Stephen L. Richards

Mr. Richards definitely knows all there is to know about Criminal Law. Prior to hiring Mr. Richards, we had hired two other attorney's that failed miserably at getting justice for my son (a first time offender) who had gotten arrested for tying to be a drug dealer in Southern Illinois. With only one... Appeal left, I located Mr. Richards on the AVVO website and simply knew by the reviews written about him and his photo that he was our one last shot at justice for our son. We are so happy that we hired him. Overall, Mr. Richards was able to convince the court to reduce my son's sentence which will allow him to return to freedom in 2016. Mr. Richards was attentive, responsive to our questions & concerns and very knowledgeable about the justice system as a whole. We are so happy that we hired him. If you are considering hiring Stephen L. Richards - you're on the right path.

I was arrested and accused of burglary / theft felony. I was facing 15 years of prison and had to switch lawyers as my previous one said the case could not be won. Atty Richards was very pleasant, did not make any promises but seemed certain that a better deal may be reached. He was very well known t...o the entire court house (judges, attorneys and staff) which always helped with getting our preferred schedules. He also knew which judge would be likely to issue a more favorable verdict or which prosecutor will be more likely to settle the case without trial. In the end he navigated these details so perfectly that we were offered only 2 years of second chance probation and 30 hours of community service. DOWN FROM 15 YEARS!!! I am very grateful. He also offers flexible payment plans which is important for those who due to arrest history are not employed on regular basis. His charges are comparable with industry standards although his service is definitely above that. Do not let his appearance fool you... Atty Richards looks like a good, old fashioned, absent-minded college professor but is knowledgeable and fierce during his arguments. Well worth the money.

Whether your criminal case is complex or simple, a lot can happen in the criminal process to derail your future. I cannot overstate to you the importance of choosing the right attorney to represent you when you face criminal charges. It is the single most important decision of your life you will make..., and Stephen Richards is the best person you can trust to represent you to the utmost. You need an attorney who is honest, aggressive, hard-working, and who knows his stuff and the law. Many defense attorneys are only too happy to take your money; give you a sell job at the outset when you are desperate, and then fail to carry thru; doing an inadequate job that will leave you in the lurch. Stephen Richards is not like this. You will find out he is highly respected in the legal field and for good reason. He takes the time to do the research, learn the facts, and tell it to you straight. He is experienced in many more aspects of the legal practice than most other attorneys. He is great in court. The judges respect him because he anticipates problems, is always prepared to handle the unexpected and is the best in presenting any argument. His jury presentations are smooth and practiced and the juries are comfortable with him and listen well to him. He cares about every client and that comes across to others when he represents you. He will always treat you with respect and dignity and has great patience. He is well-worth any investment you make in him and it is an honor to be his client. I was his client in a high-profile case for several years. I had everything at stake and went through three other attorneys before I hired him. The others were amateurs in comparison to him and failed me at critical moments. We went through a convoluted process, and I got to see him in many different aspects of his practice. Most attorneys would have backed down to the pressure from the State or made the wrong decisions. Stephen Richards did not. He was always ethical and voluntarily committed himself to pursue whatever legal avenue my case would require to win an acquittal for me. No other attorney would have shown such conscience and dedication to a client who was not always the easiest person to deal with. Trust him and your future will be in the best hands possible.