State Years

Massachusetts - MA 21 years

Rhode Island - RI 27 years
Licensed for 21 years

State MA

Acquired 2002

Status
Active No misconduct found
Licensed for 27 years

State RI

Acquired 1995

Status
Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

John E MacDonald

Criminal defense Attorney at Providence, RI

About
Contact
Reviews
Cost
Resume

Won my case

From the beginning of my case, I knew John was the real deal. A hard hitter. A no BS type of guy. Working with John was smooth, straight to the point, fearlessly strategic, quick on the spot, and one hell of a memory for quotes of wisdom and inspiration. Myself as well as my family could rest assured knowing that at the drop of a hat, John would answer your call and explain everything you need to know in full detail. As professional as it gets but also makes you feel like family. No matter the case. Big or small. CALL JOHN MACDONALD!!!

Self defense

For the last 2 years john stuck by my son and my family never faltering and always making sure that we were well protected. My son was on trial for murder when it was a clear cut self defense case. John always believed in not only my son but the evidence. He put together an amazing defense and guided us thru every step of the process. The end result was my son was cleared of all charges and after two years has his life back and can now look forward. So if you need a lawyer there is not a better one in the state. And to john when you read this me and my whole family thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there for us every step of the way!!

About John

Learn John’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Criminal defense

30%

Mr. MacDonald represents clients in state and federal court in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He has aggressively and successfully defended clients charged in every type of criminal case, including capital murder, child molestation, sexual assault, felony assault, domestic assault, patient abuse, bank fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud. Mr. MacDonald is the author of the Rhode Island Criminal Defense Manual (7th Edition), a top-rated manual used throughout the state by criminal defense attorneys.
... Read more
28 years, 5,000 cases
Immigration

25%

POST CONVICTION RELIEF AND IMMIGRATION: Mr. MacDonald represents clients seeking permanent residence and naturalization. He practices before the Providence Immigration Office and the Boston Immigration Court. For many clients facing deportation, the only recourse is post-conviction relief; that is, vacating the original conviction in state or federal court. Mr. MacDonald has successfully vacated convictions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. For a review of prior immigration and post-conviction
... Read more
28 years, 1,500 cases
DUI and DWI

15%

28 years
Domestic violence

15%

28 years
Sex crime

15%

28 years

John E. MacDonald is a trial attorney practicing criminal defense, immigration law and post-conviction relief in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. MacDonald represents clients in state and federal court in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He has aggressively and successfully defended clients charged in every type of criminal case, including capital murder, child molestation, sexual assault, felony assault, domestic assault, patient abuse, bank fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud. He is the former president of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. For a review of the prior criminal cases, see Cases.

Mr. MacDonald is the author of Rhode Island Criminal Defense, A Practice Manual (4th Edition), a top rated trial manual used by criminal defense attorneys throughout Rhode Island. See below.

Mr. MacDonald represents clients seeking permanent residence and naturalization. He practices before the Providence Immigration Office and the Boston Immigration Court. For many clients facing deportation, the only recourse is post-conviction relief; that is, vacating the original conviction in state or federal court. Mr. MacDonald has successfully vacated convictions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. For a review of prior immigration and post-conviction results, see Cases.

Mr. MacDonald is an honors graduate of Suffolk University Law School (1995) and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Rhode Island (1990). He is admitted to practice in all state courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Districts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts as well as the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Criminal Defense

The criminal defense lawyers here have the expertise and experience to successfully represent the accused for crimes from a simple traffic stop to a murder charge. We have represented aggressively and successfully clients facing felony or misdemeanor charges in the state and federal courts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts for cases such as:
- Drug Possession
- Domestic Assault
- Assault and Battery
- Sexual Assault
- DUI
- Molestation
- Criminal Fraud

Immigration

The immigration lawyers of The Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc. successfully represent clients at the Boston Immigration Court and Providence Immigration Office. We successfully terminate deportation cases in the Boston Immigration Court. We also help our clients obtain permanent residence through adjustment of status in the United States or consular processing abroad. Clients seeking US citizenship obtain our services to ensure that their petition is filed and approved quickly.

Post Conviction Relief

Attorney John MacDonald works with many clients whose immigration status requires vacating a criminal conviction or modifying the sentence. If you or a family member or friend requires post-conviction relief representation in Massachusetts or Rhode Island for the purpose of ameliorating adverse immigration consequences, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

Awards

Client's Choice

2022 2021 2020 + 6 ...

Photos and videos

Contact John

Law Office of John E. Macdonald, Inc.

(401) 214-9609 Office

One Turks Head Place

Suite 1440

Providence, RI, 02903

aggressivelegalservices.com/

Message Get Directions

Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

92 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.

Posted by Donald | September 21, 2023

Won my case

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Posted by James | June 20, 2023

Self defense

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Posted by Jeremy | March 13, 2023

Review for Attorney John MacDonald

John is a well respected and wonderful attorney. His knowledge and ethic work are unmatched. Attorney MacDonald and his office are professional communicators. They respond quickly to all emails, and always answer the phone. I highly recommend Attorney MacDonald for any case. His case results speak for themselves. Thank you John!

Posted by Ramon Rodriguez | December 21, 2022

Thank you for your hard work, tenacity and professionalism

John and his team are extremely experienced firm , that will fight with all of their might for their client. They help me and family at an unprecedented speed an accuracy, thanks to him and his team they clear me from being deported, will recommend them to anyone in need. Thank you!

Posted by anonymous | December 11, 2022

John MacDonald

Mr. MacDonald is a true professional. My wife and i were extremely nervous about my husband's criminal case. From the very beginning John made us feel very comfortable and assured us everything would work out. Needless to say, in the end the final results were more than we could have ever asked for. Thank you

Posted by anonymous | November 10, 2022

Persistent Professional

John was a constant professional in dealing with my case. He kept me well informed throughout the entirety of process and always had my best interest. A couple of curveballs were thrown our way and John knocked them all out the park. His knowledge and persistence made me feel comfortable & confident. John is who you want on your side and I highly recommend!

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Posted by anonymous | September 12, 2022

Goes above and beyond!

John is an amazing attorney who will go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure you both win the case and feel comfortable as you deal with the interim.

Posted by Mauricio | September 6, 2022

Best Attorney

John MacDonald is a great Attorney. He always responds swiftly to your questions and has your best interest at heart...

Posted by anonymous | September 6, 2022

Got it Done

John did a great job making us feel comfortable with a very bizarre situation and getting us prepared. I recommend John highly to those in need of great advise and presentation.

Posted by Daniel | July 31, 2022

Best in the business

John was personable, took the time to explain the case, was very professional, very thorough, and handled my case with the highest level of care. Even when it looked as though things weren't going to turn out ideally, he didn't hype me up. Instead, he prepared me to accept the possibility of what was likely to happen, and in the end it turned out the absolute best way it could have. He's one of the best, in my opinion. He tells it straight, and handles your case in the highest detail.

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Posted by Dan | July 15, 2022

The hands down best!

John represented me in one of the biggest headline cases in the state of Rhode Island. John worked with me personally and kept me informed throughout the entire process. We won the case because John was in my corner!

Posted by anonymous | June 30, 2022

el mejor abogado

todo abogado tiene q saber q el es el mejor de todo los tiempo por eso lo recomiendo a todos el q quiera resultado q se ponga en sus manos con los ojo serrado

Posted by Kevin | June 13, 2022

So grateful I found job to represent me!

John made a stressful experience a breeze! His confidence is well founded and his knowledge is apparent. Pricing was fair and transparent. John and his team communicated quickly and made sure we felt up to speed throughout the time we worked together. Extremely grateful I found John, he handled my case quickly and was able to help me clear all outstanding items favorably.

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Posted by Aziz | May 29, 2022

The best attorney

John was extremely professional and confident and helped me through my situation in a step by step manner. I was ultimately able to get the desired outcome at the end and would highly recommend him for anyone that needs an attorney!

Posted by Herland | April 19, 2022

Immigration Specialist!

I wasn't sure if I would ever be eligible to apply to become a United States citizen after some previous trouble with the law. John McDonald assured me to be patient and follow his advice. His years of experience and overall knowledge of the USCIS system gave me peace of mind and got me through the finish line successfully! Thank you John!

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Posted by anonymous | March 14, 2022

Very professional and knowledgeable

I contacted John after being the target of a grand jury investigation. He was very good at explaining what we needed to do and walked me through the process. I hired him and the end result was a no true bill from the grand jury. I would recommend John to anyone that finds them self in need of an attorney.

Posted by Joseph | January 11, 2022

Outstanding Lawyer and Ver Helpful

John made it very easy to understand the process of my case and helped me clear the charges on my record. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone.

Posted by anonymous | January 11, 2022

Amazing Lawyer!

John MacDonald is a lifesaver! John not only made my case go as smoothly as possible but his expertise and attentiveness gave me confidence going into court. He keeps you very well informed throughout the entire process so you always know what to expect, while also attending to issues in a friendly and approachable manner. John was an amazing lawyer through and through and I would recommend him to anybody and everybody. Thank you John!

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Posted by anonymous | January 11, 2022

Very Professional

John was very professional and we had a great communication. Highly recommended to those who needs a great attorney!

Posted by Paula | December 29, 2021

Client

John helped me tremendously as I worked towards my United States citizenship. He was responsive to all of my questions and made the entire process simple and quick. He was also very caring, as he went with me to my citizenship test and gave me a warm hug after I passed, knowing that this is something that I have wanted for a long time. I would recommend his services to anyone looking for a lawyer who is personable and can get the job done!

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.8 (Superb)

Work Experience

Owner
The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald
2001 - Present

Public Defender
Rhode Island Public Defenders Office
1995 - 2001

Education

Suffolk University Law School
JD with High Honors
1995

University of Rhode Island
BA - magna cum laude
1990

Legal Cases

Not Guilty After Trial
Not guilty after trial

Plea Vacated - Client Released from Immigration Custody
Convictions vacated and client released from ICE custody.

Gambling Forfeiture
Client recovered $300,000

Associations

Rhode Island Bar Association
Member
1995 - Present

Massachusetts Bar Association
Member
1995 - Present

Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense
Member
N/A

U.S. District Court, Rhode Island
Member
N/A

U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
Member
N/A

View all associations

Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

Top Criminal Attorneys in Rhode Island
Best Lawyers in America
2017

Publications

RIACDL
Rhode Island Criminal Defense - A Practice Manual 7th Edition
2016

RI Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Rhode Island Criminal Defense, A Practice Manual, 6th Edition
2014

RIACDL
RI Criminal Defense, A Practice Manual, 5th Edition
2012

View all publications

Speaking Engagements

RI CLE
Ethical Dilemmas facing RI Criminal Attorneys
2017

Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Recent Developments in Criminal Law
2013

RI Superior Court Justices
Impact of Criminal Convictions in Immigration Court
2012

Immigration Law and RI Crimes
Immigration Law
2011

Rhode Island Bar Association’s mandatory Continuing Legal Education 2010
Ethics in Criminal Defense
2010

Appearance at Rhode Island Department of the Public Defender
Padilla v. Kentucky
2010

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (13)

Given (9)

Endorse John

Brett Beaubien

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Ali Ebrahimzadeh

Unknown Attorney | Jan 24
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Monique Kornfeld

Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is an expert in criminal defense and post conviction relief in MA and RI. He serves hiss clients with integrity, intelligence and dedication. I unequivocally recommend him for criminal defense cases."

Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kara Hoopis Manosh

Criminal defense Attorney | May 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is the expert- he is a mentor to new lawyers and a consummate professional. You are in good hands with this attorney."

Frank Orabona

Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 24
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse Attorney MacDonald. I have tried several cases with Attorney John MacDonald. John is an excellent attorney with a command of the law second to none. He works tirelessly to achieve the best possible results for his clients. Moreover, he is always willing to lend his expertise and assist fellow attorneys."

Joseph Torri

Unknown Attorney | Sep 24
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Anthony Tuorto

Criminal defense Attorney | Jul 03
Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

Richard Rosenstein

Unknown Attorney | Jun 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. MacDonald is a skilled and respected member of the legal community. He is a zealous advocate for the rights and interests of his clients."

Michael Waddington

Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse John. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

John Pensa

Criminal defense Attorney | Mar 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is one of the most experienced criminal defense attorneys in Rhode Island and arguably the best attorney on the market. He has paved the road for success and has excelled in ways that most attorneys can only imagine. I endorse John MacDonald."

Neville Bedford

Immigration Attorney | Oct 06
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Reliable attorney"

Lawrence Signore

Criminal defense Attorney | Feb 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. John cares about his clients and getting them the results they deserve. You would be well served to consult with Mr. MacDonald."

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