Stephen L. Richards

PRO

Stephen L. Richards

4.8
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 40 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Chicago, IL
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

53 west Jackson Suite 756, Chicago, IL

About Stephen

Biography

I pride myself on giving expert and caring client service based on over 30 years of experience

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Criminal Defense 100%

11 years

100%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Licenses

Licensed in Illinois for 40 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 1985

Active and Authorized to Practice Law

No misconduct found

Location

Stephen Richards

53 west Jackson Suite 756, Chicago, IL, 60604

richardscriminallaw.com/

Online Presence

Other places you can find Stephen online.

Stephen L. Richards's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

48 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Punctuality

Posted by Karman | April 08, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Excellent experience with Stephen Richards attorney

Stephen has been an excellent attorney for us. He has by far exceeded our expectations. He helped us thought every process of our case and went above and beyond. He performed a lot of services that other attorneys will not have. Even after the case has ended, he still has been great in following thro...ugh with the results. He is great in managing his time and setting trial dates that will work with our schedule. He gives a thorough explanation of what is going on and how he will proceed. Couldn't have asked for more from an attorney. Will definitely recommend and use him again.

Posted by Tyrone Harvey | April 05, 2011 | Criminal Defense

I am pleased to recommend Attorney Stephen L. Richard

I am pleased to recommend Attorney Stephen L. Richard’s legal services. I am currently working with on my legal case and have always found him attentive, dependable, available, efficient, and unfailingly punctual. In fact, I have never worked with an Attorney who gives as much attention to detail as ...he does with remarkable patience and admirable tact. Also, his willingness to take on difficult cases like my wrongful conviction case and see them to successful completion has repeatedly impressed me.

Posted by anonymous | February 01, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Huge disappointment

My son was arrested for three felonies, one he admitted to and two he did not do I wanted him represented by a good criminal lawyer. After much research Mr. Richards looked like highly qualified person. I went in with high expectations thinking I would get what I was paying for, about a year take ...home pay for me. I wish he had told me right from the start that I was wasting my money paying him, because he was going to recommend the same plea bargain the codefendant got while being represented by a public defender. An experienced lawyer knows how the courts work and he should have told me I did not need to pay his high prices for my situation. I told him I had 6 special needs children and would have a hard time digging up that kind of money. So after taking my money he basically told us that if my son told the police what happened and there were witnesses, then he can't say he didn't do it, and to take the plea bargain. He put in such little effort it makes me sick. He never even came to court. After hiring him he sent his son for the court appearances. Every court date would find him at least an hour late. You know what it's like when you pay big money for representation and you are in court looking for your lawyer and he is no where around. Then you are frantically trying to call him on the phone and no one picks up or answers. If you break it down each time he was getting paid over $5000 for maybe a half hour in court. There were things I asked for that were never followed through. They were asking for $3000 for damages on a car. I asked if they had an estimate or how they came up with that number. It was never brought up and we had to pay a share of that expense. My son had a problem with a parole violation and I sent Mr. Richards an e-mail with all of the info. He didn't get back to me until a couple of weeks later, after the court date. My son had to be represented by a public defender. In summary, Mr. Richards had a great reputation, but he does not live up to it any more. Maybe he has too many cases, maybe he is pushing the work off on his son. Maybe it's no longer about helping people but instead just about making money. All I know is he put little time and effort into our case and it showed. He never carried through on things he was going to try to do,and now I am financially broke and so very frustrated that he took advantage of us.

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Stephen L. Richards's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Stephen
Mark V. Clay headshot
Mark Clay

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse Mr. Richards. Truly exceptional and caring attorney who produces great results in representing clients! I want all people with legal problems to contact him first."

Michael Thomas Myzia headshot
Michael Myzia

Criminal defense lawyer | May 22

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I have had the privilege of litigating against Mr. Richards and it is my privilege to endorse him. His experience and skill set are without peer and he is an absolute professional. Judges and prosecutors alike respect Mr. Richards and know that he is prepared on every case, for every court date. An absolutely phenomenal attorney."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | May 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Stephen. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Geneva Lynette Penson headshot
Geneva Penson

Unknown lawyer | Apr 27

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Stephen Richards is known throughout the state as a first-class trial lawyer. I have had the pleasure of working with him on more than one case and witnessing his masterful advocacy for his clients first hand. His command of the law and of the facts of any case in which he is involved is remarkable. When people facing serious criminal cases call me looking for trial counsel, there is one lawyer I recommend: Steve Richards."

Joshua Sachs headshot
Joshua Sachs

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 19

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Stephen Richards and I tried two felony jury cases together last year. He is an excellent criminal trial attorney; knowledgeable, thorough, well-prepared, skilfull and persuasive in front of a jury. Judges and prosecutors respect him."

Steven Richard Hunter headshot
Steven Hunter

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Steve Richards has honed his skills on death penalty cases, and has extensive knowledge of case law and forensic evidence."

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Marshall Curtis Libert headshot
Marshall Libert

Criminal defense lawyer

Michael Thomas Myzia headshot
Michael Myzia

DUI and DWI lawyer

Thomas Gerard Cosgrove headshot
Thomas Cosgrove

Criminal defense lawyer

Jon Karl Stromsta headshot
Jon Stromsta

Litigation lawyer

Steven Allen Greenberg headshot
Steven Greenberg

Criminal defense lawyer

Geneva Lynette Penson headshot
Geneva Penson

Family lawyer

Joshua Sachs headshot
Joshua Sachs

Appeals lawyer

Steven Richard Hunter headshot
Steven Hunter

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2022

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2021

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2020

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2019

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2018

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2017

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2016

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2015

Superlawyer, Superlawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2014

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2013

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2012

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2003

Kutak-Dodds Award, National Legal Aid and Defender Association

Work Experience

2008 - Present

Lawyer, Law Office of Stephen L. Richards

2000 - 2008

Deputy Defender, Illinois Appellate Defender

1989 - 2000

Assistant Public Defender, Cook County Public Defender's Office

1986 - 1989

Law Clerk, Illinois Supreme Court

1984 - 1986

Legal Writing Instructor, Illinois IInstitute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law

Associations

Illinois Public Defender's Association

Sample of Legal Cases

People v. Encarnacion Torres

Reversed and remanded

See More Legal Cases

Education

1983

Brooklyn Law School

JD

N/A

University of Chicago

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2007

Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education

Capital Jury Selection

Publications

2007

Illinois Public Defender Association Classes/Seminars: New Ideas for Jury Selection

2003

American Bar Association The Admissibility of Expert Testimony

2001

John Marshall Law Review Reasonable Doubt Redux

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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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