Education
- Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 2020, Advocacy & Litigation Curricular Program, Moot Court Honor Society)
- Bellarmine University (B.A., Philosophy, 2017)
Honors
- CALI Award (highest grade in class), Trial Practice
- Hancock Estabrook LLP 1L Oral Advocacy Competition, Runner-Up
- Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
Admissions
- New York
- North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
Joseph D. Mallek
Federal Attorney
Mr. Mallek represents clients facing criminal charges in state and federal courts. Before entering private practice, he served for five years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office on Long Island, New York, rising to Senior Assistant District Attorney in November 2024. He prosecuted a wide range of serious felonies including homicide, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual offenses, robbery, burglary, assault, narcotics, and public corruption.
As a prosecutor, Mr. Mallek secured convictions at trial in homicide and child abuse cases and handled complex felony prosecutions from arraignment through verdict in a vertical prosecution model. He managed all aspects of criminal litigation including plea negotiations, pretrial hearings, motion practice, and jury trials. He worked closely with local and federal law enforcement partners, prepared search warrants, drafted subpoenas, and presented cases to the grand jury. His assignments included the District Court Bureau, the Domestic Violence Unit, the Grand Jury Unit, and the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.
Mr. Mallek’s experience as a senior-level prosecutor is a significant advantage for his clients. Having spent years on the other side of the courtroom, he understands how prosecutors evaluate cases, identify weaknesses, and make charging decisions. He knows how law enforcement agencies conduct investigations, how search warrants are drafted and executed, and how cases are presented to grand juries. This insider perspective allows him to anticipate the government’s strategy, identify vulnerabilities in the prosecution’s case, and craft effective defenses. Whether negotiating with prosecutors for reduced charges or dismissals, filing motions to suppress evidence, or taking a case to trial, Mr. Mallek leverages his prosecutorial background to fight for the best possible outcome for every client.
Mr. Mallek earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law, home to the 8th-ranked trial advocacy program in the country. There, he was elected Class Senator in the Student Bar Association during his 2L year before being elected Executive Director of the Advocacy Honor Society (Moot Court) his 3L year. He earned a CALI Award for the highest grade in his Trial Practice course, competed in trial and appellate advocacy competitions, served as Team Captain of the Phi Alpha Delta Trial Team, and was a Notes and Comments Editor for the Syracuse Journal of Science and Technology Law. He also represented clients as a student attorney in the Criminal Defense Clinic.
During law school, Mr. Mallek served as a legal intern for the Honorable Brenda K. Sannes of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and clerked for an appellate law firm handling criminal and family court appeals.
He is a passionate runner and former NCAA Division II track and cross-country athlete and cross-country coach.
