Mr. Cleary received his B.S. from Providence College where he played in the NCAA Tournament as a member of the school's prestigious 1997 Elite 8 basketball team. In 2003 he graduated from Seton Hall Law School after serving as Class senator and Vice-President of the Irish American Law School Association (IALSA). From 2004-2006 he worked at the Office of the Public Defender Essex Adult Region. In 2006 he went into private practice and currently has an office in downtown Newark.  

He has handled all types of criminal cases ranging from disorderly persons offenses to homicide.  He has handled hundreds of DWI's and has lectured on the topic at NJ's Continuing Legal Education Seminars in Newark.