Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

3.9 /5.0

125 Client Reviews

Avvo

4.9

(123)

Lawyers.com

3.0

(2 )

 See client reviews from Lawyers.com
Filter Avvo Reviews (123) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 114 4 stars 6 3 stars 2
2 stars 0
1 star 1
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense (63) DUI & DWI (16) Expungement (14) Lawsuits & Disputes (14) Drug Crime (5) Education (3) Juvenile (2) Speeding & Traffic Ticket (2) Domestic Violence (1) Immigration (1) Litigation (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (77) Advocacy (60) Recommendation (38) Communication Style (37) Professionalism (35) Practice Area Knowledge (26) Responsiveness (26) Staff & Support (25) General Knowledge (24) Character & Conduct (21) Trustworthiness (19) Compassion (16) Cost of Services (12) Payment Plans (1) Punctuality (1)

Showing 121 - 123 of 123 reviews

Posted by Matt | February 17, 2017 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

Probably Not

I chose to hire Mr. Gustitis immediately after consultation. The materials and information I received at the consultation led me to believe something more could be done about my case rather than simply plea out. A VAST majority of cases will be handled by a plea bargain agreement. I'm talking aro...und 90%, if not higher. Don't fall into the trap and think your case is special unless you have a GREAT reason to. In my experience, and many others I met in the process, the plea bargains offered are almost identical no matter which attorney you hire or even if you choose to represent yourself. This is important because Mr. Gustitis charges "premium fees." He even mentions this himself on his website. In all likelihood, you will get the same outcome using a more affordable attorney and save yourself thousands. In my specific case, Mr. Gustitis advised me to accept the first offer put on the table. All said and done I ended up serving 90 days in Brazos County Jail (Over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years nonetheless) for a first time DWI offense with no accident or injuries. (Refusal and BAC >.15) I was very disappointed in the outcome, although partly my fault. I feel after paying 'premium fees' he did not really want to fight my case or push it any further. Once I took the deal, he was done with me and my case was off his plate. One redeeming factor to this is his stellar assistant, Nelda. She is always available to answer ANY questions, is extremely helpful, and always positive. However, in my opinion this is not worth the extra thousands in legal fees. Overall, I would not use this attorney again simply because the fees were too high for a basic outcome. I know many others (fraternity brothers) who chose more affordable attorneys, some who used court appointed attorneys, and a couple who represented themselves. We all were offered practically the same thing, only differences were based on prior charges and the like. If you want my advice, save your money.

Stephen Gustitis

Replied last February 17, 2017

Dear Matt: Thank you for your review of our Firm. Particularly, I appreciated your high praise for my assistant, Nelda. I always welcome reviews. In fact, your review raised some important points that are worth addressing with further comment to help future clients make informed choices about how they defend their criminal charges. First, you are right when you suggest that results and outcomes of a criminal case depend largely upon the facts and circumstances that occurred the night a person got arrested, well before they ever visit their attorney the first time. Often those facts and circumstances limit a person's choices because they create such a strong case for the prosecution. Second, you are also correct that the majority of criminal cases (not all) are settled by a plea bargain agreement with the state prosecutor. And, of course, accepting a plea bargain is always the client's choice, not the attorney's. In a DWI case like yours, where the prosecutor's facts are strong, the choices for a first time offender would be for probation or house-arrest (electronic monitor), which allows a person to go to school, work, and to perform other essential household duties without ever being incarcerated in the county jail. Trying the case to a jury is also an option. In this particular case, you had a choice between probation, house-arrest, or jury trial. A review of the public records show the house-arrest choice was made. Usually, the choice to accept an offer is to limit the potential risk of a more severe outcome. Additionally, at the time of the DWI plea bargain, the records show we were successful in keeping your driver's license from being suspended again. We were further successful in negotiating the lowest possible DPS surcharges (a $3,000.00 savings to you), even though the BAC results were well over .15. Lastly, a review of public records show that your house-arrest privileges were revoked by the judge because of a failure to follow the electronic monitor rules. I am very sorry you had to spend the Holidays in jail because of this failure. However, the electronic monitor rules are very strict and the judge advises everyone they must follow the rules exactly. Even something as simple as not charging a monitor battery can have grave consequences. So, thank you again for choosing us to help you navigate a very difficult case. Your review and your high praise for my staff is greatly appreciated. Thank you, further, for raising issues that may be important to others seeking expert legal advice in the field of criminal law. I wish you the best of luck. Steve

Posted by anonymous | June 03, 2015 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Very good lawyer

Mr. Gustitis was very helpful with my case. The outcome was better than I expected, Moreover, his assistant Nelda kept me informed. I would recommend Mr. Gustitis.

Stephen Gustitis

Replied last June 03, 2015

Thank you very much for your generous review of our Firm and services. I'm pleased the result of your case was better than expected. A satisfied client is a great blessing. Thank you, again.

Posted by anonymous | September 14, 2016 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

Defense Attorney

Came to Steve for a DUI. Received very little contact other than from his assistant Nelda. Nelda was awesome and a great help. As soon as my case was settled via plea deal he was gone quicker than I could sign the papers. He was rude to my family, very condescending. I received no actual counsel on m...y decision to take the deal. He kept saying my case was 50/50 which clearly was not supported by the facts of my case. I had a much smaller chance in fact. He pushed to settle yet did not help me decide which plea deal was best. I could have gotten the same deal without paying him $5000 for his "services".

Stephen Gustitis

Replied last September 14, 2016

I regret you were not pleased with our Firm's service. My goal in every case is to provide clients with the highest quality service possible to help them make an informed decision about the best way to resolve their case. Although we cannot change the facts of a case, we strive to assist clients in understanding the risk/benefit of each important decision they make. Lastly, I encourage every client to contact me personally with any complaints or concerns about our legal services. I am always just a phone call away. I hope you will call to discuss this important issue. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this review.

See All Client Reviews