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Posted by Utah Criminal Lawyer Stephen Howard

Guess what?! I just found out that I may be the best criminal lawyer in Utah. Or even in all America!! And not only that, I may have also just won the Nigerian national lottery!

To claim my lottery winnings, all I have to do is pay a "processing fee" of a couple of thousand dollars and send some personal information to some stranger (who, coincidentally, works in a foreign bank and has access to millions of dollars in forgotten money that he can get for me too). In order to claim my recognition as one of the top attorneys in Utah, I only have to pay a few hundred dollars as "dues" for membership in the recognizing organization.

We all know that the Nigerian lottery emails are a total scam. But what about the letters that attorneys receive telling them that they have been named as one of the best attorneys in their state or major practice area?

Fairly frequently, I receive letters in the mail from various organizations informing me that I have been named as one of the "top" or "best” attorneys in Utah. The letters typically congratulate me on being one of the "top 10" best lawyers or a "leader" in a certain legal field, such as criminal defense. The letters also inform me that in order to accept this recognition, I only have to send in payment of a few hundred dollars as “dues” for membership in their organization.

In exchange for paying my dues, I will receive membership in their "prestigious" organization. I also receive the right to display their organization's logo on my website - a logo which proclaims to all the world that I am one of the best attorneys in Utah.

Perhaps the most entertaining communications from these organizations are letters indicating that they want to recognize me as one of “best” attorneys in another state, like Kansas - a state in which I have never practiced law - or informing me that I have been named as one of the “10 best” attorneys in Utah - but in a practice area in which I do not do any significant work. Given that certain of these organizations sometimes mistakenly believe that I practice in a state other than Utah or that I practice in areas of law that I do not deal with, I have never chosen to pay to accept their "honors."

Recognizing an attorney for excellence and achievement is appropriate. But when receipt of an “award” or other recognition appears to be based on an attorney’s willingness to pay a fee rather than on the reputation of the attorney or the quality of the attorney’s work, it raises serious questions.

But then again, maybe I really did win the Nigerian lottery. . . .

Finding a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Utah

You should never face a criminal charge alone. Having an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side can be critical to achieving a successful outcome. Serving Salt Lake County and the rest of Utah, criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard has the experience necessary to ensure that your rights are protected. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.

OTHER CRIMINAL DEFENSE TOPICS

Selected Victories
Not Guilty - Client was charged with aggravated assault for alleged attack using broken bottle as a weapon. Despite the testimony of numerous prosecution witnesses, thorough defense investigation to support a self-defense claim resulted in acquittal by jury at trial.
Dismissed - Minor in possession charge (MIP) was dismissed by prosecutor when defense analysis demonstrated that the police had failed to obtain necessary evidence against client. Police had raided a large party involving underage drinking. Several individuals were charged, but police did not obtain evidence showing that client had personally consumed or possessed alcohol. Case was dismissed.
Expunged - Client with prior conviction for violent felony was ineligible for expungement through the courts. A successful 2-step reduction restored expungement eligibility and ultimately led to the court's decision to grant the requested expungement.
Not Guilty - Client was charged with second-degree felony residential burglary and facing potential prison time. Investigation by the defense revealed multiple witnesses, missed by police and prosecutors, who supported client's claim of innocence. At trial, the jury returned a "not guilty" verdict on all charges.

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Can I handle a Utah misdemeanor from out-of-state? - Even if you do not intend to take your case to trial, a misdemeanor criminal offense in Utah can require multiple court appearances to reach a resolution. If you have been charged with a crime in Utah, but are not a Utah resident, an experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to help you resolve the case without returning to the state. . . .

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Attorney Stephen Howard practices as part of the Canyons Law Group, LLC and Stephen W. Howard, PC.

Offices in Salt Lake and Davis Counties
560 South 300 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
952 S. Main St., Suite A, Layton, UT 84041

Call now to arrange for a confidential initial consultation with an experienced and effective Utah criminal defense lawyer.

In Salt Lake City, call 801-449-1409.
In Davis County, call 801-923-4345.

Stephen W. Howard, PC

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