As the managing member of Schierer & Ritchie, I represent and defend many good people every single day who are facing extremely tough criminal charges. I began my career as a criminal defense attorney with the public defender's office and then started a criminal defense practice of my own. After years of this, I made the decision to fulfill a life-long dream and spend a term serving my country in the United States Navy Jag Corps. There, I was assigned the job of criminal prosecutor. While I never thought I'd find myself in this role, I learned many invaluable lessons during my time on the other side. I carried these lessons with me back into private practice when I returned to where I belong...zealously defending the little guy. Now, I once again fight to obtain fair results for my clients.
After years of working with hundreds of clients, I have defined my core values as these: forming personal and caring relationships with my clients, advocating aggressively and zealously for my clients, and honing my legal skills through continued and regular professional training and education to better serve my clients.
I place an absolute premium on client communication and client trust. Each and every case we handle is unique. Each and every client is an individual deserving of individual attention. I personally meet with every single client, and personally investigate each and every situation. With me as your attorney, you will never feel like you are just one of the herd. I will treat you as a good person in a difficult situation, not a dollar sign and otherwise a nuisance. I will care about your case, I will respect you as a human being, I will have compassion for your situation, and I will return all communications promptly.
I advocate aggressively. I know the law. I know when cases should be settled. I know when jury trials are warranted. I know when we are getting a good deal and a bad deal from the prosecutor on a case. I form strong relationships with judges and courtroom staff, and you will be taken care of accordingly.
Finally, I believe that, as long as I live, I am a work in progress. I believe that I owe my clients the duty of continually enriching my legal knowledge and experience. Because of this, I attend trainings regularly to enrich both my legal knowledge and my courtroom skill. I will use my updated knowledge and skill to help you through your case.
Before all this began, I earned a B.S. in Accountancy from the top accountancy school in the nation at the time, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Thereafter I earned a J.D. from one of the top 25 best law schools in the nation, Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. I have been honored to join the bars of the States of Illinois, Missouri and New York. As a result, I am uniquely qualified to practice in all state courts in these states and in several federal courts throughout the states.
I work in both the trial and the appellate venues of practice. I have tried numerous misdemeanor and felony cases before a jury and have even had the pleasure of participating in the defense of a criminal case that went all the way to the Supreme Court of Illinois.
When not working or exploring my community, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, watching my beloved Fighting Illini, soaking in the sights at Wrigley Field, traveling, and exploring local cuisine.