Skip to main content

Joe Prieto

  Save
Avvo Rating10
  • Manchester, NH
  • Licensed for 18 years
  • Free consultation

Legal guides written by Joe Prieto

See all guides
Joe Prieto
Joe Prieto
AboutContactReviewsCost

About Joe

In defense of your license and livelihood!

Armed with a diversified background which includes having passed CPA and Real Estate Brokers License exams, Attorney Joseph Prieto brings a fresh and experienced approach to law. Joe graduated from Franklin Pierce College in 1994 with a degree in Finance, and founded Merchants Mortgage Company shortly thereafter. After 5 years, Joseph sold the company to pursue a career in law. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center) in 2001, Joe spent 10 years as a Trial Attorney in the New Hampshire Public Defenders Office. There, he  handled over 2,000 cases an tried 100s of trials in all types of criminal matters ranging from petty juvenile charges to death resulting crimes. In 2011, Joseph decided to open his own practice and Prieto Law was formed. Joseph acts as sole practitioner handling various legal matters such as Criminal, Landlord- Tenant, Family Law, and Collections cases. On the side, Joseph has spent time as an Adjunct Professor at NHTI and UNH teaching subjects such as Introduction to Business, Accounting and Finance, Business Law, and Economics.

Practice areas

Criminal defenseDUI and DWI
  1. DUI and DWI: 60%

  2. Criminal defense: 40%

Languages spoken

English

Client's Choice 2017

Photos and videos

4692822 1437065616

Contact

121 Bay Street
address map

121 Bay Street
Manchester, NH, 03104

Office (603) 232-2085

Website

http://prietolaw.com/

PrietoLaw.com

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
NHActive200207/20/2015
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers94
Legal guides4
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial LawyersThe National Trial Lawyers2018
Clients' Choice AwardAvvo2017
Civic in Action ParticipantNH Bar Assoc2014
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Founder/Sole-PractitionerPrieto Law, PLLC2011 - Present
Public DefenderNew Hampshire Public Defender Office2001 - 2011
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
DUI Defense Lawyers AssociationMembership Committee Chairperson2018 - Present
The National Trial LawyersMember2018 - Present
National College of DUI DefenseMember2017 - Present
City of Manchester NHMember - Manchester Zoning Board2017 - Present
New Hampshire Association for JusticeMember2011 - Present
New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember2010 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember2005 - Present
New Hampshire Bar AssociationMember2002 - Present
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
AmazonI've Been Arrested for DWI: Now What?!: A Simple Overview to the Complex World of New Hampshire DWIs2018
Amazon DigitalGet Them Out!: A Landlord's Guide On Evicting Non-Paying Tenants in New Hampshire2018
A How to Guide to Permanently Get Rid of Your Criminal Record in NHErase Your Criminal Record2017
Prietolaw.comNH Motor Vehicle Traffic Ticket "Points" System2015
Prietolaw.comNH Motor Vehicle Laws and Fines2015
Prietolaw.comNH DWI / DUIs Definitions and Penalties2015
Prietolaw.comNH Traffic Ticket Basics2015
Prietolaw.comTheft in New Hampshire2015
Prietolaw.comBurglary in New Hampshire2015
Prietolaw.comNH Robbery: In Brief2015
Prietolaw.comNH Arson Laws and Penalties2015
Prietolaw.comNH Vandalism Laws and Penalties2015
Prietolaw.comFirst and Second Degree Assault in New Hampshire2015
Prietolaw.comDomestic Violence in New Hampshire2015
Prietolaw.comNew Hampshire Stalking Laws2015
Prietolaw.comNew Hampshire Harassment Laws2015
Prietolaw.comHate Crimes in New Hampshire2015
Prietolaw.comNew Hampshire Landlord/Tenant Policy and Laws2015
Prietolaw.comHow are Juvenile Delinquencies Handled Differently in New Hampshire?2015
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
NHTSACert of Completion - DWI Detection & Field Sobriety Testing2017
University of New Hampshire School of LawJD - Juris Doctor2001
Franklin Pierce CollegeBA - Bachelor of Arts1994
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Lawyer in Every SchoolCivics in Action2017
NH Substance Abuse Laws SeminarCollateral Consequences of Drug Convictions2017
Practical Ethics for the Trial LawyerBuilding your Practice and Building your Image - Marketing: The Creative, The Controversial, the Verboten2015
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
M.D. V J.D.Dismissed
State v K.C.Case dismissed
C.F. v. T.K.Reversed

Reviews

(42)
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Review Joe Prieto

An absolute life saver

Posted by

I contacted joe with a nearly impossible case stacked against me. In a professional manner, Attorney Prieto was able to prevent me from going to jail. Without him, that would've been an absolute truth, and my life would be shattered. I'm extremely thankful for his knowledge and work ethic.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Atty Prieto is great!

Posted by

I was referred to Atty Prieto and could not have been more satisfied with the results! Joe is super professional. I felt Joe and his team really when the extra mile for me! Highly recommend!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Business Professional

Posted by

Outstanding Lawyer. I hired Joe to represent me on a DUI arrest. Joe was recommended and after speaking with him, I knew I had the right guy. His approach was methodical, efficient and honest. His knowledge of the DUI Law and his well presented case against the State got my sentence reduced to reckless driving. I witnessed excellence in legal negotiation!!! Thank you Joe for your excellent work!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Joe helped me tremendously in a tough time

Posted by

Joe was able to help reduce my sentence and for that I'm forever grateful. I'm a busy father and I put myself in a bad predicament but he was able to ease my situation.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

10/10 would recommend Attorney Joe Prieto

Posted by

When I was charged with DWI, all hope was lost. I thought my life was over. After doing my research, I came across Attorney Joe Prieto. After talking to him for few minutes, I knew I wanted him on my case. He was very knowledgeable and honest about my case. He also answered my questions in a timely manner. Even during the COVID-19 Pandemic he was working on my case and at end my DUI was dropped to Reckless Driving.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

HIRING ATTORNEY JOE PRIETO IS ONE OF THE BEST CHOICES I HAVE MADE IN MY LIFE!

Posted by

A few months when I walked into Joe Prieto’s office for the first time, I was met with a newfound feeling of relief. Relief was a foreign concept to me as a series of unfortunate events found their way to my life; needless to say, it was refreshing. Attorney Prieto came highly recommended by a friend of mine who is also an attorney. He expressed his faith and confidence in Joe as a criminal defense lawyer and assured me that I would be in the best hands. He was right. I was impressed with the 90 second response time when I reached out to see if I could come in and talk about my case. I was even more impressed that I was invited to meet Joe at Prieto Law, PLLC, in Manchester the following morning. About a week prior to meeting with Joe, I was pulled over for a minor traffic violation which turned into a first offense DUI charge as well as felony charges for possession and transportation of prescription medication that did not belong to me. The PD confirmed the medication was left behind by one of my passengers however that did not change things before court and the charges I was facing remained. A couple days later, the police department wrote up a juicy press release about my arrest and the charges for DUI and felony drug transportation and possession. My mug shot was also released with the arrest record and it was posted on the PD website, social media, and local news paper. Not even 24 hours after the PD press release was posted and published, all of the information it contained, was written into new stories or blog posts, and blasted all over social media, had a space in the Union Leader newspaper, and went up on local crime blogs and websites that host mug shots with the name and charges of the person who was arrested. The level of shock deepened again when I was let go of my job as a youth counselor where I helped kids who faced trauma and neglect, mental illness, abuse, and violence, all due to the media coverage on the arrest and the degree of seriousness the charges held. My name and photo was slandered in the media, I lost my job, my license was suspended and I was facing a maximum sentence of 21 years based on the felony charges. I had subconsciously prepared myself for a really sad, stressful, and expensive future. Four months after my arrest, Joe negotiated with the prosecutor to have ALL of the charges DROPPED, and my license REINSTATED IMMEDIATELY. My nightmare of a life had transformed into a dream come true. I was not expecting this result but I was hoping for it. The relief that started out as a tiny bud, bloomed into a full flower by the end of this experience. I learned a lot personally and I gained some perspective on life that cannot be taught outside of hardcore experience. I am back working with kids again in a new field that I love making more money than I was previous to the arrest. Hiring Joe Prieto as my attorney is one of the the single handed best choices I made thus far in my life. I say this with the deepest sincerity: I recommend Attorney Joseph Prieto with the highest degree a legal recommendation could possess. This experience showed me that some of the most wonderful outcomes in life do not only have to come from the most wonderful of experiences. Joe’s legal representation served as my light in a very cruel, frightening, and dark time. It is an understatement to say Attorney Prieto brought me relief. He found a way to help put my life back on its path. He gave my family their peace of mind back after all of the fear and trauma they experienced for those four months. This man shows up and represents nothing short of your highest moral ground and integrity. Thank you Joe, no words will ever be good enough to express the gratitude I have for you and your firm.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Amazing attorney!!

Posted by

I am so happy to have found Joe to represent my Aggravated DUI case. He is knowledgeable, personable, responsive & a great negotiator. He has great working relationships w/ prosecutors, judges & DMV/Dept. of Safety, all of which I believe was pertinent to my positive outcome. Joe is the best! I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal representation, especially DUI. I'd hire him again in a second!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Double cases

Posted by

Joe was referred to us by our closing attorney when the house we purchased had a failed septic tank within days of moving in. Joe reviewed our closing disclosures and our issues and we moved forward with a case. He gave us direction when neither of us had ever experienced a situation like this. He was also aggressive when we needed him to be, and we were extremly confident in his ability to represent us. Both him and Wes were amazing, and although the process took about a year and a half, it was successful. During this same time, my husband was dragged through a small claims case that he kept missing notices for with the new online system, and it created a default judgement against him as well as our new home. Joe and Wes were able to help us get this resolved as well. Within the same timeline, we were both the plaintiffs and the defendants in two separate cases, and I felt confident with Joe and his team behind us. They were also very cost effective, and only communicated with us when there was a need to in order to help reduce our legal fees where we had two cases going on at once.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Awesome Attorney!

Posted by

Atty Prieto is great! Super knowledgeable and professional. Great guy, really put me at ease and felt like he definitely had my back, and did all he could to help me.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Joe ROCKS!

Posted by

I got a DWI knocked down to reckless driving, thats huge considering all the other implications... Joe handled everything and presented a great case for me, you have to do your part and give him something to work with, but he gave me all the tools I needed, Great Job Joe!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
See all reviews

Attorney endorsements

(13)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Murat Erkan, Criminal defense Attorney on May 14, 2020
Relationship: Worked together on matter

For anyone looking for a supremely capable attorney, let me save you the time and say, look no further: Joe is your guy. As a former prosecutor for almost ten years and in private practice for 14, I have seen it all. Joe checks off all the boxes. Joe is an innovative professional and tireless warrior. He has an effortless presence in court and his sincerity is beyond question. He has earned the respect of his colleagues and the judiciary. Joe is a truly caring person, and it shows in the deeply personal attention he gives to each client. He does not do what he is asked, he does more than you could ever ask for. That is why, whenever I need someone to collaborate with on a New Hampshire matter, Joe is and will always be my first choice. I wholeheartedly endorse Joe as the best choice you can make for criminal defense in New Hampshire.

Kevin O'Keefe, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 15, 2020
Relationship: Worked together on matter

I endorse Joe without hesitation. Joe has been personally helpful to me on too many occasions to count. He is extremely knowledgable, practical, and relatable to clients, jurors, and judges. Joe is an amazing attorney and his diverse background is an extraordinary asset.

Matthew Barhoma, DUI and DWI Attorney on Mar 8, 2018
Relationship: Other

I endorse this lawyer. He has exercised sound judgment in all I have heard and read from him. I would certainly consult with Joe and highly consider hiring him for your legal needs, especially in the field of criminal defense.

Michael DelSignore, DUI and DWI Attorney on Feb 22, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Joe is an excellent DUI lawyer if you find yourself arrested for DUI in Manchester. He is very dedicated, attends advance training courses on DUI defense and is a terrific trial lawyer. I would highly recommend you call him to help with your arrest.

Tejal Mehta, Litigation Attorney on Oct 23, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter

I endorse and highly recommend Attorney Prieto. We met when I represented a client in MA and he was handling the client's underlying OUI in NH. He had a great relationship with the NH District Attorney's office and the probation department, and to the client's delight, he obtained a dismissal of most of the NH charges against the client. Since then, I have referred Attorney Prieto criminal and civil matters in NH. I have heard rave reviews about his dedication and his great results. He is well respected in every court where he appears, and I recommend him without reservation.

Debra DuPont, Divorce and separation Attorney on Oct 12, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Joe is a hard working and zealous advocate. He treats people with compassion and litigates important issues. I highly endorse this lawyer.

Raymond Kaselonis, Constitutional Attorney on Jun 23, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I highly endorse this lawyer. Joe is a skilled and experienced defense lawyer. His commitment to his clients is unquestionable and his pleasant and confident demeanor make him an especially effective trial attorney. I endorse Joe should you find yourself in need of an experienced, effective, and kind criminal defense attorney.

Richard Samdperil, Criminal defense Attorney on Jun 12, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Joe works hard for his clients and always goes the extra mile. I strongly endorse this lawyer.

Andrew Winters, Family Attorney on Jun 12, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Joe is a highly skilled trial lawyer but what really distinguishes him is his great personality. Unlike many lawyers, he does not talk over your head but still gets his points across with clarity. Clients instantly feel comfortable with him. He has a great sense of humor that works to his advantage both in negotiations and in the courtroom. Prior to going to law school Joe ran his own successful business. So he has a lot of real work experience that helps him understand issues. I formerly worked in the same office as Joe at the public defender around fifteen years ago. I am very familiar with his skills. Since then we have both gone into private practice and periodically refer cases to each other. I can't recommend Joe highly enough for both criminal defense, and general civil representation.

Theodore Lothstein, DUI and DWI Attorney on Jun 11, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Joe Prieto is a talented and tenacious criminal defense lawyer that I have had the privilege of knowing for almost 20 years. During that time, I have seen him win jury trials and bench trials that nobody thought could be won. He has the best personality for a criminal lawyer - he comes across as exactly what he is to his core, an open, genuine authentic person that can talk to and relate to anyone, whether rich or poor, grad-school educated or high school dropout, from the ivy league or from the streets. These qualities make him an excellent courtroom lawyer and also help him quickly earn the respect, trust and admiration of his clients. I recommend and endorse Joe Prieto!

Joseph Levasseur, Personal injury Attorney on Jun 11, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. I have referred many criminal cases to Attorney Prieto, all of them with good results. Very experienced, professional and hard working. Give him a call!

Shawn Sweeney, DUI and DWI Attorney on Dec 30, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Prieto has an excellent courtroom presence and many years of solid experience that make him a great choice for representation in DWI and Criminal Defense matters.

George Campbell, DUI and DWI Attorney on Dec 8, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Joe is a thoughtful, creative and highly effective defense lawyer.

Cost

RATES
  • Hourly Rates$175-$300/hour
  • Free Consultation Some lawyers offer a free consultation to help determine whether their services are right for your legal needs60 minutes
PAYMENT METHODS

Cash, Check

Legal guides written by Joe Prieto

See all guides