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Joseph Peggs Welch

Criminal defense Attorney at Saint Louis, MO

4.5   8 reviews

also known as Joseph Welch, Joe Welch

  • Licensed for 22 years
    State MO
    Acquired 2001
    Status
    Good Standing, Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Joseph

Learn Joseph’s areas of practice.

1
Practice area
  1. Criminal defense
    100%
    Aggressive criminal defense for violent felonies, murder, robberies, assaults, stealing, sex crimes, drug trafficking, and all other felony and misdemeanor cases. Thorough representation from arrest through jury verdict.

    25 years

Joseph Welch has the reputation as an extremely aggressive criminal defense lawyer who takes several cases to trial every year and doesn't settle for the first lousy plea bargain the government offers.  He fights every case like it was his own and gets results.  

In addition to being the president of Greater St. Louis NORML, he is on the board of directors and a founding member of the new St. Louis chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers, and a graduate of the Missouri Bar CLE's Advanced Trial College.  He has been a member of NORML since 2006.  

Joseph Welch's office is in the Historic Dickmann Building in south St. Louis, but he handles cases all over the state of Missouri.  He has been especially active in the decriminalization of marijuana in the City of St. Louis and the lead attorney in the Occupy St. Louis cases, winning several acquittals for his clients.  

 

Visit his website for a free online consultation with a quick response.  

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Contact Joseph

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Joseph Peggs Welch
3115 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 100
Saint Louis, MO, 63118-1034

Reviews

4.5 / 5.0
  8 customer reviews
5 Star
 
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1 Star
 
13%
Posted by Andy | October 4, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
I wish I could give 10 stars!
Joe represented me on a 6 count felony grand jury indictment. the prosecutor said to joe, I looked you up and you like to go to trial. Joe replies. ‘I live for it’. He is careful and I love that he doesn’t carry a briefcase or even a pen and paper. He’s got all the info he needs in his head. My case was dismissed with prejudice (meaning the charges can never be brought up again) before trial.
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Posted by -C | September 16, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Words aren't enough!
I never thought I'd find myself in the situation I'm in, but Joe has been incredible these last five months. He's worked very hard to make sure things go well for me and getting me the results I'm hoping for. We aren't through yet, but I know that with Joe by my side, I'll come out on the right side of all of this. Joe, with all my heart, thank you!
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Posted by Georgia | November 26, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Joseph helped me many years ago!
He did an awesome job, for a fair price. I would recommend him to anyone!
Posted by AJ Smith | November 24, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Extremely knowledgeable and overall a great person!
In 2011, I walked into Joseph's previous employers office to get a DUI handled. I paid the office and assumed that it was taken care of. I never called them and they never called me. I just wanted to pretend it didn't happen and go on about my life. Come to find out, it wasn't taken care of by the previous firm that Joseph worked for. Just recently I received a letter in the mail stating that I had a new court date. Obviously I freaked out and went to the old firm that I paid back in 2011 to handle it and asked them why it wasn't handled. They proceeded to blame it on Mr. Welch's negligence and told me that they would need more money if I wanted them to represent me again. I was furious because I already paid them in 2011 for something that didn't get taken care of and had proof of it. They couldn't have cared less. After declining their insulting offer of taking more of my money to do nothing for me AGAIN, I decided to reach out to Mr. Welch to see what happened back in 2011. He told me what happened, was more than apologetic, and told me that he would either get them to represent me for free or just do it for free himself. I was shocked. I didn't realize that those type of people still existed in the world. He didn't have to make the wrong of HIS PREVIOUS EMPLOYER right, but he did. Not only did he do the job that his previous employer was PAID to do, but he did a fantastic job (multiple court appearances, with an eventual winning result for myself). Words cannot express how grateful I am of Joseph and the type of person he is. He is just a genuinely good person. He didn't have to help me out over four years after the fact, but he did. Overall a great lawyer and an even better person. Thanks again Joseph!
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Posted by Steve | January 21, 2014
Amazing, hard working lawyer!
Joe handled my case better than I could have ever imagined. He fought for over a year to have my charges reduced. He kept me up to date throughout the process, and I found his fees to be very reasonable. I will definitely call Joe in the future if I have any legal problems.
Posted by karen | January 21, 2014
Extremely helpful
I had a great consultation with Joseph. Unfortunately I was not able hire him due to the nature of the legal matter. He did give me a couple of recommendations to other lawyers who handle the type of issue I need legal counsel for. However I wish Joseph did as I would have hired him in a heartbeat.
Posted by anonymous | January 21, 2014
The Best Around
Mr. Welch represented me pro bono for a civil disobedience case. He was very sympathetic to my particular needs and desires regarding testimony, and treated me with fairness. Extremely non-judgemental, Mr. Welch is willing to put his own reputation on the line to ensure that his clients receive the justice they deserve, and the outcome that they want. If Mr. Welch had not represented me pro bono, I would have gladly paid him for his services. I would recommend his services to anyone.
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Posted by RJ | September 14, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Took our money and ran.......
Great start, just did not do anything he said he was going to do. No calls, text, or emails. Just turned into ghost.
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Cost

Rates
  • Retainer Always
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Attorney
  • Joseph P. Welch, Attorney at Law
  • 2002 - Present
  • Attorney
  • Derald Gab, P.C.
  • 2006 - 2012

Education

  • Washington University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2000
  • University of Missouri, Columbia
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1997

Legal Cases

  • Growing case and 5 other felonies dismissed
  • Dismissed with prejudice
  • Two Occupy St. Louis protesters acquitted
  • Acquittal for both clients on all charges - the jury high-fived my clients and their friends outside the courthouse afterwards.
  • State of Missouri v. Kenneth Unger
  • All charges reduced to misdemeanors with a small fine just before our trial date.
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 2014 - Present
  • Missouri Civil Liberties Association
  • Member
  • 2013 - Present
  • National Lawyers Guild
  • Member
  • 2012 - Present
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • NORML Legal Committee
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • Greater St. Louis NORML
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • Member
  • 1998 - Present
  • National Lawyers Guild - St. Louis
  • Board of Directors
  • 2013 - 2015
  • Greater St. Louis NORML
  • President
  • 2011 - 2014
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
  • Member
  • 2010 - 2013
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Top One Percent
  • National League of Renowned Attorneys
  • 2016
  • Client Distinction Award
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2015
  • TOP 10 Attorney Award for the state of Missouri
  • National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys
  • 2015
  • "Skilled Defense Lawyer"
  • St. Louis Evening Whirl
  • 2014
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • National Trial Lawyers Association
  • 2014
  • Top 40 under 40
  • National Trial Lawyers Association
  • 2014
  • "10 Best" Criminal Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction
  • American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
  • 2014
  • Presidential Academic Award
  • Ronald Reagan
  • 1986
View all awards

Speaking Engagements

  • Justice for Mike Brown CLE
  • Criminal Defense
  • 2016
  • Defending the Right to Dissent
  • Criminal Defense - Notes on the Protester's Criminal Case
  • 2013
  • Missouri State NORML Conference
  • Marijuana Law
  • 2010
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (11)
Given (34)
Endorse Joseph
Unknown Attorney | Jan 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | May 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Tough, compassionate attorney. Doesn't back down from a fight. Really cares about his clients."
Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Jun 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice."
Unknown Attorney | Mar 31
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Joe Welch is not afraid of a trial. If you have a complicated case, no problem. This guy will fight for you with his bare hands if he has to. Nice guy and a confident lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | May 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Welch is a skilled and respected member of the legal community. He is a zealous advocate for the rights and interests of his clients."
Criminal defense Attorney | May 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse Joseph. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
Criminal defense Attorney | May 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"One of the most tenacious criminal defense attorneys I've met in my 25+ years of law practice. If you have Joe Welch on your case, you are well-represented."
Criminal defense Attorney | Feb 28
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. I have worked with Joe on criminal matters. He knows the rules better than any other lawyer I know. If you want to beat your case, call Joe."
View more endorsements
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