Livesay & Myers has a team of criminal attorneys and paralegals serving Fairfax, Manassas, Woodbridge, Fredericksburg, Stafford and all of Northern Virginia.
The judicial process in Virginia can be complicated and dangerous for those charged with crimes, from traffic offenses and misdemeanors to serious felonies. Having good criminal lawyers on your side makes a difference. You can rely on the experience and ability of our criminal attorneys to guide you through the treacherous terrain of the criminal justice system– to fight for you every step of the way.
Step 1 - Initial Investigation. Our criminal lawyers usually advise clients to remain silent when questioned by law enforcement officials in any potential criminal matter. It is natural to believe that you can convince someone of your innocence or talk yourself out of the situation. In most cases, however, speaking directly with police will significantly impair your ability to present the best possible defense. In short, do not speak to anyone about criminal allegations for which you could be a target. Do not speak to law enforcement authorities without a criminal attorney present.
Step 2 - Arrest. If you are arrested, remember that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Everything you say WILL be used against you. Police will often promise better or special treatment if you will cooperate and speak freely. But you must understand: police have no legal authority to make agreements that bind prosecutors. Therefore, they cannot make things better for you after charges are filed. An investigator may also suggest that an innocent person has nothing to hide and therefore does not need a lawyer. Don’t fall for that one, either. You have the right to remain silent– innocent or guilty. Again, do not speak to law enforcement authorities without a criminal lawyer present.
Step 3 - Negotiation. After being charged, depending on the jurisdiction and your record, the prosecutors may be willing to offer a “plea-bargain.” In some cases, a plea-bargain with favorable terms may offer an attractive alternative to going to trial and risking a bad result. Our criminal lawyers will negotiate aggressively on your behalf to extract the best possible deal from the prosecutors. However, if an attractive plea-bargain is not offered, we are ready and willing to represent you at trial.
Step 4 - Trial. The criminal lawyers at Livesay & Myers believe the building block for success in every trial is rigorous preparation. We believe in doing the hard work before trial necessary to give you the best chance to win in court. Our criminal attorneys are no strangers to the courtroom, and are more than willing to try any case on behalf of their clients.
Step 5 - Appeal. Even the best criminal lawyer cannot guarantee success at trial 100% of the time. In cases where things did not go your way at trial, we stand ready to assist with the criminal appeal process. Criminal appeals are fundamental to the fairness of the system, allowing for correction of errors by the trial court. Our criminal attorneys can represent you on appeal not only in cases where we represented you at trial, but also where you were unrepresented or were represented by another attorney.
Our Criminal Defense Experience
Our criminal lawyers are experienced in handling every sort of criminal and traffic law matter in Virginia, including:
Our Criminal Attorneys
Livesay & Myers has a team of experienced criminal attorneys and paralegals across offices in Fairfax, Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia, ready to fight for you through every step of the criminal process. Be sure to review the qualifications and experience of each of our criminal lawyers to find the one who is the best fit for you:
Ghislaine Storr Burks is the lead criminal defense attorney at Livesay & Myers. She is experienced in handling every type of criminal matter in Virginia, with a special focus on sex crimes, violent crimes and other serious felonies. An attorney since 2005, Ms. Burks was named a Partner at Livesay & Myers in January 2012. She has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable trial attorneys in the firm for her skills in the courtroom.
Ben Griffitts is a senior criminal lawyer at Livesay & Myers. An attorney since 2004, he has years of experience handling every type of criminal matter in the courts of Northern Virginia, especially Fairfax County and Prince William County– from serious felonies, violent crimes, and drug charges to traffic and misdemeanor cases. In 2012, Mr. Griffitts was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
If you have been charged with a crime in Virginia, contact us to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced criminal attorneys today.
