Lawyers map
>2.0k
experienced lawyers
Filter by
08 Aug, 2024 by John kane
I contacted the firm regarding abusive neighbors. I explained the situation and asked for counsel that did not believe gay persons should be persecuted. I was led to believe an attorney would call almost immediately, as the secretary confirmed there would be no conflict of interest in representation. No one called, and the firm refused to return my calls, and would not take my calls. I have to conclude the firm favors the persecution of gay persons.
Read more
14 Apr, 2024 by Vaughn puccio
3 hours of unrelated rhetoric in court.
Just crazy!
Read more
15 Jan, 2018 by Donna henshaw
30 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
He might not pick up the phone or call back but when he get in that court room he is a animal an don’t let Prosecutors or the DA push him around he gets the job done and really fights for his client
Read more
18 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
Never returned my calls. I’ve had to call him plenty of times till he actually picked up. Answered very unprofessional. Gave a very rude tone of voice and attitude….
Read more
09 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
Doesn’t like to communicate very hard to get in contact with and doesn’t like to return phone calls
Read more
08 Oct, 2022 by Rodrico booker
28 May, 2022 by Elise rengers
I don't remember why I called, lol
Read more
28 Nov, 2021 by Student for life dog training
Can't ever get Reed Amos on the phone.
Read more
21 May, 2022 by Anonymous
He puts unnecessary items in your case just so he can charge you more to remove them. Doesn't serve the defendant correctly which causes which grants them an extension which you still have to pay the attorney for showing up in court. Just horrible service all around. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for an attorney that even acts as if they care. Oh, and you will speak to the paralegal 99.5% of the time who will bill you for their errors.
Read more
12 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
My husband hire Mr. Frank for son custody case. At 1st he seemed to care about my son situation. My son had done everything that he supposed to do when the other party didn't follow the court orders. My son had called Mr. Frank several times for advice. (When the other party had lied on my son in court) Mr. Frank didn't even bother to check into that to make sure if it was true or not. Took him awhile to return all calls. Before the court date, there was some documents were email to my son on what was going to take place before court. The day of court, the two parties (lawyers) were discussing of what to do. At that time, we noticed our son was very UPSET of what was said by his lawyer. To make a long story short, Mr. Frank didn't even FIGHT for my son in his custody for his child. He pretty much WAS GLUED TO HIS SEAT AND DIDN"T DEFEND HIM. We had evidence. (Text message, pictures, videos, show cause) he didn't even bother to bring it up in court. So pretty much WE lost over a GREAT LUMP SUM money of him NOT doing not his job. So now my son is losing time with his daughter/granddaughter life. As a family we were VERY UPSET. And the sad thing about it, Mr. Frank told my son, so I guess you are going to fired me. So that tells us he didn't care if my son didn't win his case. He was ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! And that was wrong. So now we are looking into another lawyer who will do the job and do right by my son.
Read more
06 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Hired Mr. Frank for a modification to spousal support. It's been year and to date, Mr. Frank has failed to find out any important information like how much my estranged spouse makes for one, file any motion with court, is not very good at returning phone calls or emails regarding the case or what he has done in regards of said case. And now he is asking to be dismissed from said case. Achieving little to nothing must be exhausting. So its been a total waste of time and finances to get nothing but sand slipping threw your hands. I am sure I will do better just filing the paperwork on my own and going to court by myself. At least I know I can finish what I start and not have wonder how long before I hear back from a MIA attorney. I wish I would have just paid myself for all the work.
Read more
10 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
If you’re appointed Mr. Kessler, immediately ask and file for another attorney. Document everything through email, everything! Record everything and do your research on which papers to write. Research what Demure is before or AT the arraignment, NOT after. He never filed motions or appeals after stating he did, he never called back or emailed hardly, always avoided or didn’t answer questions, and do NOT tell him any personal information. If he says he did something, NEVER believe him. He is good at manipulation through a soft and tender voice, but his eyes tell you he’s lying. You have been warned. NEVER be afraid of speaking your mind when it comes to your personal life!
Read more
13 Dec, 2023 by Keisha
Mr Kessler made a genuine effort to ensure I comprehended every aspect of my case. He took the time to explain everything in simple terms and patiently answering my questions until I really understood . It's rare to find someone who not only possesses an impressive intellect but also genuinely cares about their client's comprehension
Read more
29 Apr, 2010 by Michael
I was appointed Mr. Kessler for a criminal defense matter. He never called the witnesses I wanted to call, and didn't say anything in court. I was convicted even though I was innocent because he wouldn't call my witnesses. I'm very disappointed.
Read more
28 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
First, let me start by saying that the I hired this attorney to assist me with a speeding ticket in Dinwiddle, VA. John stated that he was confident that he could get the ticket dismissed, but after going to court told me that he could not get the ticket dismissed only reduced. I only spoke with John a few times, and I didn't feel I had been thoroughly informed of the status of my case. I was required to take an online driving school class, at which time I submitted my certificate of completion to John's office and never heard back from them again. I also had an awkward experience in calling his office and speaking with an extremely unprofessional staff member who swore she spoke with me before on some random issue, and was quite irate. Based on my experiences, I would pay more money and get better service.
Read more
10 Mar, 2024 by Usarmy pen
Awful. He will never reach out to you after he ask for your documents. Just lazy and sad work.
Read more
14 Nov, 2023 by Aman tariq
he will make your case worse, never contact him
Read more
08 Feb, 2020 by Due october
Awful! I called him and let him know about case details. He asked me faxed papers about case and he will call and let me know. I never got any call and never return my calls or emails. Bad business ethics. Run!!!!!!
Read more
10 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired Jhonda for my child custody case against my ex who has numerous legal infractions as well as other children whom she has lost custody of. Jhonda rarely returned my calls. I did FOIA requests on my ex and found large amounts of info for my case. When I asked Jhonda to subpoena the info she said she would. When time came for the preliminary case I had not been able to reach her on the phone for over a week. When I finally did she had done nothing to pull the info needed for the case and claimed "i'll just question her about the infractions"!!!!! I contacted her law office and had my case transferred to another lawyer. If I had stayed with Jhonda I have no idea if I would have gotten custody or not.
I highly recommend you go elsewhere. Jhonda Scott will not give you the defense you need.
Read more
09 Nov, 2014 by Anonymous
I hired Johnda Scott for an increase in child support case that was clearly supported by the DCS. She arranged for a lesser child support amount and a better deal in medical reimbursement for my ex-husband WITHOUT my knowledge prior to court. I did not get the increase that was calculated and now I'm out $500 a year for medical that my ex doesn't have to pay. And my ex didn't even have an attorney!!! She refuses to have any contact with me now.
Read more
31 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
I hired Ms. Scott to represent me for two cases. She did not show up at either of my court dates. When she did show up she gave the judge a personal letter that I wrote to her (meaning she broke attorney-client privilege). The judge reprimanded me for the letter, not her, and I ended up serving 6 months in jail for the letter along with the reason why I was in court. She did not defend me at all in court and did not do anything she said she would do for me, except bill me five times the amount she estimated. I would not hire her again or recommend her to any family or friends.
Read more
20 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
I paid him on May 7th for a deed that he said would take 10 days. A month later no deed. I emailed, texted and spoke to his secretary that says everyday she hasn't seen him or he is in court. She is the worst and its sad that he takes peoples money and doesn't provide the service he is hired to do!
Read more
09 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
Jeff was on a case and charged food for not only himself but his partners for days had us deliver and was never paid! Call repeatedly with no payment yet. Don’t extend credit to this man!!! Get money up front .
Read more
14 Oct, 2021 by James g
Had a case where the Ex claimed abuse had video evidence he never got, statements on her part proving it was a lie. Seems he was more for the Commonwealth Molly then his actual client...DO NOT USE !!!
Read more
04 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
Do NOT give this man your money - his license has been REVOKED. Unfortunately, I didn’t see all the negative reviews until it was too late. Not only did he walk away with the retainer, but he also cost me $1000’s in hotel/flight costs for court dates that he didn’t even show up for. He even promised to reimburse me for my travel for one of the trips since he messed up the paperwork, telling me to get dinner, breakfast, coffee, etc. and it would be compensated…right before he ghosted me.
Read more
16 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
He started helping me with my case, pretended to work on my case, charged me and then ghosted me. Wont answer calls, texts or emails for months and still nothing. He never did anything he was hired to do. He over promised and under delivered. Based on the reviews already as a NEW lawyer he will not make it in this career at this pace and this is a very common practice of his. He should not have a license. I HIGHLY do NOT recommend him. I will be filing a complaint to get my money back. Everyone who has ever used him should do the same.
Read more
04 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
El abogado christopher contreras, tengo un caso de divorcio y solo cobraron el dinero y hasta el día de hoy no contestan las llamadas ni mensajes ni te regresan la llamada, mal servicio y mal abogado
Read more
17 Dec, 2017 by Jessica
Complete waste of money, almost cost me the most important piece of my life (my children). I would literally do EVERYTHING for the case. EVERYTHING. All she had to do was present it and she couldn't even do that right. I had to fire her mid court hearing it was that bad and the judge wouldn't let me speak because "I hired an attorney to speak for me"
The ONLY positive thing I can say about working with her is that I became so knowledgeable and good at the legal system, I ended up getting a scholarship to attend law school.
Read more
17 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I have dealt with damages from, trying to get rid of and be done with, this sorry excuse of an attorney. She was highly unprofessional during my few dealings with her, discussing other cases by name in front of me, using profanity during meetings, NEVER returning calls herself...the list goes on.
I received multiple calls from her office during which I was told I needed to track down and obtain this document or the other. I would also be instructed that *I* needed to pay for however many copies of each that she required (even though they would have been free had her office done so) and then bring them into her. If it wasn't documents she wanted, it was for me to make phone calls to various professionals. Now, I'm fairly sure that the hard come by cash I had paid her was so that SHE would be handling all this. All said and done, there was not one single thing she did in any legal capacity to further my case AT ALL. In all truth I feel her actions, or I should say, her lack of appropriate action, ANY action, caused significant damage to the incredibly important matter I entrusted her with.
Read more
06 Jun, 2011 by Anonymous
This Attorney was very unprofessional in handling my case.
Read more
10 Dec, 2015 by Anonymous
Hired Charles for a child custody and spousal support issue. He didn't call me to discuss the case until 6:30 am the morning of the court hearing. He didn't bring up any of the issues at hand and didn't fight hard at all. Seems like the case was already handled behind closed doors. Would not recommend him or his office. I called his office 4 months ago, twice, and never received a call. He's cheap...but you get what you pay for I guess.
Read more
15 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
I had Charles as a lawyer.. He never wanted to actually answer my questions. Even with my learning of Virginia Code Laws, he didnt want to hear my thoughts. I have never been in trouble before and was very concerned. It is clear to me that this man did not want to help.
Read more
24 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
He is terrible , he is rude and condescending. He is for the police not the people do not give this man your money please go to another Law Firm see Mr. Carol or Mr. Hall. I would give a zero if I could .
Read more
04 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
STAY AWAY from Drummond.
He sold me to the prosecutors and gave me the worse case scenario on a first time felony charge. He didn’t care about the outcome of my case and just wanted $.
Read more
07 Jun, 2017 by Anonymous
Absolutely terrible. Pay up front and promised everything. Did not represent well at all. Failed to represent the best interest of my children and this has caused me to have more court hearings to correct what he did or failed to do. Do not make the mistake of thinking his flat rates are good and that you will be adequately represented.
Read more
19 Apr, 2015 by Joshua
My family memebr and I sought out the services of Mike Massey. This was a terrible decision. My family member was charged with the possession of child pornography. My family member was an idiot with computers and had a porn addiction, however it was NOT with child porn. Long story-short, my family member was using a program, like Kazaa, on his computer to download loads of porn. The user is unable to really know what they are downloading until they have it and open up the video to view it. By this time, you have commited a crime already especially if you are caught with the hot potato. The family member and I disclosed this information to Mike Massey. He came across as a Savior that would invest his time, efforts, and energy in a respectful way to prove the innocence of my family member to this horrible misunderstanding. Yes, my family member did have a porn problem and needed help, but the pron problem that he had was with LEGAL porn! Although, many times a begged and pleaded with Mr. Massey and even shared my outright disgust for his lack of presentation of the truth, he strong armed my family member and I into plead guilty to these horrible charges. I say strongarmed us because he manipulated us be saying to trust him and his council. Since he was the one with the law degree, we felt like we should go against our gut feelings AND the truth and have my family member do as Mike guided and pleaded guilty versus going in and explaining that my family member ignorantly downloaded porn in bulk and have zero clue what it truly was that he was downloading. My family member is sitting in jail with 2 years to pull and a lifetime status as a sex offender to which is not justice. If we could do it all over again, we would NOT choose his services again. After Mike received our money, his tune changed, he bbecame less involved, took forever to respond to phone calls, and was ultimately very wrong with his unwise council. Take it from us, choose someone else ..or sticm with a Public Defender!
Read more
28 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
Her communication was very poor and I had to correct her on several occasions about key details about my case. Very arrogant and demeaning at timesI regret not firing her and getting another attorney. I had a good case with the co-parrenting counselor agreeing to testify about our sessions and the actions by my then wife and Mary said she spoke to the counselor about testifying. Instead I found out after court that, per the counselor, Mary never spoke to the counselor about her testifying. Mary only tried to scare me our of going to court because it would be appealed by my wife if I did indeed win custody. I fell for it only to regret ever having her. I should have reported her behavior to the bar when it happened but was to beat down by everything that had just happened and was worried that she would cause me problems if I was back in court in the future.
Read more
03 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
I had her in a criminal defense case and she was terrible. It started with a lack of communication leading up to the date. Once in court, she did not ask anything or stand up for me in any way. I fired her and sought council elsewhere.
Read more
07 Feb, 2023 by Shonda
This lawyer has to be the worse lawyer i have ever seen. Don't let her represent you or your loved ones. im sure she slept her way in. Skills could not have been a factor
Read more
18 Oct, 2017 by Sonny
Real quick: Keep in mind, I am barely ever review any product or service person b/c its a waste of time person. So for me to take the time to write this I was very irritated by how I was serviced. Especially b/c of the small amount of money involved.
Mr Graves was given 2 very easy jobs, and he knows these were cake contracts. Write up a deed of trust and take my already written parameters and create an amendment to a property settlement agreement. The 1st job was so easy it looked like it was generic sample printed off a google internet search, and it clearly did not take an hour to create but I paid the $250 b/c the PSA is what was really important and time sensitive to me. He wrote it and didn't follow what I asked. Pure and simple and not for any legal restrictive reason btw. Then I explained what I needed a 2nd time even though it was already in the parameters I provided. Then he made tiny changes it but did not address the issues that i needed addressed. After that, I wrote it and resubmitted it as if he was my college professor to see if the language was fine. He said it was fine.
Here's the kicker. Not only did I have to do the work, but before I submitted MY revision of HIS work BACK to HIM to review, I had a sizable credit balance (based on what I prepaid and what I know about the industry), that we discussed what that amount was. Then when its all done, I was was expecting maybe a credit or a zero balance. w/e its not a lot of money. Lo and behold! I get a bill stating I owe him more money. Why??? I call back multiple times and weird i can't get him on the phone. Then I email him frustrated, i believe a couple of times, and I get a NEW bill saying I owe him MORE money ON TOP of the original balance that is supposedly due to him.
Its not like Mr. Graves did me any sort of favors. This was a straight service from someone I had never known prior. Whats funny here is that the bill reflects more service work than actually occurred AND its really not a large sum of money at all, and I have had my fair share of lawyers at this point in my life and have never had issue paying for services. But this guy is really cute about it. So thats why I'm writing this review because this review IS ACTUALLY what he earned. I guess at $250 / hr you get what you pay for or even less as it appears. I can't imagine him being in super high demand, although at $250 he should be. I noticed there were no reviews on him accept for "other attorneys" and buddies in the industry. Now I know why and now he has a real review.
This is not a personal attack on Mr Graves. He was a totally nice enough professional guy and easy to talk to on the phone and in person. This is purely how I perceived the professional service I received, and it was dissatisfying.
Read more
13 May, 2022 by Curtis
I was going through a divorce and hired Woehrle Dahlberg Jones Yao PLLC, specially Mr. Dahlberg to help me with my divorce. I thought it was great that the initial consult was FREE, cause they usually range from $150-$400 for a 1 hour consult. He did a great job selling me on the phone, but in the 2 months he was on my case, this was 1 of the 2 times we talked, the other time was for 37 minutes, however - I would end up paying over $6,000 in legal fees for actions I did not request or approve. He has 3 paralegals, some of which whom work from home cause of COVID, abuse their rights and will file motions on your behalf without you knowing, without consulting with the apposing consult, whatever they can do to run up your bill. They charge for every single email, text, phone call (answered or un-answered, seriously!!) $52.50 to file any document into their E file system, which they want to file EVERYTHING and after they file it will charge another $52.50 to organize it, (upkeep). It took weeks to book an appointment with my attorney, honestly which I only got through to him one time after our consult, while he represented me for over 2 months and got absolutely no further in my case and charged, after nearly being charged for 20 hours of work, I only talked to my attorney 1 time for 37 minutes in these charges, "37 Minutes", charged for nearly 20 hours of work, I didn't approve any motions to be filed, these paralegals that work for Mr. Dahlberg, will run you dry without even asking for you consent. Highly recommend you choose a different attorney.
Read more
21 Dec, 2016 by John
His background leads you to believe that he would know his way around the criminal justice system.
His representation and guidance was poor. My daughter was caught between 3 tractor trailers on hwy 81 and her speed while trying to pass one truck reached 94miles in a 65 mile zone. This was @ 10 a.m. There is no way we should have pleaded guilty to reckless driving, she will be explaining this instance for the rest of life. He acted as though he was in a big hurry. Call another attorney this guy should go out to pasture!
Read more
25 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
Mr. McCarthy doesn't review or handle his cases with judicial care. He simply recommends plea deals or to accept ones fate, regardless of whether you happen to be innocent. More than 8 years have passed and I am still dealing with the ramifications of the work he did not do. I'm currently in the mist of another legal fight to have all his mistakes corrected.
Read more
17 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
She talks her clients into pleading guilty when she knows they are innocents
Read more
05 Aug, 2016 by Jake
Alan helped me with my bank fraud case. It lists it as one of his specialties on his website, but there is something EVERYONE should know, regardless of the area he practices in...
Alan Yamamoto is a SETTLEMENT LAWYER, meaning that he will not fight for your behalf, but indeed go the path with the least amount of resistance in order for your case to be settled. If you are trying to fight and battle your way out of your case, Alan is not for you.
On too many occasions throughout our entire case, he recommended so many options indicating it would reduce sentence time and it did the complete opposite. For example, he told us to disclose all of the files to the attorney and it backfired on us, only increasing the sentence time. On another example, he told us to accept the terminology by being the 'organizer' of a case in order to reduce sentence time, and now a new law passed and because we indicated we were the 'organizer' the sentence time cannot be reduced. These are just two small examples of other things that he has stated, but the opposite happened. We were too far into the case to switch lawyers so unfortunately we were stuck with Mr. Yamamoto.
I WOULD NOT recommend Yamamoto, unless all you want is a settlement lawyer. One last thing to mention is that even at the trial, he WAS NOT PREPARED. His thoughts and phrases were all jumbled and they were not organized at all. This was SUPER FRUSTRATING since we paid tens of thousands of dollars to him and his company and he finishes his poor service with this. Honestly, I felt I could have represented the family member better than he did. I was absolutely appalled. Go find yourself another lawyer.
Read more
03 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Don’t ever use his firm. They don’t care about people and his employees make it hard for people who really try to work with them.
Read more
07 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I think this lawyer is a lowlife. He doesn't do what's in the best interest of children in custody cases he only cares about winning his cases not whats good for the child. He is a piss poor lawyer and should not be one.
Read more
28 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
This lawyer will eat up your retainer fees
so fast and charge enormous fees,some
you'll question the validity of cost and the
lack of court preparation and neglecting
your case. My advice is to investigate this
attorney further and don't hire her!
Read more
06 Mar, 2024 by Kia
This was the worst experience ever. I retained this lawyer in hopes of helping my loved one in Dec. I spoke to this man once and he wanted my payment and assured he could help. I made that payment and never spoke to him again! His receptionist Angie was super unprofessional and never passed any message to the lawyer at my request. I was passed off to an associate who lied and then got upset that I brought the lies to their attention. Once i voiced the complaint, communication was none!! I never heard from them again. They never called to say outcome of the case! They made false promises and didn't help me at all!! They took my money then told me the lawyer was on vacation!!! Which he should have told me to begin with!! Beware of this place!!! $750 wasted and I never got any return calls or messages or the outcome!! I guess because I live in NC they think they can tell you anything!! Please avoid the office at all costs! Do your research!
Read more
23 Aug, 2023 by Kel
Hartley does NOT have his clients best interest at heart I would NEVER recommend him for a criminal case
Read more
10 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I met with Elizabeth twice to finalize some personal documents. Our first two meetings were great and she was very helpful and professional. One last meeting was required with Elizabeth to finalize my documents. Not only has Elizabeth been unresponsive to my multiple attempts to schedule my last meeting but she will not send my file so I can pick up where we left off with a new attorney. To top it off, I was a referral from one of her colleagues. Not only has she been extremely unprofessional to me, but she doesn't seem to mind losing the respect of someone who went out of their way to send her business.
Read more
12 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr. Raines set up a consultation a while back and he was so nice while I walked back. Then, he started cutting me off, raising his hand to motion me to stop talking and talked over me the entire time to make me feel helpless and stupid. So, after that consultation, I decided not to hire him and found a really awesome attorney to represent me. This attorney is a real jerk! Remember your hiring him so he works for you. Dont waste your money!
Read more
24 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
Timothy was the closing attorney when my then husband and I purchased a home in 2017. He was an amazing closing attorney and I trusted him to the point that I returned to him a few years later asking him to help me in the fight for said home. He demanded a $500 retainer which I paid that day (I still have the receipt). A week or two later he called stating he couldn't represent me as it was a conflict of interest. I asked for my $500 to be returned. He refused stating he'd earned that money. I called his office several times to argue this and the last time he stated I should have received an itemized bill for his services. I NEVER received this and my understanding is he shouldn't have accepted money from me knowing this was a conflict of interest the day I came into his office. I never hid the fact he was the original closing attorney! So he took my money (a single mom trying to make ends meet at the time and trying to save my home! and refused to repay this!) I find this crook like behavior. Send me your itemized report showing how you used my $500 when it was a conflict of interest or return my money! I've thought of small claims court as I HAVE my receipt still but I'd be battling an attorney! A crooked one at that!
Read more
Browse lawyers
Cities in Virginia - Find a Lawyer Near Me
-
Richmond
-
Fairfax
-
Alexandria
-
Arlington
-
Mclean
-
Virginia Beach
-
Reston
-
Norfolk
-
Falls Church
-
Vienna
-
Charlottesville
-
Roanoke
-
Manassas
-
Leesburg
-
Newport News
-
Glen Allen
-
Tysons Corner
-
Chesapeake
-
Fredericksburg
-
Williamsburg
-
Tysons
-
Springfield
-
Lynchburg
-
Woodbridge
-
Herndon
-
Annandale
-
Harrisonburg
-
Midlothian
-
Winchester
-
Mc Lean
-
Hampton
-
Henrico
-
Chesterfield
-
Ashburn
-
Warrenton
-
Chantilly
-
Burke
-
Oakton
-
Portsmouth
-
Stafford
-
Abingdon
-
Danville
-
Great Falls
-
Blacksburg
-
North Chesterfield
-
Sterling
-
Mechanicsville
-
Bristol
-
Staunton
-
Salem
-
Lexington
-
Yorktown
-
Suffolk
-
Dulles
-
Haymarket
-
Culpeper
-
Fairfax Station
-
Front Royal
-
Christiansburg
-
Petersburg
-
Lorton
-
Colonial Heights
-
Fort Belvoir
-
Grundy
-
Martinsville
-
Bedford
-
Centreville
-
Forest
-
Gainesville
-
Ashland
-
Clifton
-
Hopewell
-
Spotsylvania
-
Bluefield
-
Prince William
-
Rocky Mount
-
Chester
-
Gloucester
-
Tazewell
-
Waynesboro
-
Halifax
-
Stuart
-
Courtland
-
Covington
-
Crozet
-
Emporia
-
Hillsville
-
Irvington
Browse lawyers
Practice Areas in Virginia
-
Business
-
Litigation
-
Criminal Defense
-
Real Estate
-
Family Law
-
Personal Injury
-
Estate Planning
-
Intellectual Property
-
Government
-
Immigration
-
Child Custody
-
Appeals
-
Tax
-
Consumer Protection
-
Probate
-
Civil Rights
-
Medical Malpractice
-
Insurance
-
Child Support
-
Car Accident
-
Bankruptcy
-
Elder Law
-
Trusts
-
Workers Compensation
-
Domestic Violence
-
Wrongful Death
-
Lawsuit / Dispute
-
Divorce
-
Juvenile Law
-
Mediation
-
Debt Collection
-
Adoption
-
Social Security & Disability
-
Class Action
-
Discrimination
-
Federal Crime
-
Financial Markets And Services
-
Sex Crime
-
Entertainment
-
Foreclosure
-
Copyright Application
-
DUI / DWI
-
Employment / Labor
-
Wrongful Termination
-
Sexual Harassment
-
Construction
-
Drug Crime
-
Landlord & Tenant
-
Debt Settlement
-
Cannabis Law
-
Credit Repair
-
Life Insurance
-
Environmental Law
-
Contracts
-
Admiralty / Maritime
-
Constitutional Law
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Do for You
A criminal defense lawyer provides legal representation to individuals or organizations accused of criminal conduct. If you're facing criminal charges, a defense lawyer will work to protect your rights, build a defense strategy, and ensure you receive a fair trial. Their primary goal is to reduce or dismiss charges, secure an acquittal, or negotiate a favorable plea deal.
Criminal defense lawyers have extensive knowledge of criminal law and court procedures. They investigate your case, identify weaknesses in the prosecution's evidence, and represent you in court, ensuring that you have the best possible defense.
When Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
It’s crucial to hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible if you are facing any criminal charges. Some situations in which you should seek legal representation include:
- Arrest or police questioning: If you've been arrested or are under investigation, hiring a lawyer early on can prevent self-incrimination and protect your rights during police questioning.
- Felony charges: Crimes such as murder, assault, drug trafficking, or robbery carry severe penalties, including long prison sentences. A defense lawyer is essential in these cases.
- Misdemeanor charges: Even for less serious offenses like DUI, theft, or simple assault, a lawyer can help reduce penalties, negotiate alternatives to jail, or get charges dismissed.
- Plea negotiations: If you’re considering a plea bargain, a lawyer can evaluate the deal, advise you on its consequences, and negotiate for more favorable terms.
- Probation or parole violations: If you’ve been accused of violating probation or parole, a lawyer can defend you against additional penalties or revocation.
- Juvenile offenses: For minors charged with criminal acts, a criminal defense lawyer can protect their future by minimizing legal repercussions or keeping the case in juvenile court.
What Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Do?
Criminal defense lawyers provide comprehensive legal services to protect their clients’ rights throughout the criminal justice process. Their duties include:
- Case evaluation and investigation: Reviewing the evidence, interviewing witnesses, and investigating the facts to develop a strong defense strategy.
- Legal advice: Advising you on your rights, the charges you’re facing, and potential defense strategies, including whether to take a plea deal or go to trial.
- Negotiating plea bargains: Working with prosecutors to negotiate a plea deal that could reduce charges or minimize penalties.
- Court representation: Representing you in all court hearings, including bail hearings, pretrial motions, trials, and sentencing hearings.
- Filing motions: Filing motions to dismiss charges, suppress evidence, or reduce bail, depending on the specifics of your case.
- Trial preparation and defense: Preparing a defense strategy and presenting arguments, evidence, and witnesses during trial to contest the prosecution's case.
- Appeals: If you are convicted, a defense lawyer can appeal the conviction or sentence, arguing errors in the trial process or legal rulings.
How Are Criminal Defense Lawyers Paid?
Criminal defense lawyers generally charge clients in one of three ways, depending on the complexity of the case and the lawyer’s experience. Payment structures include:
- Flat fee: For straightforward cases (e.g., minor misdemeanors), some lawyers charge a one-time flat fee that covers all aspects of the defense.
- Hourly rate: For more complex or ongoing cases, lawyers may charge by the hour, with rates varying based on the lawyer’s experience and geographic location.
- Retainer fee: In cases where extensive work is expected, the client may pay a retainer fee upfront. The lawyer then bills against that retainer for their work on the case.
The cost of criminal defense services can vary greatly, so it’s important to discuss fees during your initial consultation.
How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a criminal defense lawyer depends on several factors, including the severity of the charges, the complexity of the case, and the lawyer’s experience. General cost guidelines are:
- Misdemeanor cases: For relatively minor offenses, such as a DUI or petty theft, a flat fee may range from $1,500 to $5,000.
- Felony cases: More serious charges, such as assault or drug trafficking, can range from $10,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the complexity and duration of the case.
- Hourly rates: For cases billed by the hour, lawyers may charge anywhere from $150 to $500 or more per hour, depending on their expertise and the case's location.
- Additional expenses: You may also be responsible for other costs, such as filing fees, expert witness fees, or the cost of private investigators.
Be sure to clarify the lawyer’s fee structure and any potential additional costs during your consultation.
Top Questions to Ask a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Before hiring a criminal defense lawyer, you’ll want to ensure that they’re a good fit for your case. Here are key questions to ask:
-
What is your experience with cases like mine?
Make sure the lawyer has a strong track record with the specific type of criminal charges you’re facing, whether it’s DUI, drug offenses, or violent crimes. -
What is your fee structure?
Ask how the lawyer charges for their services and whether you’ll be responsible for any additional costs. -
What are the potential outcomes of my case?
A good lawyer should provide an honest assessment of your case and the likelihood of dismissal, a plea bargain, or conviction. -
How many cases have you taken to trial?
While many criminal cases settle with a plea deal, it’s important to hire a lawyer with courtroom experience in case your case goes to trial. -
Who will handle my case?
Ask if the lawyer will be personally involved or if other attorneys in the firm will handle most of the work. -
How do you communicate with your clients?
Be clear on how often and through what channels you can expect updates on your case.
How to Check the Credibility of a Criminal Defense Lawyer
To verify the credibility of a criminal defense lawyer, take the following steps:
- Check their standing with the state bar: Confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with your state’s bar association. Look for any past disciplinary actions or complaints.
- Read online reviews and testimonials: Platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google can provide insights from previous clients about the lawyer’s communication, professionalism, and case outcomes.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should have past clients or other professionals who can speak to their competence and work ethic.
- Review their case history: Look at the lawyer’s website or professional profile to see their experience with criminal cases, including high-profile or complex cases.
- Look for trial experience: If your case might go to trial, make sure the lawyer has a strong history of courtroom advocacy and success.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with a criminal defense lawyer, bring the following:
- Details of your case: Be prepared to provide a detailed account of the charges against you, including any documents related to your arrest, police reports, and court dates.
- Criminal history: If you have any prior criminal convictions, inform your lawyer so they can understand how that may affect your current case.
- List of witnesses or evidence: If there are any potential witnesses or evidence that may support your defense, share this information during the consultation.
- Questions for the lawyer: Prepare questions about their experience, legal strategy, and fees to ensure you understand how they will handle your case.
- Bail or release documents: If you’ve been released on bail, bring any paperwork related to your release conditions or restrictions.
By being well-prepared, you can help your lawyer quickly assess your situation and begin building an effective defense strategy.
