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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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 6 - 10 of 25 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by Ashley | April 09, 2021 | Hired Attorney

To say I am grateful.. would be an understatement. Thank you so much...

I made a bad decision one night and got charged with a DUI. Scott Hanken is absolutely amazing at what he does. He doesn’t mess around and gets things done. He tells you what will happen and what he will do, and is forthcoming and straightforward about everything. An attorney I genuinely trust. He ac...tually ended up getting me an even better plea deal than what was anticipated! He found an issue with the paperwork and made it so that I wouldn’t have to put a breathalyzer machine put a baiid machine in my car. I also did not have my license suspended. Scott was able to get me just a year of supervision and I literally could not have gotten a better deal! I am so glad I found Scott Hanken and to have him represent me. I am more than grateful .. thank you Scott, you were the man for the job! You went above and beyond and it couldn’t have turned out any better. SCOTT’S THE MAN! If you ever get charged with a DUI or know someone who has.. stop right now and give Scott Hanken’s Law Firm a call. Seriously.. They’re the best, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else! Also, Scott Hanken and his receptionists are very welcoming and kind people. They made me feel right at home and took care of everything. Scott answered all of my questions and more.. I may be rambling now but I’m just so ecstatic about how everything turned out! Thank you so much, for giving me my life back. You have no idea how much what you did means to me and my family.

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W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

A DUI charge that results in no BAIID requirement, no license suspension, and a single year of court supervision — achieved in part by identifying a critical paperwork issue that changed the outcome entirely — is the kind of thorough, detail-driven DUI defense that W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has delivered for clients throughout Springfield, Illinois for more than 35 years. That result did not happen by accident; it happened because experienced DUI representation means scrutinizing every document, every procedure, and every detail of how a case was handled from the moment of the traffic stop forward — and that is precisely the standard W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law has upheld in the Sangamon County court system since 1989. Knowing that you and your family can move forward without a suspended license, without a breathalyzer interlock device, and with your future intact is the most rewarding outcome a DUI defense attorney can deliver, and your gratitude genuinely means the world to me and everyone in this office. It was an absolute privilege to be the attorney you trusted with something this important — now go live your life to the fullest.

Posted by Alison | January 24, 2021 | Hired Attorney

A man on a mission

Scott took on my traffic case the first day I contacted his office. He kept me up to date on all handling of my case and stayed on top of things. Being very unfamiliar with the court process/handling, Scott kept me informed and walked me through each step of the way. 10/10 recommend him to anyone!

W. Hanken

Replied last May 27, 2026

Taking on a traffic case the same day a client reaches out and maintaining clear, consistent communication through every step of an unfamiliar court process is not an accident at W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law — it is the direct result of a client-first practice philosophy built and refined over more than 35 years of traffic and criminal defense representation in Springfield, Illinois. For someone navigating the court system for the first time, the legal process can feel overwhelming and opaque, and ensuring that every client of W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law understands exactly where their case stands, what is happening next, and why, is every bit as important as the outcome achieved before the Sangamon County court system. That commitment to same-day responsiveness, proactive updates, and plain-language guidance has been a cornerstone of this practice since 1989 — because an informed client is always a more confident client, and a confident client is always better positioned to see the process through. Thank you for the perfect recommendation and for trusting this office to handle everything from start to finish — it was a genuine pleasure.

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 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

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