Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Alina Habba

Discover the career path of Alina Habba, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Alina Habba is an American lawyer and political advisor. She served as a counselor to the president starting in 2025 and briefly acted as the United States attorney for the District of New Jersey in the same year. Prior to these roles, from 2021 to 2025, Habba was a legal spokesperson for President Donald Trump and also acted as a senior advisor for MAGA, Inc., Trump's super PAC. Her career has been largely defined by her association with Donald Trump and her role in his legal and political endeavors.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

2005: Work in the Fashion Industry Begins

In 2005, Alina Habba started working in the fashion industry in accessories production and marketing with executives at Marc Jacobs.

2010: Law clerk for Eugene J. Codey Jr.

After finishing law school in 2010, Alina Habba was a law clerk to Eugene J. Codey Jr., then Presiding Judge of the Civil Superior Court in Essex County, New Jersey, from 2010 to 2011.

2010: Obtained Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School

In 2010, Alina Habba obtained a Juris Doctor from the Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

September 2011: Joined Tompkins, McGuire, Wachenfeld & Barry, LLP

In September 2011, Alina Habba began her private practice as an associate at Tompkins, McGuire, Wachenfeld & Barry, LLP.

February 2013: Equity Partner at Sandelands Eyet LLP

In February 2013, Alina Habba became an equity partner and the Managing Partner of Sandelands Eyet LLP.

March 2020: Started own firm, Habba, Madaio and Associates LLP

In March 2020, Alina Habba left Sandelands Eyet LLP to start her own firm, Habba, Madaio and Associates LLP.

2020: Formed Law Firm

In 2020, Alina Habba formed her law firm, eight minutes away from Trump National Gold Club

July 2021: Representation of Siggy Flicker and Caesar DePaço

In July 2021, Alina Habba represented Siggy Flicker, alleging Facebook disabled her account. Also in July 2021, she represented Caesar DePaço against Portuguese journalists.

September 2021: Hired as Part of Trump's Legal Team

In September 2021, Alina Habba was hired as part of Donald Trump's legal team, replacing several long-standing lawyers.

October 2021: Filed Trump Countersuit Against Zervos

In October 2021, Alina Habba filed a Trump countersuit against Summer Zervos, claiming she was trying to stifle Trump's right to free speech.

November 2021: Zervos Discontinued the Lawsuit

In November 2021, Summer Zervos discontinued her lawsuit against Donald Trump.

2021: Legal Spokesperson and Senior Advisor for MAGA, Inc.

From 2021 to 2025, Alina Habba served as a legal spokesperson for President Donald Trump, and a senior advisor for MAGA, Inc.

February 2022: Attempt to Prevent Trump's Sworn Statement

In February 2022, Alina Habba unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Donald Trump from being required to give a sworn statement in an investigation led by New York Attorney General James.

August 10, 2022: Trump Deposition and Fifth Amendment Plea

On August 10, 2022, Alina Habba was present during Donald Trump's deposition, led the defense, and Trump pleaded the Fifth Amendment over 450 times.

September 2022: Dismissal of Trump's Lawsuit Against Hillary Clinton et al.

In September 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks dismissed a 2022 suit brought by Alina Habba for Donald Trump against Hillary Clinton and others, reserving the right to consider sanctions against Trump's attorneys.

September 27, 2022: Second Circuit Agrees Trump was an Employee of the U.S.

On September 27, 2022, the Second Circuit agreed that Donald Trump was an employee of the United States at the time and that the District Court must consider the applicability of the Federal Tort Claims Act to Trump's comments in that light.

2022: Legal Fees Paid to Habba's Firm

In 2022, Donald Trump's Save America political action committee paid Alina Habba's firm almost $2 million in legal fees.

January 2023: Ordered to Pay Legal Costs in Clinton Lawsuit

In January 2023, Alina Habba, Donald Trump, and her firm were ordered to pay $938,000 in legal costs for 31 defendants in the lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and others.

February 2023: Order Pending Appeal

In February 2023, the order to pay legal costs was pending appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

December 2023: Appeals Court Upheld Ruling Rejecting Trump's Presidential Immunity Claim

In December 2023, the appeals court upheld the federal judge's ruling rejecting Trump's claim of presidential immunity.

January 2024: Habba's Prediction on Brett Kavanaugh and the Supreme Court

In January 2024, Alina Habba predicted that Associate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh would support Donald Trump's case in Trump v. Anderson.

January 2024: Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Cohen Lawsuit

In January 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the lower court's decision to dismiss a federal civil lawsuit filed by Michael Cohen, in which Habba represented Trump.

January 16, 2024: Carroll v. Trump Trial Begins

On January 16, 2024, Alina Habba served as lead attorney for the E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump trial.

January 26, 2024: Jury Awards Carroll $83.3 Million in Damages

On January 26, 2024, a jury awarded E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages against Donald Trump in the Carroll v. Trump trial.

December 2024: Named Counselor to the President

In December 2024, Donald Trump named Alina Habba as his Counselor to the President.

2024: Spoke at the Republican National Convention

In 2024, Alina Habba spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention leading up to the introduction of Donald Trump.

March 24, 2025: Announced as Acting United States Attorney

On March 24, 2025, Donald Trump announced that Alina Habba would become acting United States attorney for the District of New Jersey.

July 22, 2025: Panel Declined to Retain Habba

On July 22, 2025, a panel of judges on the District Court for the District of New Jersey declined to retain Alina Habba as U.S. Attorney, appointing Desiree Leigh Grace instead.

July 23, 2025: Grace Intention to Assume Position

On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Desiree posted on her LinkedIn profile that she intended to assume the position the judges selected her for "in accordance with the law".

July 24, 2025: Withdrawal of Nomination

On July 24, 2025, President Trump withdrew the nomination of Alina Habba, which clears the way for her to serve in New Jersey as the U.S. attorney in an acting capacity.