Charles Sweeney is a South Bend native. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1956. He attended University of Dayton on a football scholarship and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in 1961. While at University of Dayton, he was President of his junior class and Vice-President of his senior class. After getting his BS, he attended Notre Dame Law School, receiving his Degree in 1964.
Following graduation from law school, Mr. Sweeney joined the United States Army. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant. Mr. Sweeney served in the Army for over two years as an officer in the Ordnance Corps. He was honorably discharged as a Captain. Following his service in the Army, Mr. Sweeney returned to South Bend and began his law practice.
From the beginning, Mr. Sweeney’s practice concentrated on trial work. Throughout his career, Mr. Sweeney has taken over 100 cases to jury trial. He has also been actively involved with the local community. Mr. Sweeney has, at various times, served as the attorney for both the Town of Roseland and the City of South Bend. He has served, on several different occasions, as the President of the South Bend Board of Works and the South Bend Board of Safety. Over the years, Mr. Sweeney has also been a guest lecturer on various topics at Notre Dame Law School.
Mr. Sweeney was one of the first attorneys in this area to start a law firm with a practice that was solely dedicated to the representation of injured people and their families. While practicing, Mr. Sweeney’s practice was dedicated to that one purpose; helping people fight for their rights when they have been hurt because of someone else’s negligence.
Mr. Sweeney has always had a close connection with the sport of football. His father was an All-American at University of Notre Dame and was later a professional football official for 25 years. In 1971, Mr. Sweeney founded the Notre Dame Quarterback Club with Ara Parseghian. In 1982, Mr. Sweeney founded Blue & Gold Illustrated, a newspaper dedicated to coverage of Notre Dame Sports. In 2004, he was given the great honor of receiving an Honorary Notre Dame Monogram. Mr. Sweeney has also been certified as an NFL Players Association Sports Representative, has represented NFL draftees and professionals, and is a member of the NFL Alumni Association. At various times, Mr. Sweeney also served on the Board of Advisors of the South Bend Homeless Center and as the President of Sacred Heart Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In his free time, he also serves as a volunteer to our local Hospice.
In 2000, Mr. Sweeney founded the new Sweeney Law Firm, with offices in South Bend, Indiana and Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2005, the South Bend office of Sweeney Law Firm became Sweeney Julian as Frank Julian took over as the managing attorney. After a long and distinguished career, Mr. Sweeney retired from the practice of law in 2007.
