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William P. Wolf

Criminal defense Attorney at Chicago, IL

5.0   2 reviews

also known as Bill Wolf

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  • Licensed for 30 years
    State IL
    Acquired 1993
    Status
    Active and Authorized to Practice Law No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

solution oriented lawyer
Armen
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Consulted Attorney
A thorough and devoted law practitioner.
anonymous
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired Attorney
Read more reviews

About William

Learn William’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Criminal defense
    35%
    "Equal Justice Under the Law" is more than just a phrase, it is the ideal that drives our passion. We stand committed to provide every client with the best defense possible. William Wolf gives you your best chance to balance the Scales of Justice.

    29 years

  2. Violent crime
    30%
    William Wolf has a great deal of experience handling violent crime cases. Bill was a member of the Murder Task Force of the Cook County Public Defender's Office for over 11 years. Bill has won many serious cases other lawyers called unwinnable.

    29 years

  3. Sex crime
    25%
    Mr. Wolf has vast experience in defending clients accused of sex crimes, from child pornography charges to sex assault charges. Mr. Wolf has experience in cross-examining children, doctors, nurses, and DNA experts to bring the client's best defense.

    25 years

  4. Federal crime
    7%
    William Wolf has gotten to a strong start in his federal court advocacy. Added to the defense team of a conspiracy jury trial late last year, Bill assisted in convincing the jury that the client was not guilty of the major conspiracy charges.

    6 years

  5. White collar crime
    2%

  6. Expungement
    1%

William Wolf has been a criminal defense lawyer for 25 years. He has an extensive amount of experience handling all kinds of cases ranging from homicide to sex crimes to narcotics. 

Mr. Wolf excels in strategic thinking which has helped him serve thousands of people to win at trial or get the best deal possible. He has vast experience in jury trials, bench trials, and motion hearings to protect his clients from overzealous law enforcement and prosecutors. 

He has been published in the State of Illinois and nationally on topics including defending homicide cases, cross-examining expert witnesses, and Confrontation Clause litigation. Mr. Wolf also has lectured nationwide on these and other topics at seminars given for fellow criminal defense lawyers. 

Mr. Wolf is active in both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where he serves on their Board of Directors and the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where he is a Past-President. He has worked on a large number of projects in both groups. His most recent project is a "Carpenter blog" which is an ongoing discussion of the effects of the Supreme Court's recent decision of Carpenter v. United States, the recent Fourth Amendment case that discussed searches of cell site location information. 

Mr. Wolf has a long track record of success in litigation and plea-negotiations that is due not just to effective strategic thinking, but also a lot of hard work. The bottom line is that a defense case that's not well thought out is not going to succeed. While no lawyer can guarantee success for a client, the Law Office of William Wolf can guarantee a well thought out strategy, coupled with hard work to maximize that client's chances of success. 

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The Law Office of William Wolf, LLC
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1980
Chicago, IL, 60601
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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0
  2 customer reviews
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Posted by Armen | October 1, 2019
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
solution oriented lawyer
I ve got a comprehensive consultation about of very sensitive issue,Highly satisfied
Posted by anonymous | July 4, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A thorough and devoted law practitioner.
After receiving an Illinois Civil No-Contact Order with some pretty serious allegations, I needed to act quickly to protect both myself and my reputation. After consulting with family members who were lawyers, Mr. Wolf was recommended to me via those connections. He took his own personal time to discuss a lot of my legal options on how to proceed, and it was through this dedication to my case that I made the decision to hire him. With the short amount of time we had before the court hearing, Mr. Wolf was able to meet with me, go over my evidence, and construct a thorough defense plan. When the day of the hearing came, upon sharing the evidence we had with the partitioner's lawyer through discovery, they offered a settlement. After some negotiating, they declared the case non-suited and we accepted the settlement. It was an incredibly emotionally traumatizing endeavor, and without the help of Mr. Wolf I could not have made it through. Bill has a friendly and level-headed demeanor, and was quite flexible and willing to work with me on payment for his services; to which I remain immensely grateful. I will strongly recommend his services to any of my Illinois friends who may in the future require a defense lawyer.
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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 450-450 per hour
  • Retainer Sometimes
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Owner
  • The Law Office of William Wolf, LLC
  • 2017 - Present
  • Assistant Public Defender
  • Cook County Public Defender's Office
  • 1993 - 2017

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1993

Legal Cases

  • People v. R.U.
  • Verdict of Not Guilty
  • People v. T. M.
  • Verdict of Not Guilty of First Degree Murder, Guilty of Second Degree Murder
  • People v. A.C.
  • Verdict of Not Guilty of First Degree Murder, Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
View all legal cases

Associations

  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member of Board of Directors
  • 2017 - Present
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2017 - Present
  • Women's Criminal Defense Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2010 - Present
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Past President
  • 2010 - 2012
View all associations

Honors and Awards

  • Presidential Commendation
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2018
  • Presidential Commendation
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2016
  • Presidential Commendation
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2015
  • Service Appreciation Award
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2013
  • Presidential Commendation
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2010
  • Presidential Commendation
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2009
View all awards

Publications

  • The Champion magazine, Vol. 37, No.10
  • A Tale of Two Counties and Two Very Different Outcomes
  • 2013
  • The Champion magazine, Vol. 37, No. 3
  • A Lawyer’s Response to the Threat of His Client’s Loss of Counsel (Gideon’s Champions)
  • 2013
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Quarterly Journal
  • Drug weights: Don’t let Overweight Turn Your Client into the Biggest Loser
  • 2010
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Minor Crimes, Massive Waste: The Terrible Toll of America’s Broken Misdemeanor Courts
  • 2009
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Defining ‘Testimonial’ and other trends in the wake of Crawford and Confrontation in Illinois
  • 2007
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • The 48 Hour Rule: What’s Left to Argue When Suspects Are Held Indefinitely
  • 2006
  • The Champion magazine, Vol. 28, No. 7
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, Part 2
  • 2004
  • The Champion magazine, Vol. 28, No. 6
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, Part 1
  • 2004
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Crawford v. Washington: Confronting the 6th Amendment roots out the evils of hearsay
  • 2004
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • NACDL Annual Meeting and Seminar: “The Golden Rules of Cross: Strategies for Troubled Waters” San Francisco, CA
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine the Homicide Detective
  • 2017
  • CCPD Three Days in a Nutshell, Oak Brook, IL
  • Building a Defense Case
  • 2017
  • UACDL Death Penalty Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Ethics, the A.B.A. Guidelines and You
  • 2016
  • UACDL Death Penalty Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Taking the Record off of Life Support
  • 2016
  • NACDL/GPDC Southwestern Regional Public Defense Training, Macon, GA
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness
  • 2016
  • In-House Office Presentation, St. Charles, IL
  • Building a Defense Case.
  • 2016
  • IACDL Mid-Winter Seminar, East St. Louis
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness.
  • 2016
  • Gideon’s Promise Summer Institute, Oxford, MS
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness
  • 2016
  • CCPD “Three Days in a Nutshell” Oak Brook, IL
  • Preparation for Winning Videotaped Confession Cases
  • 2016
  • CCPD Legal Resources Division In House Training Presentation, Chicago, IL
  • Preparing to Win Murder Cases
  • 2016
  • BCPD In-House Training Program, St. Joseph, MI
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness
  • 2016
  • BCPD In-House Training Program, St. Joseph, MI
  • Preparation for Winning Videotaped Confession Cases
  • 2016
  • UACDL Conference, St. George, UT
  • How to Challenge Videotaped Statements of Your Client
  • 2015
  • NACDL Midwinter Seminar, New Orleans, LA
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness
  • 2015
  • CCPD Legal Resources Division Training Presentation, Chicago, IL (panelist)
  • Law and Science behind DNA Exoneration Part I”
  • 2015
  • CCPD In-House Civil Division Training Presentation, Chicago, IL
  • “Working With Experts”
  • 2015
  • CCPD "Three Days in a Nutshell,” Oak Brook, IL
  • Preparation for Winning Videotaped Confession Cases
  • 2015
  • 2015 Annual Criminal Defense Conference, Milwaukee, WI
  • Preparation for Cross-Examination of the Forensic Pathologist: Shaping the Storyline for Acquittals
  • 2015
  • In House Presentation, CCPD Civil Division Presentation, Chicago, IL
  • Building a Defense Case.
  • 2014
  • IACDL Semi-Annual Seminar, Rock Island, IL
  • How to Respond Professionally to Prosecutorial and Judicial Misconduct
  • 2014
  • NACDL Midwinter Meeting and Seminar, Washington DC
  • Funding an Expert for Indigent Defense (panelist)
  • 2013
  • IACDL Spring Seminar, Springfield, IL
  • Emotionally Charged! How to React Professionally to Misconduct Committed by Judges, Prosecutors, and Investigators in Sensitive Cases (panelist).
  • 2013
  • AACDL’s 2013 "All-Stars" Conference, Girdwood, AK
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness.
  • 2013
  • AACDL's "All-Stars" Conference, Girdwood, AK
  • How to Challenge Videotaped Statements of Your Client.
  • 2013
  • Three Days in a Nutshell, Oak Brook, IL.
  • Prosecutorial Misconduct: Eliminating it and Answering it (co-presenter).
  • 2012
  • Miranda, Voluntariness, Completeness, Foundation; Springfield, IL.
  • Closing Argument Presentation on False Confessions
  • 2012
  • Making the Case for Life Seminar, Atlanta, GA
  • Taking the Record off of Life Support
  • 2012
  • Law and Strategy of the Statement Case; Springfield, IL.
  • Miranda, Voluntariness, Completeness and Foundation (Panelist).
  • 2012
  • Three Days in a Nutshell, Oak Brook, IL
  • Prosecutorial Misconduct: Eliminating it and Answering it. (co-presenter)
  • 2011
  • McLean County Public Defender Office Presentation.
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness.
  • 2011
  • Kane County Public Defender Office Presentation (St. Charles, IL)
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness.
  • 2011
  • Defending the Statement Case, Chicago, IL
  • Closing Argument Presentation on False Confessions
  • 2011
  • Defending the Statement Case, Chicago, 2011.
  • Miranda v. Arizona-Defending the Statement Case. (Panelist).
  • 2011
  • Death Penalty Certification Seminar.
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness (Perrysburg, OH)
  • 2011
  • Making the Case for Life (Charleston, SC}
  • Taking the Record off of Life Support
  • 2010
  • DuPage County Public Defender’s Office Presentation.
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness (Wheaton, IL)
  • 2010
  • Illinois Public Defender Association Fall Seminar (Springfield, IL)
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness.
  • 2008
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Death Penalty Seminar (Birmingham, AL)
  • Preserving Issues for Appeal through Motion Practice.
  • 2007
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Death Penalty Seminar
  • Preserving Relationships Between Trial, Appellate, and Post-Conviction Counsel (panelist).
  • 2007
  • Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Seminar, (Champaign, IL)
  • The Use of Davis v. Washington in the Defense of Domestic Violence Cases
  • 2006
  • The Lorman Education Group Seminar (Chicago)
  • Murder’s Mayhem on the Fourth Amendment
  • 2005
  • National Defender Investigation Association Annual Conference (Chicago)
  • Developing Forensic Theories in Criminal Cases
  • 2005
  • National Defender Investigation Association Annual Conference
  • Ethical Issues for the Criminal Defense Specialist (panelist)
  • 2005
  • Missouri State Public Defender Annual Training
  • Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness
  • 2004
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (3)
Given (2)
Endorse William
Patrick Ryan Dunn Sullivan headshot
Patrick Sullivan
Criminal defense Attorney | May 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Bill is the real deal!! It would be difficult to find a more experienced, compassionate, and dedicated defense attorney in the State of Illinois. He comes highly recommended!!!"
Jerald Novak headshot
Jerald Novak
Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse William Wolf. He provides a well thought out, articulate assessment of each legal problem. His knowledge of criminal law has great depth and his application of the law to each set of facts is impressive. He is a seasoned litigator with extensive trial experience."
Leonard Crown Goodman headshot
Leonard Goodman
Criminal defense Attorney | Jul 22
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Bill is a smart, experienced and fearless defense attorney. He has great passion for his work. I endorse him without hesitation."
Jerald Novak headshot
Jerald Novak
Criminal defense
Steven H. Fagan headshot
Steven Fagan
Criminal defense
Chicago Criminal defense Lawyer William P. Wolf
William P. Wolf
Criminal defense Attorney
Chicago, IL
Licensed for 30 years
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