S.W. Dawson

PRO

S.W. Dawson

5.0
Rating: 9.1

Licensed for 13 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Kilmarnock, VA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Lawsuits & Disputes, Federal Crime

100 South Main Street, First Floor, Kilmarnock, VA

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

About S.W.

Biography

Rated among the BEST lawyers in VA by Virginia Business Magazine! 804.438.8182

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 50%

50%
Federal Crime 25%

25%
Lawsuits and Disputes 25%

25%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 15 minutes

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2018

Licenses

Licensed in Virginia for 13 years

State: Virginia

Acquired: 2012

Active

No misconduct found

Location

DAWSON, P.L.C.

100 South Main Street, First Floor, Kilmarnock, VA, 22482

dawsonplc.com/

DAWSON, P.L.C.

999 Waterside Drive, Suite 2525, Norfolk, VA, 23510

dawsonplc.com/

S.W. Dawson's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

9 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (9) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by Yvette and Maya | March 29, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Fast, and Professional

Mr. Dawson is an amazing attorney. He has great communication and never leaves you in the dark regarding your case and it's progress. He handles your issue as fast as he can. In fact, Mr. Dawson handled our issue in less than two months; without us having to go to court. After our consultation, he ...jumped right on getting resolution for us. Our family highly recommends him and would seek his counsel again if the need arises.

Posted by Beth | February 11, 2015 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Phone Assistance

Though Mr. Dawson was unable to take our case, he was quick to respond and took time to listen and educate about our best possible legal recourse. I would recommend this lawyer to anyone and just wish there was a way to utilize his services ourselves. Thank you Mr. Dawson!

See All Client Reviews

S.W. Dawson's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse S.W.
Chad L. Edwards headshot
Chad Edwards

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Dawson is an outstanding criminal defense attorney, and I'm happy to give him my endorsement. He is hardworking and knows how to fight for his clients."

William Francis O'Mara Jr. headshot
William O'Mara

Civil rights lawyer | Mar 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse SW Dawson as a leading attorney in the field of civl rights law. Many attorneys shy away from the difficulty surrounding lawsuits against the government for civil rights violations, but SW has done it with great success."

View All Endorsements
William Francis O'Mara Jr. headshot
William O'Mara

Personal injury lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.1 (Superb)

Honors

2024

Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine

2024

Top Lawyer, Coastal Virginia Magazine

2023

Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine

2023

Top Lawyer, Coastal Virginia Magazine

2023

Super Lawyer, Virginia Super Lawyers

2022

Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine

2022

Top Lawyer, Coastal Virginia Magazine

2022

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2021

Top Lawyer, Coastal Virginia Magazine

2021

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2020

Top Lawyer, Coastal Virginia Magazine

2020

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2019

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2018

Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine

2018

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2017

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2016

Rising Star, Virginia Super Lawyers

2016

Top 10 Under 40, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Work Experience

2012 - Present

Managing Member, Dawson, P.L.C.

Associations

2025 - Present

Lancaster By the Bay Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors

2023 - Present

GraceInside

Board of Trustees

2023 - Present

Northern Neck Bar Association

Member

2022 - Present

Northern Neck Assembly

Member

2019 - Present

Norfolk FestEvents

Board Member

2019 - Present

Norfolk Assembly

Member

2014 - Present

Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2012 - Present

Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association

Member

2012 - Present

Virginia State Bar

Member

2018 - 2020

Virginia NORML

Board of Directors

Sample of Legal Cases

DAWSON SECURES DISMISSAL OF MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST COMMUNITY LEADER

Victory for Client

Innocent Man Cleared of Murder

First degree murder charges dropped in Norfolk

Defense Attorney Analyzes NSU Student Arrest Case

Dawson Represents Teen Victim in Case of Police Excessive Force

Charges dismissed at trial

Charges dropped in Norfolk murder case

Murder charges dropped

Woman, 70, claims Chesapeake police violated rights

Case settled out of court

Navy sailor’s grand larceny charges to be expunged

Charges either dropped or dismissed at trial

Innocent Man Freed from Prison After 21 Years

Innocent man Released from Prison

Norfolk murder reduced to manslaughter

Charges reduced

Richmond Businessman Sentenced Below Guidelines Despite Demanding Trial

Dawson Secures $200,000 Settlement With City

Client will likely live in comfort for the rest of his life

Rapper Acquitted in Federal Jury Trial

Client was spared a mandatory minimum life sentence in federal prison

See More Legal Cases

Speaking Engagements

2019

Cannabis Conference

Collateral Consequences of Marijuana Conviction in Virginia

2018

Talking Marijuana and Race in Virginia Marijuana Reform

2017

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Reform

2016

Law and Order Panel

Criminal Justice System

Languages

English

Spanish

Activity

Avvo Rating

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  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
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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