I know it's hard to believe

In Chicago - Are scandals creating a lawyer shortage?

There's been no shortage of city workers ensnared in the federal government's ongoing Hired Truck investigation.

But as more and more folks get caught up in the scandal, could there be a shortage of seasoned attorneys to represent them?

There are a limited number of criminal trial lawyers experienced at defending people in public-corruption cases in Chicago's federal court -- and many of them now are spoken for.

Some of the best were picked off early by city officials who have never been charged and hope they won't be.

So far, 36 people have been charged in the Hired Truck scandal, and 23 have pleaded guilty since January 2004. The investigation continues, federal officials have said.

Once a lawyer is representing a defendant in the Hired Truck case, his or her firm often discourages partners from representing any new defendant whose case could pose a conflict with the first client. It'd be a sticky situation if one defendant ended up having to testify against the other, and their lawyers worked at the same firm.

They'd have more "seasoned" lawyers if they prosecuted more of the Chicago kleptocrats.