Andrea E. Mertz

PRO

Andrea E. Mertz

4.9
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 27 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Reading, PA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Drug Crime ... +2 more

645 Penn Street, Suite 500, Reading, PA

Virtual Consultation Available

About Andrea

Biography

Aggressive Berks attorney recently chosen as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers.

Aggressive Berks attorney recently chosen as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers.

Aggressive Berks attorney recently chosen as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers.

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 45%

I represent the criminally accused in all criminal matters.

25 years

45%
DUI and DWI 35%

Dedicated, understanding but relentless in court, I will defend all DUI charges.

18 years

35%
Drug Crime 10%

I represent the criminally accused in all criminal matters.

10%
Domestic Violence 5%

I represent the criminally accused in all criminal matters.

5%
Sex Crime 5%

I represent the criminally accused in all criminal matters.

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2017 2016 2015
...
+ 2
Top Contributor
Top Contributor
2016 2015 2014
...
+ 1

Licenses

Licensed in Pennsylvania for 26 years

State: Pennsylvania

Acquired: 1999

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Maryland for 27 years

State: Maryland

Acquired: 1998

Inactive - Retired

No misconduct found

Location

Polyak Law Office

645 Penn Street, Suite 500, Reading, PA, 19601

polyaklawoffice.com/andrea-e-mertz

Online Presence

Other places you can find Andrea online.

Andrea E. Mertz's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

81 Client Reviews

Showing 6 - 10 of 25 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Jim | November 13, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Very caring attorney

When my case came up I was frantic looking for a lawyer I talked to one who told me to bring him a thousand dollars right away which was every penny I had and I almost did until at the last minute I looked him up and his reviews said he was a crook,so I kept looking and saw Andreas picture and though...t she's probably nice so I called her,she immediately got ahold of the detective and sorted everything out,he agreed to help me get unsecured bail because she would be representing me,all of that came true as I turned myself in on her trust,she did everything she ever told me she would and my case drug out for years honestly and she never left me. I was facing several years of prison time and she worked out a deal that gave me the opportunity to pay it all back and end up with probation,that's where I am now and I'm so grateful,I hope this review saves someone else from alot of heartache ,Andrea is the real deal. Jim

Posted by Jim | September 06, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Top notch lawyer

Andrea is a smart, sharp attorney. She is no nonsense which when you're in need of a good defense attorney is what you need. I had a lot of medical issues tied to the case because of the parameters of it. Andrea pushed to get an appropriate resolution and a successful one. Can't say enough good thing...s. Hire her if you need representation. BTW: I read these reviews before hiring Andrea and thought they were too good to be true. I was wrong. She is worth every penny.

Posted by John | December 21, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

An amazing and caring lawyer!

Before I hired Andrea Mertz to represent me, my life had fallen apart. I was facing horrible allegations and I didn't know where to turn or what to do. I had no hope for any kind of positive outcome. I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders and there was no way out from underneath it.... I was lost, truly and completely. Never in my life did I think I would have to hire a criminal defense attorney, and I had no idea what to expect. I had heard horror stories from other people about the extreme costs involved and the lack of any genuine interest many lawyers had in their clients other than a monetary one. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Andrea truly cared about my situation and was genuinely interested in helping me. Furthermore, when I actually hired her, I found her fees to be very reasonable. Once retained, she lost no time digging into my case. She researched every single aspect of it, every possible option, and came up with a plan that restored my sanity, my life and protected my freedom and reputation. She was amazing and fierce, like a pit bull in a dogfight, but never once lost her humanity nor her caring nature in regards to my situation. She tirelessly worked my case and became my greatest advocate and ally. I never would have made it through this situation and have my case completely dismissed without her diligence, knowledge, compassion, and dedication. If you need help and don't know where to turn, stop right here and look no further. Andrea Mertz is a truly honest, brutally efficient and successful lawyer, while still being one of the kindest and most caring human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She saved my life. I can never repay her for the incredible care and service she provided. I am truly grateful for her and no amount of words can express my respect and admiration for her personally and for her skill in practicing Law.

Posted by Frank | December 19, 2016 | Criminal Defense

An Impressive Criminal Lawyer!

Andrea Mertz was a very impressive criminal attorney in a felony assault case recently. She did well for the defendant and I was a witness for the state against the defendant. How ever, I must say that she was very aggressive and did all possible angles to have any sentence kept to the lowest possi...ble for her client. I and along with the other witness agree that Andrea Mertz is a great criminal lawyer. She explores all given information and worked very hard for her client. The other witness for the case stated that "She is a good attorney, she is a tiger". Even though we were witnesses for the state, she was very impressive to us and we would recommend her for anyone that needs help with criminal issues. We would like to recognize her hard work by saying that she was very impressive.

Posted by Ken | November 23, 2015 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

No time for losses with Andrea as my attorney!!!!

Hello, my name is Ken. This year I had very "severe" charges brought against me pertaining to a DUI & other motor vehicle violations that if convicted, I would be looking at jail, fines, loss of license & other negative ramifications that would have negatively affected me financially & personally for... a long time. I spoke with multiple other Lawyers before I consulted with Andrea, they all agreed that the charges were serious but I did not feel comfortable with any of them representing me & my best interests. IMMEDIATELY when meeting Andrea, I known within 10 minutes that her abilities were off the chart with her ambition, her intelligence of the laws & what I really respected & appreciated is that she listened intently to me & did not just wait to talk. Hiring Andrea was the best move I could have made. Through the process she personally called me & took my calls numerous times. When it came for my case to go to trial she researched diligently for hours & hours of case law to get the best outcome for my situation. I was acquitted of my DUI and immediately felt at peace mentally & physically with the outcome. I TRULY believe without Andrea and her hard work ethic & intelligence revolving around the laws -- I would not have won this case. If I ever and & "hopefully" I wont ever have any trouble with the law -- I GUARANTEE Andrea will be my first & last call. Thanks Again Andrea!!! :)

See All Client Reviews

Andrea E. Mertz's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Andrea
Kevin Feeney headshot
Kevin Feeney

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Andrea is a smart and tough trial lawyer. She is a great person to have on your side."

Joseph Andres Guillama headshot
Joseph Guillama

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Andrea since the time I began practicing law and in that time I have known Andrea to be a highly effective and passionate criminal defense attorney. Not only does she truly care about her clients and their well-being, but she thoroughly knows the law and aggressively advocates for her clients at all levels of their representation. I would have no hesitation in recommending Andrea Mertz to anyone in need of a criminal defense attorney."

Judd S Nemiro headshot
Judd Nemiro

Unknown lawyer | Mar 17

Relationship: Other

"Top-notch attorney. I endorse this lawyer."

Thomas Murray Spivack headshot
Thomas Spivack

DUI and DWI lawyer | Jan 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. It is very clear from her many years of experience and her contributions that Ms. Mertz is extremely knowledgeable and highly competent. I wouldn't hesitate recommending her."

Peter John Marek headshot
Peter Marek

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"17 years of practicing law with 8 as a former deputy public defender is very court experienced.Her knowledge of both the law and procedure is excellent and evident in her pro bono contributions. Client reviews are stellar. READ THEM! Do yourself a favor and schedule a consultation."

Sean Cleary headshot
Sean Cleary

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. A brilliant, trustworthy and highly respected attorney in the legal community."

David Paley Schwarz headshot
David Schwarz

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly recommend this lawyer she is a true professional"

Hovanes Margarian headshot
Hovanes Margarian

Unknown lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Peter Francis Schuchman Jr. headshot
Peter Schuchman

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Andrea is approachable to her clients, experienced in the complexities of the issues her many clients face and aggressive in her advocacy on their behalf."

Michael Keith Hollinger headshot
Michael Hollinger

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"It takes a rare attorney to combine aggressive representation and knowledge with the oft-ignored compassion that is necessary to achieve the maximum benefit for their client. Andrea is one such attorney. It is therefore my privilege to endorse my colleague, Andrea Mertz."

Joseph L. Haines headshot
Joseph Haines

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly recommend this attorney. I have worked with Andrea and found her to be a very talented attorney."

Scott Christian Mcintosh headshot
Scott Mcintosh

Business lawyer | Mar 13

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"As opposing counsel, Ms. Mertz vigorously represented her client in a business matter. A true professional, she was a pleasure to work with. I look forward to working with her again."

Wayne Punshon headshot
Wayne Punshon

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Without reservation, I endorse this lawyer."

Tatiana Kadetskaya headshot
Tatiana Kadetskaya

Unknown lawyer | Jun 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Excellent attorney. Well respected."

Eric Michael Gibson headshot
Eric Gibson

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Elizabeth M. Ebner headshot
Elizabeth Ebner

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. She is very conscientious and cares about her clients."

View All Endorsements
Brett J. Riegel headshot
Brett Riegel

Criminal defense lawyer

Jay Michael Nigrini headshot
Jay Nigrini

Criminal defense lawyer

Daniel Patrick Emkey headshot
Daniel Emkey

Criminal defense lawyer

Andrew William Muir headshot
Andrew Muir

Employment and labor lawyer

Peter John Marek headshot
Peter Marek

Unknown lawyer

David Paley Schwarz headshot
David Schwarz

Family lawyer

Hovanes Margarian headshot
Hovanes Margarian

Unknown lawyer

Vanessa L. Bellino headshot
Vanessa Bellino

Criminal defense lawyer

Kevin Feeney headshot
Kevin Feeney

Criminal defense lawyer

Joseph L. Haines headshot
Joseph Haines

Commercial real estate lawyer

Joseph Andres Guillama headshot
Joseph Guillama

Divorce and separation lawyer

Judson Aaron headshot
Judson Aaron

Unknown lawyer

Scott Christian Mcintosh headshot
Scott Mcintosh

Litigation lawyer

Vincent Cimini headshot
Vincent Cimini

Medical malpractice lawyer

Michael Keith Hollinger headshot
Michael Hollinger

Criminal defense lawyer

Abby L Rigdon headshot
Abby Rigdon

Unknown lawyer

William A. Jones Jr. headshot
William Jones

Criminal defense lawyer

Wayne Punshon headshot
Wayne Punshon

Criminal defense lawyer

Susan Karnes Quirits headshot
Susan Quirits

Real estate lawyer

Barbara Hazel Beringer headshot
Barbara Beringer

Workers compensation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2016

Top 100 Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorneys, The American Society of Legal Advocates

1991

Purdue Scholar Athlete of the Year, John Purdue Club

Work Experience

2016 - Present

Attorney, Polyak Law Office

2009 - 2016

Attorney, Waldman Law Group, P.C.

2001 - 2009

Public Defender, Berks County Office Of The Public Defender

1998 - 2001

Attorney, Ellsworth, Carlton & Waldman, P.C.

Associations

2017 - Present

Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Platform Committee Member

2016 - Present

Berks County Bar Association, Criminal Defense Section

Co-Chair

2015 - Present

Berks County Bar Association, Criminal Law Committee

Co-Chair

2015 - Present

Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2009 - Present

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Attorney Member

2001 - Present

Berks County Bar Association

Attorney Member

2014 - 2015

Berks County Bar Association, Criminal Law Committee

Executive Committee

Sample of Legal Cases

Commonwealth v. B.L.

Not guilty after trial. No jail time

Commonwealth v. N.M.

Found not guilty of DUI at trial. No jail and client was free to leave.

CW v. RC

Not guilty of any charges. Free to leave.

Commonwealth v. VM

No jail time upon conviction of highest rate DUI as a second offense

Commonweatlh v. TT

Suppression Granted; All charges Dismissed

Commonwealth v. JZ

I successfully petitioned for his approval and acceptance into the ARD program which will result in the new DUI charge being expunged.

Commonwealth v. RD

ARD accepted for fourth lifetime DUI

Commonwealth v. KR

Not Guilty of 6th DUI

See More Legal Cases

Education

1996

American University, Washington College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1991

Purdue University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2009

BCTV

Intersection Between Social Security Disability and FMLA

Languages

English

Activity

Top Contributor

Andrea earned significant contribution points in 2016.

Avvo Rating

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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