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Lissa McKinney graduated Suffolk University and Suffolk University Law School, initially starting as a trial lawyer with the Public Defender's Office/ Committee for Public Counsel Services Worcester county office, serving in CDC and all of the north county courts inluding Fitchburg, and Leominster. She was later in the Boston office largely in the Boston Municipal Court "BMC" and Suffolk Superior Court. As a bar advocate, she spent 15+ years in Brighton, Roxbury, and Chelsea and grew her practice throughout all of eastern MA, Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlsesex, and Worcester Counties. If you have been accused or arrested, she has been to your court before, or is regularly there now.
Her courtroom and trial experience spans 40+ years and thousands of prceedings including bench or jury trials, probable cause hearings, restraining order trials (209A) and harrassment order trials (258E) and evidentiary suppression hearings. Her criminal practice includes extensive experience in Superior Court, District Court, and some Appeals work over most of her career.
Lissa presently focuses her practice on all criminal complaints in the District Court all over the state. Her District Court work includes clerk magistrate hearings on many issues including shoplifting, fake ID's, minors with alcohol or adults serving to minors, and traffic violations including tickets for speeding, unlicensed or uninsured operation, negligent operation etc. She also handles administrative hearings at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, for license suspensions including immediate threats, tickets, accidents etc; and firearms licensing appeals. On the civil side, she handles all domestic violence restraining and harrassment order cases; wage cases, and personal injuries from accidents or animals.
In addition, Lissa has previously been an Adjunct Clinical Trial Practice Instructor at Suffolk University Law School where she supervised third year law students providing indigent criminal defense. She also served as Staff Attorney for Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ) the bar advocate program assuring the quality of lawyers representing indigent criminal defendants in Suffolk County. She has been an instructor and lecturer at numerous educational seminars sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), the Boston Bar Association, Suffolk County Bar Advocate Program, Suffolk Lawyers for Justice, and the Committee for Public Counsel Services, such as: District Court Bar Advocate Training; Essential Rules of Criminal Procedure; Trying Drug Cases in Massachusetts; Emerging Areas of Criminal Practice; Hot Tips for Trying Criminal Cases, Probation Violation Proceedings; Defending on a Shoestring; Pre-Trial Conference Rules; Evidence-Getting It In and Keeping It Out.
She is highly regarded by her peers and clients, as reflected in the reviews on this site and others. She has been designated a "SuperLawyer" from 2020-2025 as well.
Lissa is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, the U.S. District Court for the First Circuit, the Florida Bar, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Membership: Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA).
4
Practice Areas
42 years | 2,000 cases
26 years | 400 cases
42 years | 300 cases
26 years | 40 cases
Free Consultation
$0 first 25 minutes
State: Massachusetts
Acquired: 1985
No misconduct found
State: Florida
Acquired: 1987
No misconduct found
(by appointment only), 30 Eastbrook Road,Suite 201, Dedham, MA, 02026
lissamckinney.com/
Other places you can find Lissa online.
83 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 10 reviews | Cost of Services
Posted by Philip | February 03, 2021 | Speeding & Traffic Ticket
Very thoughtful and trustworthy. Prioritize client's interest.
I contacted Lissa for a speeding ticket I got in Concord, MA. Though I didn’t use her service (I decided to pay off the ticket as it was a 10 MPH over ticket), Lissa spent her time explaining my ticket, her strategy and my options. It was my first ticket ever, and I was quite panic about my options a...
Posted by Tyler | July 13, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor
Lissa McKinney is my hero
Lissa McKinney is my hero. I was in a difficult position being taken advantage of by my former employer struggling to take care of things on my own. I had been working in my position for four years with conditions becoming difficult in the last year, culminating in a refusal of payment for work compl...
Posted by TN | July 09, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Sex Crime
Review
I hired Lissa to do a complex sexual assault allegation in the District Court which resulted in a dismissal. She assisted with giving advice before the hearing, prepared me for each step, communicated with me. She was knowledgeable of the procedures and law, willingness to chase down all leads and...
Posted by anonymous | August 29, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Outstanding
We used Attorney Mckinney’s services for a clerk’s hearing in a District Court relating to a criminal application for traffic matters involving one of our sons. Attorney Mckinney was simply exceptional in every aspect. When we first called her, she answered the phone and spoke to us in length. She ...
Posted by anonymous | July 07, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Juvenile
Great Lawyer
Lissa helped to resolve a case involving tagging related issue in juvenile court with a clerk hearing, She was great in every aspect well planned and prepared for case , out come was positive , for the amount time she spent she charged really low fee and made us feel very comfortable in approachi...
"I endorse this lawyer without hesitation. I originally met Attorney McKinney (Lisa) years ago when she was against me on a case in Plymouth County. Her knowledge of the law is tremendous. I appreciate great lawyering and Lisa is a fierce competitor, who always fights for her client's best interest. She was professional to work against but never a pushover (this resinated with the judge too). Many lawyers struggle to achieve this balance. Lisa relentlessly pursues the best outcome for her side. I have met several of her clients over the years and all of them speak highly of her. Feedback I have received includes; great client communication, fights hard to achieve best possible outcomes, highly intelligent, honest and fierce litigator. I have never received a negative review of her performance from a colleague or client she represented. The highest praise I can give another attorney is to say that I would risk my name and recommend them and I absolutely recommend Attorney Lisa McKinney."
"Attorney McKinney is a highly skilled professional advocating for consumers across the Commonwealth. I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Lissa is always superbly prepared for any case she has. Detailed, thorough preparation is her trademark. She anticipates any argument that may be used by the prosecution and is ready with a reply supported by statutes and case law. Some may argue she "over prepares" but when the result is "Not Guilty", the client perhaps would not agree that is the case."
"Attorney McKinney is one of the best and a mentor to many criminal defense attorneys, including myself. She is highly respected among her peers and I would recommend hiring her without hesitation."
"Lissa is an excellent attorney with a high level of attention to detail and a strong desire to obtain excellent results for her clients."
"Attorney McKinney takes the time to actually analyze questions by clients and provide insightful answers that actually answers a clients question. Her responses provide detailed and insightful responses that give a great head start to any potential client she helps."
"I have regularly worked with Attorney McKinney on various matters since I first met her almost 8 years ago through a mutual colleague. I frequently refer to her cases that are outside the scope of my own practice but that are in her areas of expertise which include restraining orders, harassment orders, criminal matters, and juvenile litigation. She has litigated and also successfully negotiated excellent results in these cases. I have been more than impressed by her dedication to my clients and have received positive feedback with regard to her professionalism and attention to detail. I highly recommend Attorney McKinney for both lawyers and clients who are looking for someone to handle these types of cases."
"Lissa is an expert, creative, and impassioned advocate. She will tirelessly pursue all avenues of defense, trial and appellate, and doesn't give up. She is always there for her clients. Highest recommendations!"
"I have known Attorney McKinney for thirty years. I have always been impressed with her zealous approach to every case. I can think of few people with her combination of commitment to her clients and intellectual curiosity about the law. Lissa is as thorough and as imaginative as any lawyer I know. I enjoy talking about the law with her and always walk away having learned something, even if it is an area in which I am supposed to be the "expert.""
"It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Attorney McKinney, and we do so as often as we can. Our practice involves substantial probate and family law work where relationships are strained and emotional, and the parties are vying for an angle in probate court. As a result, we often have clients accused of criminal offenses or finding it necessary to defend against restraining or harassment orders. Lissa McKinney has made herself available to our practice and clients as needed, and we are happy to refer our criminal work over to her and encourage others to do the same. She has a wealth of knowledge that overlaps the work we do and has a creative approach to litigation. We entrust our clients to her and know they are in good legal hands when we do."
"Lissa is an extremely knowledgable and capable criminal defense lawyer. She is tenacious and dedicated to her clients. I am an appellate lawyer I have worked on numerous matters with her over the past twenty-five years. She is my go to person when I need to refer someone to a criminal trial lawyer, and I cannot recommend her highly enough."
"I've known and worked with Attorney McKinney for more than 25 years, and shared office space with her when I first started. She was a highly regarded lawyer back then, and my knowledge of her excellence in litigation has only increased . Over the years we have collaborated on many criminal- probate overlap cases, and I'm very familiar with her work. She is respected in and out of the courtroom and is a dedicated advocate for her clients. I would want her to represent me. Her dedication, passion, compassion and skills are unparalleled."
"Attorney McKinney is a skilled trial lawyer who is masterful when representing clients before the court. I strongly endorse this attorney."
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2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2025
Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2024, Thomson Reuters
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2024, Thomson Reuters
2023
Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2023, Thomson Reuters
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Massachusetts SuperLawyers 2022, Thomson Reuters
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2021, Thomson Reuters
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2020
Massachusetts SuperLawyers 2020, Thomson Reuters
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Top Contributor, Avvo
2019
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2018
Top Contributor, Avvo
2018
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2002
Certificate of Appreciation, Suffolk Lawyers For Justice
1987 - Present
Attorney/Owner, Lissa McKinney Law
1999 - 2004
Staff Attorney (PT), Suffolk Lawyers for Justice
1989 - 1991
Adjunct Professor Clinical Program, Suffolk Law School
1984 - 1986
Staff Attorney Boston & Worcester offices, Committee For Public Counsel Services
2016 - Present
Massachusetts Academy of Trial AttorneysMember
1997 - Present
Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
Member
1991 - 1999
National Association of Criminal Defense AttorneysMember
1991 - 1991
Institute for Criminal Defense AdvocacySelected to attend training college
Recovered $7,394
1984
JD - Juris Doctor
1981
BS - Bachelor of Science
2019
2005
District Court Bar Advocate Training
2004
District Court Bar Advocate Training
2003
District Court Bar Advocate Training
2002
Essential Rules of Criminal Procedure
2002
Evidence: Getting it In-Keeping it Out
2001
Probation Violation Proceedings
2001
Defending on a Shoestring
2001
Probation Surrender Hearings
2000
Pre-Trial Conference Rules
1999
Trying Drug Cases in Massachusetts
1998
Probation Violation Proceedings
1996
Emerging Areas of Criminal Practice
1995
OJ Simpson Jury Trial
1993
Hot Tips for Trying Criminal Cases
2012
2002
2002
2001
2001
1999
English
Legal Answers
Top Contributor
Lissa earned significant contribution points in 2024.
How do I handle a criminal citation for driving with a revoked registration?
28 Jun 2025
Is shoplifting in Massachusetts with the value of $620 a misdemeanor or felony?
12 May 2025
Do I need a laser for a magistrate hearing ? First Four offense counts. Count 1
24 Feb 2025