as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” by Legal Intelligencer — a title given to only 40 attorneys in the state.
“I think it’s based on reputation in the legal community and cases you’ve won,” Fairlie says of the recognition. “It’s just hard work.”
After serving in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office for four years, Fairlie moved to the private firm and became a criminal defense lawyer.
“You have to cover all of the different angles,” he says. It’s the small details, “like going to the scene.”
He says many attorneys don’t go to the scene of an incident and check out the specifics of what happened, missing out on a detail such as whether a staircase leads to the front door or the back, which could make all the difference in a case.
The detail gathering does take dedication, he says. “The hours are brutal.”
A government and law graduate, Fairlie always considered a career in law, but first pursued another interest after graduating from Lafayette.
“I took a job with JP Morgan for a year before going to law school,” he says. “I was interested in investment banking, but in a year I was bored.”
He says his experiences at Lafayette certainly prepared him for his career. He was elected to Student Government in his first year and served in the Interfraternity Council during his junior year as an active member of Zeta Psi.
“I thought [Lafayette] was a great mix of fun and learning,” he says.
Steven F. Fairlie ’91