Patrick Erney Maher

The first thing you should know is that a lawyer can't predetermine the outcome of a case. You shouldn't hire a lawyer to “get you off” or “find a loophole”. Rather, you hire a lawyer to ensure the laws and procedures are applied appropriately and fairly. Sometimes this means an unfavorable outcome ...for you, but it doesn’t mean the lawyer failed at doing their job. Knowing this, I recommend Patrick Maher as your lawyer. In my search, I used the MD Public Records to research case history. I looked for cases, with similar charges to mine, that involved various legal procedures such as motions, subpoenas or calling various witnesses. To me, this was a sign that the lawyer was actively involved in the case and using every resource available. Once I found a few lawyers who fit the description, I looked at their workload. Some lawyers were in courtrooms every day, all over the state. Others were in a few courtrooms, mainly around Baltimore. I decided on Pat because he practiced law primarily in the Baltimore area and appeared to have a manageable workload. My reasoning was that Pat could give my case the attention it needed, and also understood the prosecutor’s office and possible judges. I’m not saying he plays golf with them, but that he knows their character and has a professional working relationship. Pat begins the process by asking you to complete a questionnaire. This document gives Pat an understanding of who you are, what your situation is, and what you’re looking for in his services. Some of the questions may seem intrusive, but accurate answers will give you the best level of service. The document is usually filled out beforehand, and you email a copy. At the initial meeting, Pat will explain the level of service he offers, and answer any questions you have. From there, he’ll give his opinion on the best way to manage your situation and discuss your options. It is up to you to decide what you want to do. If you agree to his service, Pat will present a fee and give you options to provide payment. There are multiple options available, and his pricing is fair. From this point until the court date, Pat will research your case and provide updates as they come in. Some actions he may perform are; visiting the scene of the incident, filing motions for discovery, interviewing people involved and asking you for additional information. Pat communicated effectively by keeping me updated. Pat comes to court prepared. Most lawyers have a briefcase or a few folders with paperwork. Pat shows up with a projector, law books, and all the documentation related to your case. Seeing him with all this information is reassuring because it shows he has prepared for your case and is considering all options. Once at the courthouse, just follow Pat’s lead. He’ll tell you where to go, what to say, and what paperwork is necessary. He’ll advise you on options with the prosecutor’s office and keep you updated. In my case, we decided to file a motion, and the outcome would determine our next step. This meant our case would be heard later in the day. Basically, the court wants to get the cases that require less time, such as plea bargains, out of the way so they go first. The cases that require more time, such as trials, are moved to the end. Once your time in front of the judge arrives, Pat will carry out the plan of action you agreed to, and present his evidence. Pat presented the evidence and arguments in my case in an extremely professional and polite manner. There were times when he could have been aggressive, but he showed respect to the court, the officer and the prosecutor. In the end, Pat’s efforts resulted in a favorable outcome. He presented a case that relied on facts and his interpretation of the law. Thankfully, the judge agreed. I understand it is a professional relationship, but at the end of the process Pat feels like an old friend. I believe if you hire him, you’ll feel the same way.

I was facing up to 25 years in prison and had hired another, higher priced attorney. The attorney I had hired just wasn't giving me the confidence I needed during my most fearful time in my life. I researched attorneys not caring about price, just expertise; I didn't care what I had to pay. Well, ...I found Pat and it turned out that, not only did he seem more well versed, confident, and reassuring, but he was also $6,500 cheaper over the course of the felony representation. In the end, my case was negotiated down through his firm representation and I ended up receiving a very light, suspended jail sentence, no fines (just a small court fee), and UNSUPERVISED probation. I went from facing a felony record with a lot of possible time in prison to no felony record with no time served at all! He took a very bad situation and defended me into an outcome that I would have never thought possible. If you're facing any time whatsoever, I would recommend Pat without hesitation! I will never need criminal defense again because I've learned my lesson, but if I did, I would call him immediately.

I didn't know what to do when I got arrested for DUi. I searched Avvo for DUI attorneys and found Patrick Maher. He had great reviews, so I called him. He answered the phone himself and listened to my story and told me he could help me. I went in for a free consultation and we talked for well ove...r an hour. He didn't sugar coat anything or make any promises he couldn't keep, but told me he thought we had a good case to get me off. He explained everything I needed to do before the trail and gave me the resources to make it easy for me to do. He kept in contact with me before the trail date and kept me informed of what was happening. On the day of the trail, I was offered a plea. He told me it was my choice to take it , but suggested we go to trail. That's what we did. he was very prepared for the trail and asked the right questions of the officers who arrested and tested me. In the end eh had proven there was reasonable doubt that I failed the roadside tests and that the breath test was accurate. He also got a lot of the other charges against me dropped and saved me a lot of money in fines. I would highly recommend Mr Maher for anyone going thru the process of a DUI trail.

I am a young single professional from Canada who came to Baltimore 3 month ago on a business trip. New to the town, i went out to investigate the local scenery after dinner. Ended up in the local gentlemen's club, they had 2 dollar special on for Tuesday night so i had a couple. Got into my rental ca...r and didn't realize i had to turn the lights on manually - unlike my car at home with automatic lights. When i was just about the get on the highway, cop pulled around the corner and stopped me. Because he could smell the alcohol on me, I got asked to do a FST after which he took me into the station for BAC. I scored 0.07 which qualified DWI in Maryland and i contacted Pat, having read about his reputation and experience in the field of DUI/DWI defense. When i first contacted him I was completely blown away by how knowledgeable and open Pat is on the phone talking about different possibilities and strategies to approach this case. He gave me a quick run down on how these cases worked what the factors are etc. and proceeded to ask me about details. I felt completely comfortable and zero pressure. Unlike some others I spoke on the phone pressuring you to buy by telling you how serious this charge is, Pat really gave me a fair perspective on my case. He is also very fair and objective about it all, no bragging about anything just very good level-setting of expectations based on facts and stats - which he knows a great deal about. So after a while i thought ok I will call Pat when i get the date from the court. Because i live outside the country, i never got the paper in the mail. It wasn't until Pat sent me an email to remind me that i have a court date set in early Oct did i know i had a court date, while this was already late Aug!! (Thanks State of MD) I could have entirely missed the court date and ended up with a criminal charge had it not been for Pat and his diligence following up on cases. I decided to hire Pat. He started with all the key documents to prepare for the case, after learning more about my situation he followed up with giving me some of his contacts in field of immigration law as i am not a full citizen of Canada yet and this case could have serious ramifications to my application process. Then he made sure I have enrolled in the right alcohol ed program that is compliant to Maryland's regulation. Pat is thorough, careful and very skilled in optimizing the preparation to build a solid case to defend me. His approach is rigorous, giving his client a lot of confidence walking into the courtroom. On the morning of, Pat came to me and said we had a very tough visiting judge and everybody was pushing it back since nobody wanted to deal with this guy. I was feeling a bit nervous but Pat re-assured me that we'd aim for the best outcome and get the case closed on the same day so I don't have to come again. He then worked his magic and spoke with the prosecutor confirmed that they'd drop the DUI, and when the prosecutor saw the prepared stack of evidence and research he brought over, she knew he was ready to fight til the bitter end and well armed. Fortunately for me, Pat's skill knowledge and persistence had sent the right message out early enough to the judge and prosecutor, my case was reduced to a reckless, and then finally again to an even more minor negligent driving which has very little ramification. He even gave me a ride back after - WHAT A GREAT GUY! Drawing from years of experience of DUI/DWI defense and even teaching courses together with state prosecutors, Pat knows the nuances of the system. He also does all of his own research and digging instead of using junior clerks. He knows what exactly to look for and will save you a LOT of time and money in the end. I highly recommend Pat for anybody that does not want to waste time with any lesser generalists that will take just absolutely anything. Pat is an expert in DUI/DWI in Maryland and that makes a very big difference in the outcome of your trial.

We all enjoy having a beer or some drinks at the company happy hour, during cookouts or a night out, however when you are pulled over by a cop and charged with DUI that is when the reality of your bad judgment kicks in. I can’t find the right words to express my sincere gratitude to Pat Maher, for th...e candor and professionalism he attached to my DUI case. I was charged with a DUI in Maryland and the usual slew of other charges in May 2012, two months after starting a new job. For me the implications of this DUI charge were far reaching because as a conditional green card holder this could have an adverse impact on removal of my conditional status. Additionally it put my new job at risk and created significant embarrassment for my family. In carrying out my research on lawyers I wanted to find someone who had an in depth understanding of the DUI process who also understand the complexity my immigration status added to my DUI charges. After narrowing down my list and speaking with several I eventually went to see Pat and following my initial meeting with him my inner voice told me to go with Pat. Mr Maher handled both my MVA and criminal hearings and I have nothing but praise for his professionalism and knowledge of the law. During the MVA hearing Pat was able to argue my case and which resulted in the charges being dismissed and I was able to get my driver’s license back. My criminal case was originally scheduled for November 2012 however at Pat’s request my case was rescheduled to February 2013. Initially I was disappointed that I could not get this over with to enable me get on with my life however in hindsight I am glad I respected my attorney’s decision. During the final court hearing Pat made sure I understood the process by explaining the entire process to me and arguing my case to the DA intelligently; I can’t explain how tense I was throughout the process but I was pleasantly surprised when Pat called me and said we should go a pay a fine for negligent driving and that was it. While I was not let of the hook completed, I cannot begin to explain how the successful outcome of my case positively impacted a job offer I had while the case was ongoing. Even though Pat may not ‘get you off’ for all the charges that will brought he will work extra hard so that you get the most favorable outcome that will be least detrimental based on his understanding of your circumstances. Some attorneys will offer you a cheap and easy way out by recommending a Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) however you need to look before you leap based on circumstances .Mr. Maher charges a flat rate to handle your DMV hearing and criminal case with no additional fees and trust me he will put his best foot forward in ensuring you get the best possible outcome to your case. Thanks to Pat’s handling my case I passed the background checks for my new job and I also lifted the conditions on my green card. I absolutely recommend Pat without reservation because he will direct all his legal fire power to achievie the best possible outcome for your case.