Brian Griffin Smith

Brian Griffin Smith

5.0
Rating: 7.3

Licensed for 17 years

Administrative law Lawyer at Waukegan, IL
Practice Areas: Administrative Law, DUI & DWI, Criminal Defense ... +3 more

1 N County St, Waukegan, IL

About Brian

Biography

Practice Areas

6

Practice Areas

Administrative Law 50%

I represent individuals who have had their security clearances suspended, revoked, or denied. I also handle driver's license reinstatements, IDFPR issues, state and local liquor control commission cases, and FOID reinstatements.

17 years

50%
DUI and DWI 15%

I have represented first-time and repeat offenders in DUI cases across Lake County. Your driver's license can be suspended very soon after you are arrested, so time is of the essence.

17 years

15%
Criminal Defense 10%

I have handled misdemeanor and felony cases up to Class X offenses on both the trial and appellate court levels.

17 years

10%
Speeding and Traffic Ticket 10%

I have handled hundreds of traffic and related tickets such as aggravated speeding, suspended or revoked driver's license, accident cases, and many others.

17 years

10%
State, Local, and Municipal Law 10%

I represent police officers and firefighters in both disciplinary and disability pension hearings.

17 years

10%
Education 5%

School cases can range from special education needs (IEPS), disciplinary matters, residency disputes, and school records issues.

14 years

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 15 minutes

Retainer

Sometimes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Illinois for 17 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 2008

Active and Authorized to Practice Law

No misconduct found

Location

Laluzerne & Smith, Ltd.

1 N County St, Waukegan, IL, 60085

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Brian Griffin Smith's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

11 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (11) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 11 reviews

Posted by anonymous | January 28, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Government

Specialty In Clearance

I had a great experience working with this attorney on my government clearance process, which resulted in a favorable outcome. He took the time to clearly explain every step, answered all of my questions, and made sure nothing was overlooked. His attention to detail and deep understanding of the proc...ess gave me real peace of mind. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing assistance with clearance related matters.

Posted by anonymous | December 01, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law

Successful security clearance assistance

I received an SOR for secret security clearance due to a history of marijuana use. (An SOR is a provisional denial.) Brian helped me understand my options, and supported me in responding to the government. I was very anxious about the whole process until I had Brian on my team. Once I hired him... the stress went from a 9 to a 2. Brian helped me acknowledge receipt of the SOR within 1 week, and then guided me through assembling my formal response over the next 2 months. The response was detailed, thorough, and effective. I received my secret clearance within 6 weeks of submitting that paperwork. The whole process was about 3-4 months. If you're in a similar situation, don't hesitate to reach out. Well worth the cost.

Posted by anonymous | October 08, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law

Cleared!

I've had a heck of a time getting through the security clearance process because I've had a long and complicated history that I struggled to summarize. Brian worked with me to fill out my interrogatory a few months ago. With his help, I was finally awarded conditional eligibility! Brian was highl...y professional and communicative the whole way through completing the interrogatory, and helped me narrow down the information to what was necessary and relevant to their concerns. I highly recommend his services for anyone needing an extra hand in this process. Thank you, Brian!

Posted by anonymous | September 06, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law

Security Clearance Adjudication

I had a great experience working with Brian from the very beginning. During our initial consultation, it was clear that he is highly knowledgeable about the security clearance process, and I felt confident moving forward with him on my case. I appreciated that he works independently, giving my case t...he personal attention it needed. Over the course of a multi-month adjudication period, multiple instances of past personal conduct raised concerns, which delayed the clearance process. However, Brian remained supportive and thorough in his approach, offering detailed guidance that was essential in addressing and mitigating these issues. Ultimately, thanks to Brian’s expertise and persistence, I received a favorable decision and was granted the higher clearance I had applied for. I highly recommend Brian for anyone needing a skilled and dedicated lawyer to navigate the complexities of the security clearance process.

Posted by Joseph | April 02, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Military Law

Mr.

Brian was my attorney for my case involving security clearance. During our initial consultation, Brian gave helpful advice and was very transparent about anything I asked. After being hired, Brian was extremely responsive in explaining my case and the process it would entail. He clearly indicated wha...t documents and information he needed to in order to achieve the ideal outcome. It was clear Brian was very knowledgeable and experienced in the specific area I hired him for. This all contributed to resolving my case with the best possible outcome. Overall, Brian was a true professional in regards to my case, as well as being empathetic and communicative. I would highly recommend him as an attorney to anyone else.

See All Client Reviews

Brian Griffin Smith's Lawyer Endorsements

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Experience

Rating:  7.3 (Very Good)

Work Experience

2008 - Present

Attorney, LaLuzerne & Smith, Ltd.

Associations

2021 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association, Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council

Member

2008 - Present

Lake County Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Village of Round Lake v. Milroy, 2020 IL App (2d) 170942

Jury verdict affirmed.

City of Highland Park v. Bryan (2019 IL App (2d) 180662)

Trial court ruling affirmed.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2008

Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2005

Boston College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2019

ISBA Traffic Law Nuts & Bolts

Statutory Summary Suspensions

2015

Illinois Traffic Court Conference

DUI and Statutory Summary Suspension Panel

Publications

2022

The Docket - A Publication of the Lake County Bar Advice for Attorneys with Clients with Security Clearances

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 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
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