Pro Bono: Britton St. Onge, 36 & Cecelia Carroll, 36

Britton St. Onge, 36

Practice Areas: Commercial litigation, trust & estate litigation

Law School: University of Notre Dame

Cecelia Carroll, 36

Practice Areas: Product liability, toxic tort

Law School: Saint Louis University

Since June 2017, Polsinelli associates Britton St. Onge and Cecelia Carroll have changed the lives of St. Louis County criminal defendants by defending them pro bono through the Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel.

One defendant was a 17-year-old high-school sophomore charged with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action, all felony charges that could’ve resulted in a lengthy sentence. Due to the advocacy of St. Onge and Carroll, which included additional testimony and depositions, the teen received a lesser misdemeanor verdict and was released on time served. Without the felonies on her record, her employment and housing prospects are brighter, and she is still able to fulfill her ambition to serve in the military.

Both Carroll and St. Onge count their coalition work among their biggest accomplishments. Carroll is a second- and third-generation attorney and triathlete, while St. Onge is a stunt-kite enthusiast and drummer in his spare time. Each is married with children.

What advice do you have for young lawyers?

St. Onge: Treat every assignment or project as an opportunity to learn and develop, not as a mere chore to be completed.

Carroll: Be kind. And not just to the obvious people. From the clerk who stays late file-stamping a pleading for you to opposing counsel. It’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s good for your career.

What is something that would surprise people about you?

St. Onge: I have four kids under the age of 10.

Carroll: I completed a Half-Ironman and got second place in my age group on a day with a temperature of over 100 degrees.