W. Scott Hanken

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 37 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