Highest Rated Richmond VA Lawyers • 1500+ Reviews
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law are established local Richmond VA lawyers that specialize in criminal law, firearms law & defending motorists charged with DUI / DWI, reckless driving, speeding and traffic violations. Our office is located a few miles from the Courthouse. We are recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. Many of the cases filed in the Richmond VA Courts are criminal & traffic law cases. Our firm has been positively reviewed more times than any other law firm that represents clients charged with criminal offenses & traffic violations in the Richmond Courts. Put our lawyers in Richmond Virginia to work for you. We can help! Let us review your case.
30,000+ Clients Represented
1500+ Client Reviews
60+ Years of Combined Experience
Richmond VA Attorneys • Circuit & District Court Representation
Richmond is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Interstates 95, 64, 195, the Downtown Expressway (Route 195) & the Powhite Parkway (Route 76) are the city’s busiest highways. The Virginia State Police is the primary agency that patrols these highways. The Richmond Police Department along with other state and local law enforcement agencies also patrol these highways and investigate criminal offenses throughout the city to include Downtown, The Fan, Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom, VCU, Ginter Park, Manchester, Midtown, Stratford Hills, Carytown & the Museum District to name a few. Do not plead guilty to your case without first consulting a local Richmond Virginia attorney. In Virginia, a conviction is permanent and cannot be expunged.
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Top Rated Richmond VA Attorney Criminal Law & Traffic Defense
Free Consultation with Most Rated Richmond Virginia Lawyers
Some folks think they do not need a Richmond Virginia lawyer for their criminal law or traffic violation case. The biggest issue for many is making it to the courthouse for the trial date. A lack of experience and legal knowledge are other considerations. The average person does not understand the best course of action to defend a particular case. Experienced Richmond VA attorneys know the best tactics for obtaining the best results. Our lawyers spend hours in the Richmond Courts every week and are familiar with the habits of the different judges and the law enforcement officers who make the arrests and issue the traffic tickets. This local knowledge is invaluable in order to best defend your case.
Experienced Attorneys That Defend Richmond VA Criminal Cases
Finding the best Richmond Virginia Lawyer for your case can be overwhelming. The internet is overrun with legal directories and lawyer websites. Our Richmond VA Criminal Defense Firm has dedicated their careers to the practice of criminal law. Our Richmond VA lawyers handle a wide range of criminal cases. Titles 18.2 and 19.2 of the Va. Code, the Virginia Supreme Court rules, and the Constitutions of the United States and Virginia govern criminal procedure and the substantive criminal law. Consult with an experienced Richmond VA attorney who can assess your case, provide guidance and best represent your interests. Our lawyers are members of prestigious legal organizations. We believe that membership and leadership in criminal law organizations make us better advocates.
Richmond VA Attorney Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers Since 2009
Super Lawyers is a legal rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This organization recognizes the top rated attorneys nationwide across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes using a patented process of independent research and peer input. Our Richmond VA law firm has been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of the Virginia lawyers are named to this list and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a Richmond VA attorney who has been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers with this elite award.
Richmond Virginia DUI / DWI Defense Specialist
Driving intoxicated is taken seriously by the Richmond VA Courts. The DUI / DWI law can be very complex and the consequences can be extremely serious and life changing. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) & Driving Under the Influence (DUI) are often used interchangeably because they are both charged under the Va. Code 18.2-266. The Richmond Commonwealth Attorney’s Office can prosecute the offense regardless of whether alcohol or drugs or both are the intoxicant. Our Richmond VA attorneys have successfully defended hundreds of DUI / DWI cases. Exercise caution before you engage a lawyer for representation that lacks the proper training or experience. Engage a top Richmond DUI / DWI Law Firm who has the experience to best defend your DUI / DWI case.
Richmond VA “AV Preeminent” Lawyer • Martindale-Hubbell Top Rating
For over 135 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been the authority for evaluating professionals for legal ability and ethical standards through a Peer Review Rating system established by judges and lawyers. Riley & Wells Attorneys-A-Law is a Richmond Virginia AV Preeminent® rated law firm. The top Martindale-Hubbell rating standard. This is awarded to lawyers who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards. Retain a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated Richmond VA criminal law & traffic defense firm for your case. Review the law firm’s legal rating and exercise caution before you retain a Richmond VA attorney with an inferior rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Experienced Reckless Driving Defense Attorneys in Richmond VA
Reckless driving in Richmond VA is taken very seriously by law enforcement and the Courts. There are over 10 different reckless driving laws in Virginia and some are the most severe in the Country, according to WalletHub. Va. Code 46.2-862 makes driving 20 mph over the posted speed limit a criminal misdemeanor reckless driving offense. The maximum speed limit in some parts of Richmond is 60 miles an hour. The law enforcement agencies that patrol Richmond VA issue thousands of reckless driving tickets every year for various reckless driving violations. NOTE: The issuance of a ticket is NOT a conviction. Contact an experienced Richmond VA attorney before you plead guilty. You can benefit from our experience. Convictions cannot be expunged.
Richmond VA Lawyers Represent Clients in the Manchester Courts
The City of Richmond has three separate courthouses. One of the courthouses is located south of the James River in Manchester. This is the Richmond Manchester General District Court. Manchester is a former independent city that merged with the City of Richmond. This courthouse is located at 920 Hull St. and is now known as the Henry L. Marsh III and Harold M. Marsh Sr. Manchester Courthouse. This court has criminal dockets, traffic dockets, parking ticket and toll violation dockets and employment commission dockets along with holding arraignments and bond hearings. Our Richmond VA attorneys routinely represent clients weekly before this courthouse. Allow us to review your case. We can help!
Virginia Uniform Summons Issued by Richmond Police for District Court
A common scenario that brings people before the Richmond VA Courthouse is the issuance of a Virginia Uniform Summons. This is the legal document issued by Richmond Police during a police encounter or traffic stop. This document is often referred to as a ticket. A law enforcement officer issue a summons for a criminal misdemeanor offense or a traffic infraction. The summons serves as legal notice for the alleged violation. Signing the summons is not an admission of guilt. The summons advises you that a hearing has been set before the Richmond General District Court. Let our Richmond VA attorneys review your summons. We can develop a defense strategy even if you think you are guilty.
Richmond VA Traffic Lawyers Presenting the Best Defense
The Virginia motor vehicle code classifies numerous offenses as traffic violations. Some traffic offenses are more serious than others. A violation can be a traffic infraction or a criminal offense. Criminal traffic offenses can either be a misdemeanor or a felony. Traffic infractions can either be a non-moving offense or a demerit point offense. The classification of offense depends on the severity of the conduct. If you have been accused of any traffic violation, then it would be wise to consult an experienced Richmond Virginia lawyer. A traffic violation conviction may negatively affect your freedom and your future. CAUTION: A traffic violation may increase the automobile insurance premium by as much as 79% according to Insurance.com
Legal Elite Recognizes Top Richmond Attorney by Virginia Business
Virginia Business is dedicated to covering activity in the legal industry along with every other sector of business in the Commonwealth. In cooperation with the Virginia Bar Association, they have been recognizing Top Virginia Attorneys with its Legal Elite Award since 2000. There are over 23,000 legal practitioners in Virginia. Legal Elite recognitions are awarded to about 1400 lawyers each year. This is an exclusive list of top rated individuals who have been recognized for excellence. Only outstanding and experienced professionals are recognized for being Legal Elite. A lawyer cannot purchase his or her way in to being recognized as a member of the Virginia Business Legal Elite community. Allow a Richmond Virginia Legal Elite Attorney to review your case.
Sustaining Member National College for DUI / DWI Defense
The National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) is a professional organization dedicated to improving the trial skills of DUI / DWI lawyers. NCDD members are the most experienced DUI / DWI attorneys. Richmond Virginia DUI / DWI cases can be complex because they require an understanding of legal and scientific processes. The legal issues range from constitutional issues to complex evidentiary issues. These legal issues in a DUI / DWI case intersect with scientific areas of expertise, such as toxicology and the pseudo-scientific areas of field sobriety testing. Our Richmond Virginia lawyers understand the operations of breath test equipment and other instruments utilized by forensic laboratories in the process of testing for intoxicants.
Richmond Virginia Trial Courts Are Adversarial By Design
If you have been accused of violating a Richmond VA criminal or traffic law, then your case will eventually be set for trial before the Richmond Virginia Courts. Criminal offense and traffic violation trials are adversarial in nature. This involves a structured and formalized dispute between the defense and the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. The adversarial system is designed to ensure a fair trial according to the rules of law and evidence by allowing each party to present their case in addition to being able to challenge the other party’s evidence and arguments. The judge evaluates the evidence, arguments, and the credibility of witnesses to reach a verdict. This system ensures that the prosecution meets its high standard of proof.
Superb Avvo Rated Richmond Virginia Lawyers
The Avvo Rating can help you find the right Richmond lawyer. Avvo was derived from “avvocato”, which means lawyer in Italian. Avvo is a legal directory that rates legal professionals using a mathematical model on a scale of 1 (Extreme Caution) to 10 (Superb). Members of our Richmond VA law firm maintain a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating. Avvo gathers relevant information from state bar associations, other organizations that license legal professionals and consumers to calculate its legal rating. The same set of standards is used on all who are evaluated. The Avvo rating is merit based. You cannot pay a fee to improve your Avvo rating. Exercise caution when you consult with a lawyer who is not properly rated.
Out of State Residents Retain Top Rated Richmond VA Lawyers
Out-of-state residents need top rated Richmond Virginia lawyers for their Richmond criminal or traffic case. Many of the cases before the Richmond Courts involve criminal and traffic offenses from residents of other states or who are not from the area. These cases can range from a minor traffic ticket to something more serious that triggered an arrest. Just because you are not from the area does not mean you can ignore an incident that occurred in Richmond. If convicted, the incident will likely follow you back state. We represent local residents and from folks from other states such as: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut & Massachusetts to name a few.
Extensive Experience & Specialized Training Make Better Advocates
Our Richmond law firm includes members of some of the most prestigious legal organizations, such as the the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA). The VTLA is dedicated to enhancing the skills, knowledge, and professionalism of trial lawyers. We believe being members and leaders of trial lawyer organizations make us better trial lawyers and advocates for our clients. You will need a trial lawyer if you have a pending criminal or traffic case. Not all lawyers are trial lawyers. It is in your best interests to consult a Richmond Virginia lawyer with specialized training if you need representation before the Richmond Courts for a criminal law allegation or a summons for a traffic violation. We will present your best defense!
Legal Representation before the Richmond Virginia Courts
Richmond Virginia is the home to many Courts. There are federal courts and state courts. The federal courts based in Richmond include the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Richmond Division and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Richmond Division. The state courts include trial courts and appellate courts. The trial courts are the Richmond Circuit Court, the Richmond General District Court and the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The appellate courts include the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Contact our Richmond lawyers to discuss your case.
Richmond Defense Attorneys for Criminal & Traffic Charges
Richmond is a large community and operates various busy Courthouse complexes. Many of the cases before the Richmond Courts involve criminal offense and traffic violations. The Richmond law enforcement community aggressively enforces the criminal and traffic laws throughout the city. The Richmond Police Department is the primary agency that investigates violations of law and takes enforcement action. There are numerous other federal and state law enforcement agencies that enforce the laws in Richmond such as the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Division of Capitol Police & Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department to name a few. Our Richmond VA lawyers represent clients before the Richmond Courts regardless of which police agency case makes the arrest or charge.
Richmond VA Lawyers Representing Clients in Virginia U.S. District Court
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Richmond Division is located in Richmond Virginia. The court’s nickname is Home of the Rocket Docket. Our Richmond Virginia lawyers defend federal criminal cases in the Eastern District of Virginia’s Richmond Division. Many of these cases are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration to name just a few of the federal criminal law enforcement agencies. The federal criminal code is VERY complex. You need a legal professional with experience if you are facing federal criminal charges. We can help! Contact our top rated Richmond Virginia attorneys to discuss your case.
Richmond Virginia Lawyer Traffic Violation Client Review
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11/10/2015 | Updated 11/22/2023