Harold Mark Garfinkel

I contacted Hal after my brother was arrested and needed representation. In our conversation, he offered more than a price quote, he offered a plan of action after listening to me. I do not live in Illinois and was not able to be there for my brother's court appearances. With Hal, that didn't matter.... He kept me updated and made sure that I knew exactly what was going on with the case. I would highly recommend Hal to anyone in need of a criminal defense attorney.

This review had to be entered anonymously because my name can't be attached to a Criminal Defense Lawyer. In the world I live in, if someone saw this, they would immediately start a background check. I was arrested on a misdemeanor, not a serious one, Thank G-d, but, bad enough. This had to be han...dled very discreetly and quickly. I spoke with several attorneys, went thought secretaries, some lawyers took days to call back. When I spoke to the lawyers they were cold and distant, almost rough, didn't feel there was a human on the other end. After 4 days Hal was my last call, he answers the phone himself, I really liked that, the less people know the better off it is. My first, few contacts with him wasn't really that great, he is just different, didn't have a clear understanding of who he is, at first. Was very nervous about what I was getting myself into. So we chatted a bit, he was very patient with me, it took about 4 phone calls, he answered all my questions, so I agreed to meet. Upon meeting, he immediately put me at ease, he was the 1st lawyer whom made me feel like I did nothing wrong. It was like, I had a problem that needed to be solved and he had every solution there was. I went to the office nervous and left with almost no worries. He is an intense listener and a quick thinker. Very seldom in life do you meet a person whom is born to do their job, Hal definitely is, he is an extraordinary gifted lawyer. I know a lot of attorneys, just not criminal defense ones, most don't take a personal interest in their clients, this one truly does. Not only is he approachable, his results are FANTASTIC. You cannot put a price on the amount of connections this guy has, he even knew the arresting officer, a few calls were made & I had no more problems. Between the treatment and making the problem go away so quickly, Hal is worth every penny. If you need someone to bring peace into your world, give him a call, I would highly recommend him.

I was charged with a Class 2 felony burglary. Drunkenly, I stole a GPS out of a car one night. (SO DUMB) Because of the value of the property, a felony was the correct charge but still, come on. I retained Hal to defend me and I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. I was 26 years old, col...lege graduate, had my whole life ahead of me and was facing a felony charge that if convicted, would have ruined my life. Not only was my record going to be blemished for life, but I was looking at some serious jail time. I met Hal at his office to review my options. Right then and there, I could see how thorough he was. Asking me questions about the crime, my background, etc. Things I hadn't thought of in years but ultimately saw how they affected the case. My case went back and forth for quite some time, about a year and a half. Which wasn't Hal's fault, the wheels of justice grind slooooowwwlly. During that time, Hal fought hard and exhausted EVERY option to dispose of my case before trial. He filed countless motions, bargained with the SA office, I could go on and on.... Finally before my case was set to go to trial, Hal was able to obtain a plea bargain that included TASC probation. This type of deal is NOT given out for burglary charges. It is typically reserved for first time drug offenses. In case your not familiar with TASC, It's a type of probation in which a plea of guilt is entered, you meet the terms of probation (fines, court costs, treatment, etc) and once the probation has been competed successfully, you can have the judgment VACATED! Which means there is no longer a conviction for that crime. Then, if your record allows you can have it expunged!!!!! There is a good chance that had I gone to trial, I could have been convicted. Hal advised me to no take any other plea the SA was offering me. Also, not to go to trial and continue to fight. I followed along and did as I was told and Whala! Hal tirelessly fought for the BEST outcome for me and I will forever be grateful. A couple takeaways here: Hal works really hard on your case... evenings, weekends, takes phone calls all the time, etc. He is SO thorough, when he asks you questions or asks for information, it may seem nit-picky but trust me, just get it or give it to him. He doesn't talk to you like you're another lawyer. He explains your situation and the law in a way that non-lawyers understand. Finally, I hate to say it but with lawyers... It's often more about WHO than WHAT you know.... Hal has worked side by side with current judges, states attorneys, etc. His connections are INVALUABLE. Oh yeah, I don't have a Felony on my record! :)

Was wary from all the great reviews at first...too good to be true was my initial stance. But immediately from first contact, I knew Hal was the real deal. Immediate empathy and knew what to do in order to ensure a successful resolution. He was responsive and courteous the entire time and provided... me with confidence given his experience and how to position the arguments for success. He overcame strong opposition from the prosecutor and policeman in the courtroom and it resulted in the judge overcoming the misdemeanor charge for 26 mph over the limit and downrating it to a petty offence...with court supervision and a reasonable fine. Can't thank Hal enough. Would recommend him to anyone... Don't look any further, this is your guy!

About a month ago I was clocked doing a 101 in a 55 by a state trooper. Needless to say my driving record has many speeding tickets. I immediately knew I needed the best lawyer in Chicago. I Googled exactly that and the first name that popped up was Hal Garfinkel. I called Hal on a Sunday thinking I ...would get an answering machine and instead I got him on the phone. He asked me a few questions told me what I needed to do and even went as far as to tell me about AVVO and look up his reviews. After reading the first few reviews I was sold. I would recommend this lawyer to anyone no matter what the offense. He is very knowledgeable and knows a lot of people in the court system. At the first court date when Hal wasn't getting the deal he knew I could get, he asked for a continuance in front of a different judge. He wasn't going to take no for an answer and he told me getting my license suspended or revoked was not an option. At the second court date he kept true to his word and my Class A Misdemeanor speeding got dropped to a petty offense with a minimal fine and no suspension or revocation of my license whatsoever. I could see the states attorney shaking their head as Hal was talking to him about my case and Hal would not stop negotiating until he got the answer he wanted. Hal will fight tooth and nail for you and make sure that in the end you get what you deserve. He knows things happen and tries to understand your situation. I will never look for another attorney and Hal Garfinkel will stay a contact in my phone until he retires.