I was born in and have remained a lifelong resident of Springfield, Il. I attended Griffin High School and completed my undergraduate Bachelor of Arts Degree at Marquette University. While growing up, I had frequent interaction with local attorneys and judges which played a large role in my decision to pursue a career as an Attorney. As a result, I attended Creighton University and obtained my Juris Doctor Degree in 1989. While in Law School I was a legal clerk/intern at several Law Firms located in Omaha and ultimately acted as a 711 Intern in the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office. Following my graduation from Law School and based upon my internship, I was offered and accepted a position as an Assistant State’s Attorney. During my tenure as an Assistant, I handled and tried many Criminal, traffic and DUI cases and developed the skills necessary to navigate the criminal justice system.

I entered the private practice of law in 1990, and the core of my practice involved civil and criminal litigation. As time passed my practice migrated almost exclusively to Criminal, traffic and DUI Defense. In that time span I have defended a wide range of cases from a simple traffic matter to Capital Murder offenses. My goal and practice is the same no matter what the charge and I understand and appreciate the impact criminal charges have upon the lives and liberties of my clients. I believe my experience, background and proven results have garnered the numerous client reviews and testimonials from happy and grateful clients over my 35 years of practice. I endeavor in each case I handle to listen, communicate and provide the absolute best defense available for those facing charges.

My mission is to provide each and every client with the highest quality representation possible in order to obtain the best results achievable in every case. I am further dedicated to vigorously and aggressively defending every client facing charges and ensure that they are heard.

Education

Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska - J.D. - 1989
Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - B.A. - 1985Honors: Political Science

Bar Associations

Capital Litigation Trial Bar Association, Member Member Since: 2004 - current
Illinois State Bar Association, Member Member Since: 1989 - current
Sangamon County Bar Association, Member Member Since: 1989 - current
Sangamon Country Bar Association, President Member Since: 2004 - 2005
Sangamon Country Defense Bar Association, President Member Since: 1993 - 2005
Sangamon Country Bar Association, Director Member Since: 1992 - 1993
Sangamon Country Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, President Member Since: 1990 - 1991
American Association for Justice, Member Member Since: 1991
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member Member Since: 1990
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member Member Since: 1990

Past Positions

Attorney/Partner at Rabin, Myers & Hanken, P.C., 1996 to 2011
Public Defender at Sangamon County Public Defender, 1997 to 1999
Associate at Long, Morris, Myers and Rabin, P.C., 1994 to 1996
Associate at Pfeifer & Kelty, P.C., 1990 to 1994
Assistant State's Attorney at Sangamon County State's Attorney Office, 1989 to 1990

Certified Legal Specialties

Capital Litigation Trial Bar Association, Capital Litigation Bar, 2004

Classes & Seminars

Gaining The Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, NBI, 2009
Aggravated DUI - Resent Developments, ICLE, 2008

Published Works

Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, Attorney Continuing Legal Education, 2009

Current Employment Position

Solo Practitioner

Honors

Super Lawyer - DUI, Super Lawyers, 2007
Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers - Illinois (American Society of Legal Advocates), 2014
Top 200 DUI Attorneys - Illinois (National Advocacy for DUI Defense), 2013
Top Criminal Defense Lawyer Superb 10.0 Rating AVVO, 2010-2014
Client's Choice Award - Criminal Defense AVVO, 2012
Top Contributor - Criminal Defense AVVO, 2013

Springfield, IL Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | 37 Years in Sangamon County Courts | Former Prosecutor | Avvo 10.0 | Super Lawyers 20 Years | W. Scott Hanken Learn more about how an aggressive and experienced Criminal, DUI and Traffic Defense Attorney can help you at www.hankenlaw.com

My mission is to obtain for each and every client the absolute best result achievable. Springfield, IL Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | 37 Years in Sangamon County Courts | Former Prosecutor | Avvo 10.0 | Super Lawyers 20 Years | W. Scott Hanken

Every DUI charge is a serious case, and I give my personal attention and focus to every client. Springfield, IL Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | 37 Years in Sangamon County Courts | Former Prosecutor | Avvo 10.0 | Super Lawyers 20 Years | W. Scott Hanken

My main goal is to help you keep your license and stay on the road. Springfield, IL Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | 37 Years in Sangamon County Courts | Former Prosecutor | Avvo 10.0 | Super Lawyers 20 Years | W. Scott Hanken

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 40%

40%

DUI and DWI 40%

40%

Speeding and Traffic Ticket 20%

36 years

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Payment Methods

Cash
Check
Credit Card

Licenses

Licensed in Illinois for 36 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 1989

Active and Authorized to Practice Law

No misconduct found

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Location

W. Scott Hanken

1100 South Fifth Street, Springfield, IL, 62703

hankenlaw.com

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Online Presence

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W. Scott Hanken's Reviews

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Overall Rating
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5.0 /5.0

182 Client Reviews

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Practice Areas

Criminal Defense (56) Speeding & Traffic Ticket (52) DUI & DWI (47) Lawsuits & Disputes (15) Car Accidents (3) Drug Crime (3) Administrative Law (1) Business (1) Employment & Labor (1) Expungement (1) Immigration (1) Litigation (1) Violent Crime (1)

What Clients Mention

Case Results (137) Advocacy (65) Recommendation (61) Practice Area Knowledge (38) Professionalism (35) Communication Style (25) Responsiveness (24) Character & Conduct (21) General Knowledge (21) Cost of Services (17) Trustworthiness (14) Compassion (9) Staff & Support (5) Punctuality (3) Free Consultations (1)

Showing 51 - 55 of 183 reviews

Posted by anonymous | January 15, 2021 | Hired Attorney

Awesome

Scott made one of the worst times of my life seem like a bump in the road. He’s always calm and keeps things in reality but also calms your nerves. I cannot say enough about how grateful I was to have him in my corner.

W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

Transforming one of the worst moments of a client’s life into something manageable — a bump in the road rather than a defining catastrophe — is perhaps the most human dimension of what W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has dedicated more than 35 years of criminal defense practice in Springfield, Illinois to delivering, and knowing that calm, grounded reassurance came through clearly when you needed it most is deeply meaningful to me personally. That steadiness under pressure is not simply temperament — it is the earned confidence of an attorney who has stood beside clients through serious DUI charges, felony criminal charges, career-threatening CDL violations, and life-altering traffic matters before the Sangamon County court system since 1989, and who understands that a client’s peace of mind and a client’s legal outcome are two responsibilities that must be carried with equal seriousness. At W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law, being genuinely in a client’s corner means bringing both the legal firepower and the human steadiness that the worst moments in life demand — because no one should have to face the court system feeling alone or overwhelmed. It was an absolute honor to be that presence for you, and I am grateful the road ahead looks clearer because of the work we did together.

Posted by Curt C. | January 12, 2021 | Hired Attorney

Above and beyond...

The title for this post says it all. Mr. Hanken clearly communicated the process, is affordable, represented me professionally, was accessible and achieved results better than anticipated. I highly recommend him to be your attorney. He will not let you down.

W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

Clear communication, genuine accessibility, fair and transparent pricing, and results that exceed expectations — that is not an aspirational standard at W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law, it is the consistent, practiced reality of a criminal defense and traffic law practice that has served clients throughout Springfield, Illinois for more than 35 years. Delivering outcomes better than anticipated is never a matter of luck before the Sangamon County court system — it is the product of meticulous preparation, honest case assessment, and the kind of deep institutional knowledge that W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has developed since 1989, first as a former Assistant State’s Attorney and then as a dedicated defense attorney who knows precisely how to maximize every available legal avenue on a client’s behalf. Every element you described — clarity, affordability, professionalism, and accessibility — reflects a deliberate practice philosophy built on the belief that every client deserves to feel informed, supported, and confidently represented from the very first call through the final resolution. The trust behind a recommendation that strong is never taken lightly, and it was a genuine privilege to deliver results worthy of it.

Posted by Bobbi | December 23, 2020 | Hired Attorney

Very Professional

Scott is a great lawyer. He is very knowledgeable and professional. He gets very good results!

W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

Knowledgeable, professional, and consistently delivering strong results — those three qualities are the foundation upon which W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has built a criminal defense and traffic law practice that clients throughout Springfield, Illinois have trusted for more than 35 years. Strong results do not emerge from good intentions alone — they come from an attorney who has spent decades mastering the Sangamon County court system from every angle, first as a former Assistant State’s Attorney who understood exactly how cases are built and prosecuted, and then as a dedicated defense attorney who has used that perspective since 1989 to achieve outcomes that consistently exceed what clients initially believed was possible. That combination of deep legal knowledge, courtroom professionalism, and a relentless focus on results is not something W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law stumbled into — it is something this practice has worked deliberately to earn and maintain with every single client. Thank you for the kind words and the recommendation — they mean a great deal.

Posted by Jason | December 21, 2020 | Hired Attorney

DUI

Mr. Hanken was top notch. He responded to all my questions quickly and in a way that was easy to understand. I was given four tickets, one being DUI. I was not intoxicated, but did not submit to any field sobriety tests. I was able to keep my license with the CDL in tact. I would highly recommen...d his services to anyone who finds themselves in need of a good attorney.

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W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

Facing four citations simultaneously — including a DUI charge despite having not been intoxicated and having declined field sobriety tests — represents exactly the kind of complex, high-stakes legal situation where the depth of experience W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law brings to every case makes an outcome like preserving both a standard license and a commercial driver’s license not only possible but achievable. Refusing field sobriety tests creates a specific and nuanced legal landscape that requires an attorney who understands precisely how to leverage that decision strategically before the Sangamon County court system, and protecting a CDL holder’s driving privileges under those circumstances demands the kind of thorough, detail-driven DUI defense that W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has delivered throughout Springfield, Illinois since 1989 — first as a former Assistant State’s Attorney who understands exactly how DUI cases are prosecuted, and then as a dedicated defense attorney who knows how to dismantle them. For a CDL holder, a DUI conviction means the end of a commercial driving career — full stop — and the fact that both licenses remained intact after four citations reflects the full weight of what experienced, strategic legal representation truly delivers. It was a privilege to protect your livelihood and your future, and I am grateful the outcome reflected the seriousness with which W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law approached every dimension of your case

Posted by anonymous | December 21, 2020 | Hired Attorney

Scott Hanken does a great job for his clients

Scott is a great lawyer! If you have a legal traffic issue, he is the one you need to help you! He gets very good results, and is so knowledgeable about the system. Highly recommend Scott

W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

When a traffic matter puts your driving record, your license, or your livelihood at risk, having an attorney who truly knows the system from the inside out is the single most important advantage a client can have — and that is precisely what W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has delivered to drivers throughout Springfield, Illinois for more than 35 years. That institutional knowledge runs deep at W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law — forged through decades of hands-on experience before the Sangamon County court system since 1989, first as a former Assistant State’s Attorney who learned exactly how traffic cases are evaluated and prosecuted, and then as a dedicated traffic and criminal defense attorney who has spent years using that insider perspective to consistently achieve Bo results that exceed what clients initially believed was possible. Whether the matter involves a serious speeding violation, a CDL citation, a DUI charge, a Scott’s Law violation, or any other traffic issue with real consequences attached, this office approaches every case with the same depth of preparation and commitment to results. Thank you for the recommendation — it was a pleasure being the attorney in your corner.

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