Chris A Nielsen

Chris A Nielsen

4.7
Rating: 7.9

Licensed for 21 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Saco, ME
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Civil Rights ... +2 more

176 Main Street, Suite 2, Saco, ME

About Chris

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

DUI and DWI 15%

22 years

15%
Civil Rights 5%

20 years

5%
Juvenile Law 5%

22 years

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes

Contingency

33%-40%

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Maine for 21 years

State: Maine

Acquired: 2004

Active

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2010

Location

The Nielsen Group

176 Main Street, Suite 2, Saco, ME, 04072

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Chris A Nielsen's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.7 /5.0

14 Client Reviews

5 star (13)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (1)

Posted by Kristina | January 16, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Run as fast as you can

He lied and said it was a class a felony and charged me for it. then did nothing on the case and charged me 5000.00 refused to discuss a return of my money during covid while I was being evicted and my mother had just died and I was newly sober. A horrible person and lawyer

Posted by anonymous | September 9, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

A very professional & organized law office !!!!

Wow !!! I was very fortunate to have Chris Nielsen & his wonderful staff on my side. I was stopped in York, Me. for a suspected OUI ( 0.10 ). The Nielsen Group was hired and did a fantastic job of getting me thru the process. I was updated often by Chris & his staff on what was happening next. ...Chris had the OUI charges dropped to a lesser charge. I am very pleased with the outcome & would recommend & the rest of the Nielsen Group to anyone who needs help. J.B.

Posted by James B. | March 7, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent professionals

Chris Nielson represented me for a DUI. He ultimately had my charges dropped. He and Joycelyn made the whole process much more understandable and far less stressful. I was impressed with how well Mr Nielson knew my case. I was also made to feel like I was their only client when he arrived in court ...He didn’t act rushed or bothered. Something he said to me still sticks and it was don’t say sorry to him. I refused the DA’s offer to settle and Said sorry to him. He looked at me and said don’t say that!! It made me feel comfortable knowing he understood what I was Going through.

Posted by anonymous | May 26, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Very happy with the outcome!

I was charged with DUI and Chris was able to negotiate the charge down to driving to endanger. I was very pleased with his work, and happy I hired him to represent me for this case. Hopefully I will not need any legal help in the future, but if I do I will certainly be contacting him.

Posted by Anne | January 30, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Top Notch Attorney!!

A few months ago, I was charged with speeding - 22 mph over the posted speed limit to be exact. I was very embarrassed to be traveling at that rate over the speed limit. I contacted the Nielsen Group. I found the attorneys and the staff to be very professional, very knowledgeable, and non-judgmenta...l. Attorney Nielsen entered his appearance on my behalf with the Violations Bureau, and he requested a hearing. That hearing was held last week. Thankfully, I did not have to appear in person. Attorney Nielsen contacted me after the hearing and reported that the speeding ticket had been "dismissed." Not dropped-down. Not filed. "Dismissed." I am very grateful to the folks at the Nielsen Group. They saved me a huge fine and an enormous amount of lost points on my driving record. If you are looking for a Criminal Defense Attorney, look no further. Contact the Nielsen Group. You will not be disappointed.

See All Client Reviews

Chris A Nielsen's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Chris
Amy B. McGarry headshot
Amy McGarry

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Chris is knowledgeable, conscientious and a fighter for his clients."

Edmund R. Folsom headshot
Edmund Folsom

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Chris Nielsen is a conscientious attorney who works hard to achieve good outcomes for his clients."

Robert C. LeBrasseur headshot
Robert LeBrasseur

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Chris is a hard working fighter for his clients."

Amber Lynn Tucker headshot
Amber Tucker

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known Attorney Nielsen for several years as both opposing counsel and a fellow attorney in the criminal defense bar. He is dedicated to his clients and works hard to achieve the best possible outcome."

Jessica A. Demers headshot
Jessica Demers

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"For knowledgeable and effective representation, call Chris Nielsen!"

Matthew F. Govan headshot
Matthew Govan

Child abuse lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

William T Bly headshot
William Bly

Federal crime lawyer | Jul 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Nielsen is a highly skilled defenses attorney who nearly always manages to pull the proverbial rabbit out of his hat at the last minute. He is a highly skilled negotiator as well as a very sharp lawyer concerning constitutional law violations in criminal matters. He has proven himself to succeed where others generally fail when it comes to one to one negotiations with the prosecutor. In addition to his extensive state criminal defense practice, he is exceptionally knowledgable and skilled in the federal defense arena. I find myself seeking his advice and counsel whenever I have a complex federal criminal legal issue to tackle. Attorney Nielsen is a dedicated defender and works to press every legal angle to his clients' advantage. If you are faced with a serious criminal charge, you need a serious criminal lawyer. I happily endorse his skills and qualifications."

View All Endorsements
Amanda Jo Doherty headshot
Amanda Doherty

Criminal defense lawyer

Jonathan R. Berry headshot
Jonathan Berry

General practice lawyer

Robert C. LeBrasseur headshot
Robert LeBrasseur

Criminal defense lawyer

Michael J. Waxman headshot
Michael Waxman

General practice lawyer

Edmund R. Folsom headshot
Edmund Folsom

DUI and DWI lawyer

Amy B. McGarry headshot
Amy McGarry

Criminal defense lawyer

Amber Lynn Tucker headshot
Amber Tucker

Criminal defense lawyer

Jessica A. Demers headshot
Jessica Demers

Divorce and separation lawyer

Matthew F. Govan headshot
Matthew Govan

Unknown lawyer

William T Bly headshot
William Bly

DUI and DWI lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.9 (Very Good)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2010.

Reprimand issued in ME, 2010

updated on 05/30/2014

A reprimand means an attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The State gives the lawyer a public reprimand in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

Chris’s comment:

“What can I say, sometimes I'm an animal.”

Work Experience

2010 - 2024

Owner, The Nielsen Group

2005 - 2010

Partner, Nielsen & Bly

2004 - 2004

Student Attorney, University of Maine School Of Law

2002 - 2004

Associate Attorney, Law Office of James L. Auddifred

2001 - 2001

Clerk, The New York State Senate

2000 - 2000

Clerk, Clinton County District Attorney's Office

Associations

Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

York County Bar Association

Member

Cumberland County Bar Association

Member

Education

2004

University of Maine School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2001

State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2010
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution