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I am always asked by friends what is the best criteria for one to select a competent New York criminal defense attorney and if expense should be the main factor. The simple answer is NO, unless you don't care about the outcome.
There are thousands of criminal defense attorneys in New York, but not all are alike. Many defendants make the mistake of seeking out the cheapest attorney only to learn later on that they run a "mill" like practice with little regard for you or your particular situation. Whether you are a professional, work for the State, City or Federal Government, have a Green Card and can't afford a conviction, or if you are civil servant and work for the MTA so you cannot afford to have a felony on your record, or simply can't have any type of criminal record due to your profession, or you are student seeking to keep your record clean, you need an attorney who is in tune with what you can and cannot reasonably agree to in evaluating and presenting your case in the best light possible, so as to both keep the fees low and obtain the best possible outcome for your future.
Having represented many professionals, I'm cognizant of the need to not rush through the resolution of a criminal matter and to do what it takes to obtain a positive resolution, whether via meeting with the DA's office, arguing before a Judge, seeking suppression of evidence (Mapp Hearing), identifications (Wade Hearing) or statements (Huntley Hearing), or otherwise. I like to maintain long term relationships with all my clients and thus seek the best results for the client, rather than simply collect the fee and move on, which is why our most recent criminal client said this about our services:
on Jul 8, 2015
"The answer to all your legal problems" I was charged with statutory rape in NY, along with several other charges. Mr. Meissner arranged a deal with the Assistant DA for me to have the charges reduced to a misdemeanor and me to attend classes, even when other lawyers said I would have to serve some jail time. Can't thank Stuart enough for allowing me this second chance to get my life back. Anyone who has legal problems should give Stuart Meissner a call before anyone else."
I believe the most important factor in obtaining a positive disposition is retaining an attorney who has worked in the offices and courts which you are being prosecuted in, or at the very least having had long relationships with many in the subject prosecutor's office and the Judges. While all say justice is blind, in reality human relationships do help -- a lot-- , especially when the prosecutors and the Judges on the other side respect and trust the defense attorney, having known them from years being on the same side as the DA's office prosecuting similar crimes. As a former prosecutor for 11 years, with 7 years in the Trial Division of the Manhattan DA's office, and 4 years in the Criminal Prosecution Bureau of the NY State Attorney General, which cases were heard across the State, in 27 years I am proud to have built up relationships with many of the current prosecutors, supervisors and judges throughout the Tri-State region and know their concerns and how they view cases. Such is priceless when retaining an attorney, which is why one can always find a cheaper attorney on the web if one wishes, but the outcome at the end will likely be different for a variety of reasons*.
Unlike other criminal attorneys we choose not to accept retention from career criminals and most of our clients are first arrest situations. Thus, if you are a career criminal or seek to be one, we are NOT the firm for you. Yes, unlike other criminal defense firms, we do turn down business as we are selective with the clients we take on, so when we meet with prosecutors they know if we chose to represent you, that they wont be seeing you again, thus assisting us in obtaining the best deal possible. Alternatively, If trial is needed, you can be sure that I will represent your interests aggressively, just as I did as a prosecutor in winning over 90% of my cases* and such background also goes a long way in influencing prosecutorial decisions on your case.
Regards,
Stuart D. Meissner Esq.
845-444-5274
(offices in Nyack in Rockland and NY, New York)
Attorney Advertising
*Past results do not guarantee the same outcome in future matters
There are thousands of criminal defense attorneys in New York, but not all are alike. Many defendants make the mistake of seeking out the cheapest attorney only to learn later on that they run a "mill" like practice with little regard for you or your particular situation. Whether you are a professional, work for the State, City or Federal Government, have a Green Card and can't afford a conviction, or if you are civil servant and work for the MTA so you cannot afford to have a felony on your record, or simply can't have any type of criminal record due to your profession, or you are student seeking to keep your record clean, you need an attorney who is in tune with what you can and cannot reasonably agree to in evaluating and presenting your case in the best light possible, so as to both keep the fees low and obtain the best possible outcome for your future.
Having represented many professionals, I'm cognizant of the need to not rush through the resolution of a criminal matter and to do what it takes to obtain a positive resolution, whether via meeting with the DA's office, arguing before a Judge, seeking suppression of evidence (Mapp Hearing), identifications (Wade Hearing) or statements (Huntley Hearing), or otherwise. I like to maintain long term relationships with all my clients and thus seek the best results for the client, rather than simply collect the fee and move on, which is why our most recent criminal client said this about our services:
on Jul 8, 2015
"The answer to all your legal problems" I was charged with statutory rape in NY, along with several other charges. Mr. Meissner arranged a deal with the Assistant DA for me to have the charges reduced to a misdemeanor and me to attend classes, even when other lawyers said I would have to serve some jail time. Can't thank Stuart enough for allowing me this second chance to get my life back. Anyone who has legal problems should give Stuart Meissner a call before anyone else."
I believe the most important factor in obtaining a positive disposition is retaining an attorney who has worked in the offices and courts which you are being prosecuted in, or at the very least having had long relationships with many in the subject prosecutor's office and the Judges. While all say justice is blind, in reality human relationships do help -- a lot-- , especially when the prosecutors and the Judges on the other side respect and trust the defense attorney, having known them from years being on the same side as the DA's office prosecuting similar crimes. As a former prosecutor for 11 years, with 7 years in the Trial Division of the Manhattan DA's office, and 4 years in the Criminal Prosecution Bureau of the NY State Attorney General, which cases were heard across the State, in 27 years I am proud to have built up relationships with many of the current prosecutors, supervisors and judges throughout the Tri-State region and know their concerns and how they view cases. Such is priceless when retaining an attorney, which is why one can always find a cheaper attorney on the web if one wishes, but the outcome at the end will likely be different for a variety of reasons*.
Unlike other criminal attorneys we choose not to accept retention from career criminals and most of our clients are first arrest situations. Thus, if you are a career criminal or seek to be one, we are NOT the firm for you. Yes, unlike other criminal defense firms, we do turn down business as we are selective with the clients we take on, so when we meet with prosecutors they know if we chose to represent you, that they wont be seeing you again, thus assisting us in obtaining the best deal possible. Alternatively, If trial is needed, you can be sure that I will represent your interests aggressively, just as I did as a prosecutor in winning over 90% of my cases* and such background also goes a long way in influencing prosecutorial decisions on your case.
Regards,
Stuart D. Meissner Esq.
845-444-5274
(offices in Nyack in Rockland and NY, New York)
Attorney Advertising
*Past results do not guarantee the same outcome in future matters