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 )

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Star rating
5 stars 114 4 stars 6 3 stars 2
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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 36 - 38 of 38 reviews | Recommendation

Posted by C.J | October 11, 2011

I would definately recommend Stephen A. Gustitis for legal representation

I am so grateful to have had Steve Gustitis’ services during my case. He is very efficient and personable. I never hesitated to call him with questions or concerns because I knew he would immediately assist me. His assistant Jennifer is exceptionally friendly and always brought a smile to my face ...when I called. Steve was empathetic to the fact that I had to travel from out of state. He took these factors into consideration and also assisted in the reduction of my charges. This being my 1st offense, it was important to have an attorney like Steve. I believe Steve was a heaven sent and I would definitely recommend him for anyone needing legal representation.

Posted by Morris | April 25, 2017 | Hired Attorney

Very good lawyer

Mr. Gustitis was very polite and professional in our initial interview and explained our situation in detail. He was able to settle the case to our satisfaction although it did take longer than we expected. While I do not hold that against him, that is the reason for 4-star instead of 5-star. I ...would not hesitate using him again on other legal matters.

Stephen Gustitis

Replied last April 25, 2017

Dear Morris: Thank you very much for your strong recommendation! I certainly appreciate every client's desire to resolve their case as quickly as possible. However, hidden in all delay is opportunity . . . opportunity to obtain an even better result! In any case, thank you again for choosing us to help you through a difficult time. It was our pleasure to serve your needs!

Posted by Matt | February 17, 2017 | Hired Attorney

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

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