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19 Dec, 2024 by Dan
Mr Singer exceeded all of my expectations as a client. I was particularly impressed with his response time to questions and thoroughness in following through with necessary steps and procedures. He proved to be knowledgeable, experienced, and well-connected within the legal circles of WNY. I give myunqualified endorsement for Mr Singer serving myself or any other clients in the future. Contacting Mr Singer with my legal needs was the best decision I could’ve made; it led to a positive and ideal outcome for my situation. Thank you, Mr Singer.
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18 Dec, 2024 by Anonymous
This lawyer works hard for his /her clients in the goal of winning the case. He doesn't put money first like other lawyers I met before .His cost is negotiable and affordable. Helped to win my CPS case and early Probation release. I would recommend anyone who is struggling with some cases to reachout to him before contacting with others .
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05 Dec, 2024 by Anonymous
I had to pleasure to connect with Mr.Singer during a very difficult and stressful time. He was completely honest and explained everything with great assurance. I would definitely recommend Mr.Singer if you’re looking for great legal advice, and someone that is very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. I would leave 10 stars if I could!! I cannot thank him enough
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10 Dec, 2024 by Sean salasny
If you find yourself in need of some legal help, Tom and his team are incredible! They are extremely thorough and genuinely care about their clients! I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of my experience, and there is no one i would i have trusted more than Tom and his team! Thank you so much for everything!
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24 Nov, 2024 by Dianne hall
Tom is excellent at what he does and is also very kind and compassionate. I would highly recommend him. He went above and beyond for me and traveled a great a t distance to represent me. Thank you for all you did!!
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13 Jul, 2023 by Michelle
I was very nervous about going to court. A friend of mine recommended Michael Seibert for an attorney. So glad I took his advice. Michael was so quick to get back to me, walked me through every step of the process. I was so relaxed going into court and was able to get things done the way I wanted and needed. I would recommend Michael to anyone looking.
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10 Dec, 2024 by Sean salasny
If you find yourself in need of some legal help, Tom and his team are incredible! They are extremely thorough and genuinely care about their clients! I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of my experience, and there is no one i would i have trusted more than Tom and his team! Thank you so much for everything!
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24 Nov, 2024 by Dianne hall
Tom is excellent at what he does and is also very kind and compassionate. I would highly recommend him. He went above and beyond for me and traveled a great a t distance to represent me. Thank you for all you did!!
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11 May, 2015 by Anonymous
My case started out with the public defender. He didn't spend five minutes with the DA before he came back and tried to give me some deal that didn't even seem like a deal at all. I called around to other attorneys, and it felt like they were asking me to sign my life away just to get them to go to court. I was in a panic. I met with Mr. Becker and he was honest and upfront. He spent more time with me in one meeting than I could have ever expected. He was very reasonable and worked with me on fees. What's more is that he kept going back to court and fighting on my behalf. In the end, I got a much better deal than I started with.
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22 Nov, 2024 by Heidi gerber
Brian is the best! He helped me get a TN, then my green card, and finally, my U.S. citizenship. He was professional, thorough and extremely patient with all of my questions/concerns along the way. If you're thinking of utilizing Brian's services, I highly recommend you do. Thank you, Brian!
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22 Oct, 2024 by Jason grosse
Brian was outstanding in helping me secure my Green Card. He and his team are highly responsive, professional and break down the daunting application process into manageable steps. Brian's counsel was invaluable in helping me make decisions related to my immigration status. Highly recommended.
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18 Sep, 2024 by Dauble
Straight to point, had great answers and alternatives to our questions. He was very informative, problem solving and very helpful. Thank you!
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24 Apr, 2020 by Jordan
I couldn't be happier with her representation. She obtained the best outcome I could have asked for. Definitely reccomend
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09 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
Elizabeth was very helpful taking care of my traffic tickets. The matter was taken care of quick and efficient.
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02 Mar, 2016 by Steve
great legal results also cared enough to help me get my life in order without him pointing me in the right direction it would have been impossible Steve S
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27 Feb, 2024 by Ryan roche
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23 Feb, 2024 by Cam ruhland
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17 Apr, 2023 by Brian vaccaro
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11 Dec, 2017 by Carol czosnyka tojek quintana
Reasonable / Professional / Personable ... Very nice man to speak to ... He helped me feel safe and took away my fear in my legal situation. If or when needed he is ready to jump in and take over. Thank you, In His Love Carol
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07 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
We were treated in a respectful, professional and helpful manner while preparing our wills, healthcare proxies and power of attorney. Mr. Friedman took as much time as we needed to answer all of our questions and concerns. His staff was friendly and efficient. We highly recommend him.
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05 Apr, 2017 by Jim
Very pleased with professionalism, knowledge and timeliness of the documentation process. The insight on Will, POA and Trust was invaluable as well. Highly recommended.
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17 Apr, 2020 by Joel
Where to start Eli, is just amazing.... have a question she has an answer. Her and her husband John not only help me escape a toxic marriage they become friends. Eli was so wonderful, helpful, caring, and determined to help me that even after my divorce I make it a point to check on her and her family. You can praise a lawyer for doing their job, you can find a great attorney, but it’s not everyday you find both and a friend. I highly recommend if your having marital issues you give these fine people a call. I promise you won’t regret it. Thank you Eli for everything but mostly for the support when things were rough. God bless you and your family, be safe, and we’ll talk again soon Sunshine. :)
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20 Sep, 2012 by Sc
Eli was extremely helpful when I sought her assistance on a ticket in NY. My court was actually pretty far, but she helped me find a closer attorney and walked me through everything, even making sure that the local attorney treated me right.
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10 Dec, 2024 by Sean salasny
If you find yourself in need of some legal help, Tom and his team are incredible! They are extremely thorough and genuinely care about their clients! I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of my experience, and there is no one i would i have trusted more than Tom and his team! Thank you so much for everything!
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24 Nov, 2024 by Dianne hall
Tom is excellent at what he does and is also very kind and compassionate. I would highly recommend him. He went above and beyond for me and traveled a great a t distance to represent me. Thank you for all you did!!
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06 Mar, 2020 by Km c
Very warm family feeling. Professional and friendly. Always working for the client in any situation.
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28 Jan, 2020 by James k
We were very pleased with Mr Jaworski and his staff. There knowledge and insights made us confident that our will and estate plan would protect our assets and interests of our family.
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09 Aug, 2019 by Don errington
Very friendly and professional experience. This was the first time I used a lawyer for family court and I was very happy with what they achieved. I used others that were just horrible. I highly recommend them. Thanks again!!!!
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22 Sep, 2024 by Sanjoy datta
Not Recommended
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26 Aug, 2024 by Swapnil deore
Got my 6 points speed ticket dismissed. Highly recommended. Thank you.
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02 Nov, 2022 by Steve cramer
No points, No Fine,... I Highly Recommend Mr. Arthur Pressman.
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15 Jul, 2021 by Robert
I have used Justin many times. He is always available, even gave me his cell number to txt back and forth. Never afraid to take on the "Big Boy Firms". Has always given good advice on situations. A good hire to have on your legal team.
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17 Dec, 2020 by Susan
Mr. White went out of his way to help me with a small claim against a Cooling & Heating company. I was even able to meet him on a Sunday morning. He always answered my calls and took care of the case in a timely manner. Very professional and sincere. I highly recommend Justin White.
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19 Jul, 2017 by Karen curtin taneff
Justin White is an extremely competent and learned attorney. He always makes time for me, even when I know that he is extremely busy. He is very polite, yet effective in the courtroom. On a personal level, It is clear that he truly cares about me, and the outcome of the case.
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28 Dec, 2018 by Bill
I was a client of Mr. Santoro. Mr. Santoro was assigned to me through the assigned council program for my custody and visitation battle. We spoke for a half hour a couple of weeks before our first court date. He then immediately went on vacation til the day before said court date. He showed up at that court date 25 minutes late and had me re-tell everything I told him two weeks earlier as he ran from floor to floor checking in for his other cases. His lack of attention led to him miscommunicating my schedule to the court and thus setting up a month of difficulty in picking up my son while we awaited the next court date. I also have to mention how oblivious and tone deaf Mr. Santoro is. Keep in mind, at the time, I had a low income that qualified me for assigned council. Mr Santoro showed up late and immediately commenced to talk about his two weeks in Cancun, to someone who he should've had the presence of mind to know wasn't going to be affording similar trips any time soon. If he had dedicated half as much attention to the details of my case as he did to telling me about his vacation, maybe he'd be getting a better review right now. I went out of my way to prepare Mr. Santoro every week for the shenanigans that my ex was pulling. She is a borderline personality case and while her behavior is hostile, it is also predictable. Every week I informed Mr. Santoro of the obstacles she was manufacturing to prevent my access and every week he acted surprised, like it was the first time he heard any of it. He would wait til the last possible moment to address her behavior with her lawyer and his lack of action cost me access to my son on multiple occasions. Finally, the week of my son's birthday, my ex was in rare form. She wouldn't let me talk to my son on his birthday. She made him hang up on me the next day when I did get to talk to him and then she denied my pickup at the end of the week, causing me to get the police to come and enforce the order. I had been leaving Mr. Santoro messages as her actions unfolded and he would send the auto-reply text saying he would call me back as soon as he was available. Well, three days of this finally led me to leaving him a voicemail asking if he was "ever going to return a f*cking message." It was at this point that Mr. Santoro showed the first ounce of action in the 3 months I had known him. He went from being the tough Brooklyn guy who assured me his "30 years of experience dealing with this" would prevent her from pulling such stunts, to a pearl clutching debutante who was too offended by the F word to do his damn job. He filed a motion to be relieved as my attorney and I gladly let the judge know I was happy with that due to his sub par efforts. I should also note that about 3 weeks before this, I got a great new job that knocked me out of the assigned counsel program. I told Mr. Santoro this and hoped that the possibility of him getting paid would cause him to step his game up. I was wrong. I met with him the week before the dam finally broke and I thought he showed a base level of concern but I was wrong. I should have fired him then. Mr. Santoro exemplifies the worst stereotypes about lawyers. He is lazy, inattentive, pompous, condescending and only cares about himself. Don't hire him.
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27 Dec, 2017 by Katie calabotta
Jeff was my attorney for both child custody and divorce. He was upfront about what to expect with each process. He took care of everything. He kept me in the loop and answered any questions I had quickly which relieved stress on my behalf. I highly recommend Jeffrey Santoro to anyone who is in need of representation.
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23 Jul, 2016 by Barney
Mr. Santoro is a very sharp lawyer! He put together a very good game plan, to help my daughter get out of a deep hole she dug for herself...ill never use any other lawyer, but Jeffrey P. Santoro....
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30 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
I was the defendant in a divorce case. Millane reviewed the facts, and told me I had a strong case in my favor. He kept this up for 2-1/2 years of depositions and filings to run up billable hours. On the night before trial, he suggested I settle out of court, He finally admitted that that while he had been practicing law for ten years, he had never taken a matrimonial case to trial. He always negotiated an out-of-court settlement. The trial was bi-furcated--grounds and financials. After we lost the grounds trail, he resigned and refused to represent me at all. In part because my now-ex was probably going to get all the marital assets and there would be no more dollars he could extract from me. He also refused to look at some duplicate billings I had discovered, claiming I still owed him more money. I would never recommend this lawyer to anyone.
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. What is your fee structure?
    Ask how the lawyer charges for their services and whether you’ll be responsible for any additional costs.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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