After law school, Cindrich clerked for United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Judge Ruggero J. Aldisert from 1968 until 1969.

Cindrich served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1978 until 1981, when he again returned to private legal practice until being appointed to the federal bench.

[1] While Cindrich was in private practice, he hired future Third Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman as an associate at his firm.

[3] On February 9, 2000, President Clinton nominated Cindrich for a seat on the Third Circuit, to replace Timothy K. Lewis, who had resigned at age 44 to work in private practice.

Cindrich said he was quitting in part for financial reasons, noting that his lifetime salary offered no survivor's benefit for his wife.