Q: I was shocked to discover that so many Virginia lawyers claim to be Criminal Defense Lawyers.  Can any Virginia lawyer claim to practice Criminal Defense in Virginia?

A:

Yes.  Many Virginia lawyers will be upset with me for revealing this to you, but you deserve to know the truth.  In Virginia, any lawyer can advertise and hold himself/herself out to the public as a Criminal Defense Attorney as long as the lawyer can handle a case with a minimal degree of competence.  In Virginia, there are no tests to pass or certification processes to complete before lawyers are qualified to advertise that they practice in a particular area of law. 

To illustrate this point further, consider the following:  even though I have never handled a medical malpractice case, I could, if I chose to do so, advertise and market myself as a medical malpractice lawyer - because if a client wished to hire me for a medical malpractice case I could associate other lawyers and learn enough to handle the case and at least do a competent job.  Of course, not being an expert in that field I wouldn't provide top-notch representation, and it is unlikely that the case would end up with the same result as it would have if the hypothetical client had hired a lawyer who focused on that area of law.  But as long as I can be minimally competent, I can advertise that I handle any kind of case.  

So don't be fooled.  Just because a lawyer advertises as a Virginia Criminal Defense Lawyer, it does not mean the lawyer actually focuses on that area of law.  Being a "jack of all trades and master of none" lawyer, who dabbles in several areas of the law and excels in none of them, is perfectly acceptable in Virginia.  Since you probably don't want to end up with that kind of lawyer, as the consumer it is up to you to do your homework so you can separate the desirable Virginia Criminal Defense Lawyers from the less desirable lawyers.  After all, it's your life, your freedom and your future that is on the line, and if you want to end up with a "master" lawyer instead of the "jack of all trades and master of none" lawyer.

If you need a divorce lawyer, a contract lawyer, or a personal injury lawyer The Wilson Law Firm is not the right firm for you.  However, if you have been charged with a criminal or traffic offense in Virginia and the outcome of the case is important to you, The Wilson Law Firm may be just the firm you need.  The Wilson Law Firm only represents clients accused of criminal and traffic offenses in Virginia, and the Criminal Defense Lawyers of The Wilson Law Firm have successfully defended criminal and traffic cases all across Virginia.      

The Wilson Law Firm
DUI, Criminal & Traffic Defense ...When Results Matter

We have helped thousands of clients - and we can help you, too.

(703) 361-6100 / (540) 347-4944

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The lawyers of The Wilson Law Firm have traveled Virginia’s several interstates helping clients just like you - appearing in courts all across the Commonwealth of Virgnia - from Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the southeast, to Wise County in the southwest, all the way up I-81 to Frederick County / Winchester in the northwest, and all the way across Warren County, Fauquier County, Prince William County, and Fairfax County on the way to Arlington County and the City of Alexandria in the northeast. The Wilson Law Firm regularly serves Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, the towns of Haymarket and Quantico, Fauquier County / Warrenton, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County / Fredericksburg, Loudoun County / Leesburg, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Culpeper County, Warren County / Front Royal, Clark County / Berryville and Shenandoah County.