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Wesley James Schroeder

Criminal defense Attorney at San Jose, CA

5.0   20 reviews
  • Licensed for 49 years
    State CA
    Acquired 1974
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

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

About Wesley

Learn Wesley’s areas of practice.

While I was always interested in a legal career as I grew up and went through my years of education, it was not until I became quite involved in the civil rights movement during the 1960’s that I really began to understand how absolutely vital it was to protect the individual rights of citizens. This is especially true for persons charged with a criminal offense.

People ask how I can represent “guilty” people, or those persons accused of serious crimes. The fact is I am proud and honored to do so because I deeply believe in the principles of the United States Constitution. Specifically, the Bill of Rights with its Sixth Amendment provides that all accused persons are to have the assistance of counsel for their defense. The role of a criminal defense attorney was actually deemed so important by the Founding Fathers that it was written into the guarantees of the United States Constitution. Few people can say that their job is a requirement of the basic law of our land.

John Adams, the second President of the United States and one of the Founding Fathers, reflected on his life when he was well into old age and stated one of his greatest services to his country was to successfully defend British soldiers accused of murder of American Colonists in the Boston Massacre. He defended the soldiers at great peril to his political future and even his life due to the enormous unpopularity of the British Army at that time. Adams understood that the principles of a fair trial and vigorous advocacy regardless of the charges and the social status of the accused was vital to the integrity of the American democracy that he was helping to form.

That spirit and zeal are central to the ideas that drew me to becoming a criminal defense lawyer and have propelled me along this career for the past forty years.

Awards

Client's Choice 2014
Client's Choice
2014

Contact Wesley

Wesley Schroeder, Attorney At Law

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  20 customer reviews
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Client's Choice 2014
Client's Choice
Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.
Posted by anonymous | October 1, 2014
Exceptional Representation
One of the hardest decisions to make is when you have to choose an attorney to represent you. Your livelihood and reputation are at stake and the outcome of the case may affect the rest of your life. I choose Wesley Shroeder to represent my case that involved a complex mental-health situation, in which false charges and horrible allegations were made against me. Mr. Shroeder's extensive experience in criminal law and his extended network of relationships with people on all sides of the legal system played a decisive role in the positive outcome of my case. Mr. Shroeder masterfully presented the evidence, along with strategically timing when to present that evidence to the district attorney. His approach not only avoided a trial but resulted in all charges being dropped for insufficient evidence. This outcome exceeded even my expectations as to what I had hoped for. I personally and enthusiastically recommend Wesley Shroeder to anyone seeking legal counsel.
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Posted by anonymous | November 5, 2014
You've found someone who will help you!
I have known Wes for several years. I hired him initially for myself and subsequently for family and friends throughout the years. The cases have ranged from corporal punishment to kidnapping and juvenile criminal charges. He treated every one of us like family. He starts out with listening intently then honestly explaining the process and telling you what he believes he can do. If he doesn't think he can help you or feels the cost may outweigh the benefit , he will tell you upfront. He has been is Santa Clara county for decades and is well respected by prosecutors and judges , which is incredibly helpful when you are trying to navigate the system. Ruby, his Paralegal, is like the auntie who is always there for you when you need something done quickly. She always answers the phone and knows how to reach all of the court clerks to get answers. I feel safe knowing that in the event that something happens and I find a loved one in trouble; I have Wes to call. If you have Wes there is a way out of the trouble.
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Posted by anonymous | January 8, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Deeply grateful for tremendous experience and human touch
Child Protection Services contacted us out of the blue one morning and announced they would visit our family in the afternoon of the same day. We have never dealt with Child Protection Services before and we were terrified by the prospect. I was desperate to get legal advice on the matter and found Dr Schroeder’s office through internet research. When I called the office, he was not able to take my call immediately but I left a message, asking to be called back urgently. Because of the tight timeline, I did not know whether it would be realistic to be called back, but I was just hoping for a miracle. It did happen! Dr Schroeder called me back around lunchtime and in just a few minutes he cut to the heart of the matter. His has tremendous experience with dependency cases and it showed immediately. He listened carefully for the details of our situation and explained what we can expect from the CPS visitation. He educated us on how to work together with CPS and what to say, how to say it. He explained what the next legal steps would be after the visitation and what the different scenarios were for the final outcome. His demeanor is very competent and reassuring. After speaking with him, my spouse and I were calm and confident. Thanks to Dr Schroeder’s coaching the meeting with the Child Protection officer went very well and we were able to resolve the matter. Without his help, we are certain to have made missteps and created a catastrophe for our family. Dr Schroeder’s help was essential for us being able to handle this case and we could be not more grateful to him for the urgency he showed towards us.
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Posted by anonymous | September 25, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Extremely knowledgeable and professional
Mr. Schroeder is one of the most experienced criminal defense attorneys in the bay area. He was extremely knowledgeable of the system and very professional. When I got into my legal issue, I was super worried and stressed because it was a serious felony. But Mr. Schroeder came to the rescue. I still remember our first meeting in his office. He listened carefully and wrote down everything I said about my case. Along the way, I can feel he really cared about my case. I felt secure with him handling my case because I know he will get me the best deal. My case was reduced from felony to misdemeanor even without my appearance at court. After my case is closed, the police department still did not release my personal belongings. Mr. Schroeder reached out and talked to the officer in charge of my case. Then he drafted a release order and asked Judge to sign and had it notarized. On the same day, they returned my belongings. I highly recommend Mr. Schroeder if you have a case in the criminal court! Almost forget to say that his assistant Ruby is also super nice.
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Posted by anonymous | May 6, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Dedicated, experienced, knowledgeable and professional
I was charged with a domestic violence crime and after consulting few different lawyers i end up hiring Mr. Schroeder he was most friendly of all, he was very courteous and very caring about my situation and made me at ease ! He is very well known within his peers and his fees are very reasonable comparing to others ! has a great knowledge of the law, very upfront so if you’re looking for a lawyer I definitely recommend him, by the way my case got dismissed.
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Posted by Danny | January 22, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Unexplainable skills
Mr Schroeder and Ruby have been very kind and professional. The first time I talk to Wesley I Knew he was the one. After talking to about a dozen lawyer prior I still didn't feel comfortable to hand them over my 14 year old son life. He is in on some really serious serious charges and needs the best representation. With in minutes I felt a state of releaf. With an astound assurance i knew he was the one. I feel strongly that he is gonna give it his best and thats all I am asking for.. plus he has a very hardworking and righteous assistant Ruby .......GREAT TEAM!!
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Posted by Michael | November 22, 2020
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
This guy gets it
Wesley takes the time to explain his understanding of your situation and make sure he answers your questions. It’s possible that many lawyers do this, but it’s clearly evident that Wesley cares about his clients. Great guy and I highly recommend.
Posted by Marti | January 14, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Grateful
Wesley was recommended to me by a friend. My husband who has dementia,  was arrested for domestic violence. He had no memory of what happened. While I sought medical care for him, Wesley worked on his criminal case. He kept me informed and very clearly guided me through the process.  I should also say that he was truly sympathetic to this case. My husband or I never needed to appear in court. Wesley handled all of it and had extensive conversations with the district attorney, while keeping me informed every step of the way. The case was dismissed 6 months into it. I am so grateful for his expertise and compassion. A dark cloud has lifted and now my husband and I can get on with our lives. 
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Posted by Raul | January 5, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Hardworking and professional.
Attorney Schroeder saved my life and my career! Dismissal of my case would have been impossible if we didn't meet attorney Schroeder! We were in search for an attorney that can fight my difficult case. My family and I were devastated and scared, until our search came to an end when we found Attorney Wesley Schroeder! I was turned down by many attorneys because of the severity of it (along with some that didn't fit for my case). My case consisted of terrifying charges. A former ex girlfriend alleged numerous sex charges against me. Attorney Schroeder is a very well known and respected defense attorney in the court system. He will fight for you and put you under his wing. Along with his team. They will fight hard to fight your case. If you ever feel like there's no hope, rest assured that he will defend you! Look no further Attorney Schroeder is the best attorney you will ever hire for your case!
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Posted by anonymous | November 26, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Given a second chance
Wesley was referred to us by a friend of a friend as "being the best". He knows his laws, and is very well respected amongst his peers. Not ever having to hire an attorney before, we were very unsure of the process. His interviewing style was professional, but yet he had a kind way about him that made you feel comfortable. He was honest about the charges and explained the potential outcome, worst case and best. Our overall time with Wes was 9 months. During that time, he presented different scenarios and options for his client to consider. In the end the case was drastically reduced due to his knowledge and network of peers. A person can make one mistake during an impaired time in thier life and can be presented the worst. After 9 months of assuming the worst, our family member has a second chance at life. The charges were reduced drastically, and this person has been given a chance to; "make it right" and to be a productive member of society.
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Posted by anonymous | March 1, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Schroeder review
I hired Mr. Schroeder to represent me in an extremely complicated 4 count felony case. He was able to get the 4 count felony case reduced to a one charge misdemeanor case and is now in the process of having my record expunged. This incredibly competent attorney not only helped me through a very difficult time in my life but he assisted me in saving my professional license. I would highly recommend Mr. Schroeder and have in fact done just that. He also assisted a personal friend of mine and was able to get his sentence substantially reduce.
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Posted by Luis | February 13, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excepcional lawyer...even better person..!!!
After 15 years, one day you find out that you are being accused of 4 counts of child molestation is something that will put your life upside down, you won't see the light at the end of the tunnel because is you that has to fight for your life, you have to prove your innocence against the full power and resources from the state. Well...after a year and thousands of dollar expended in another law firm that just care how much you could pay them I knocked at the door of Mr. Wess, the best decision ever that I could make. He not only review my case, checked all the pros and cons and decide to take my hand and guide me through this perilous process that took 2 more years. He not only cover all the possible aspect of the case but also with the knowledge that no many people have, he explained to me what could be the possible outcomes, what were the flaws and what were the strengths of the case and from there always fight to defend my innocence. The emotional support, his calm and professionalism were the most important aspect during the process, reaching the highest point when he display all the knowledge and experience at the time of the trial, not only fighting and dismantling any of the accusations from the DA point of view but also convincing the judge when he thought that was necessary to treat this case in the correct way and allow him to have the same opportunity to reach the necessary people to provide the expertise that helped him to prove his case. Believe me, me and my family always be grateful to him for his professionalism, for his way to fight for my innocence...for his support. Also I'd like to mention his assistant Rubi, the sweetest person that put the human touch in the process. Without her support and help the process would be harder. I'd like to finish my review telling to whoever read it that if you are in a situation where your life depend in the attorney that you need to hire, you can go with your eyes closed and hire Mr. Wesley J. Schroeder, he will be the difference....
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Posted by Natasha | November 27, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
The BEST
He is very smart, knowledgeable, and experienced. From experience, I will tell you, If there is a way to get you out of your jam, he will find it. Best of all he cares and keeps you in the loop at all times. AND he is full of great, precious advice. I would recommend him all day every day.
Posted by Nav | September 24, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great attorney
Wes Schroeder is confident and smart attorney and well linked up in the court after 1.5 years my case was dismissed on very difficult charges.
Posted by Jason spence | August 1, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Experienced and respected
I visited Wesley Schroeder after seeing two other attorneys at their offices and talking to several others on the phone. Out of everyone I contacted, he was the only one who showed a genuine interest in my case and spent the time to talk over the possible ways my case might go. Little was I to know that the case would stretch over the next year and a half. Initially, my case was assigned to a judge who was an ex-DA who took what I thought were punitive measures before I was even arraigned. The case was clearly not going to be straightforward, and the outlook was quite bleak to begin with. Each time, Mr. Schroeder reacted to each of these setbacks without hesitation. He used his knowledge and experience to develop working plans for each one. He worked with the victim's attorney to ensure the victim reached her desired outcome, the bail bondsman (who he knew personally) to resolve any issues that came up, a judge dealing with a separate traffic issue to put aside a matter for over a year, and even the DA's office to ensure optimal timing for certain events. At every stage, nearly everyone I interacted with went out of their way to point out that Mr. Schroeder is a quite good attorney. This included an assistant DA, a junior attorney who just happened to be sitting in the same hallway as us ("did you know he is a very good lawyer?"), a public defender who was probably not supposed to be talking to me in the first place, and literally everyone I talked to at the bail bond agency. Even the court clerks knew his office secretary by name and had her number readily available. Despite the grave circumstances of the case -- a felony charge with a maximum penalty of over a decade in state prison -- I received what I thought was a fair sentence last week. I'm to serve 35 days total in county jail, pay about $600 in fines, and have two misdemeanors on my record. Mr. Schroeder is often busy, especially at trial, and it may be difficult to retain him if he's in one of his busy periods. However, out of the half dozen or so attorneys I've had to deal with in my life, he stands out. If you are able to retain him, be thankful that you're getting a quality half century of experience representing you.
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Posted by anonymous | December 14, 2014
Could not have asked for better representation
I first met Mr. Schroeder at a time when one of those situations everyone hopes to avoid occurred. After talking to several lawyers I met Mr. Schroeder. I chose to go with Mr. Schroeder's representation as he was the only lawyer that seemed to listen to my situation and genuinely wanted to help out. He was always professional and always listened to my questions and gave truthful answers. He never tried to hide the severity of the situation and what could be gained or lost by decisions I had to make. Mr. Schroeder worked hard to keep me well informed of all facets of the case and what progress or road blocks we were facing. At every turn Mr. Schroeder seemed to have the needed resources and skill no matter what the situation. I cannot recommend his counsel and experience enough
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Posted by Guo li | November 15, 2014
I recommend this attorney.
I am a naturalized Chinese-American. I was accused by my wife, whom I had recently married when she came to the United States from China. I was referred to Wesley J. Schroeder by a very experienced family law attorney who has known Wesley Schroeder for many years. After extensive discussions and negotiations with the prosecutors' office, Wesley J. Schroeder was able to get my case dismissed completely. During this process he kept me well-informed and was very responsive to all questions I had. I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of a criminal defense attorney.
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Posted by anonymous | September 30, 2014
Experienced , responsive , up to date resources.
When my son was arrested we felt helpless and attacked. A good friend of the family who is also a lawyer recommended Wes Schroeder. We were told that Mr. Schroeder was an excellent negotiator, detailed and honest. After our first meeting with Wes Schroeder my husband and I were confident we found a good lawyer that could help our son. Wes Schroeder listened to our questions and addressed our Concerns. Mr. Schroeder was sensitive to our need for information and always returned our calls in a timely manner . Throughout the process we noticed the respect others had for Mr. Schroeder in the court room and judicial system . We feel that Wes used every means possible to give our son a fair chance in a difficult case. There are many aspects of our case you can't begin to imagine . My husband and I will never forget how hard Wes fought for our son. Thanks to Mr. Schroeder my son will have a future. Thank you Wes!
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Posted by Jaime | September 15, 2014
Highly reommend Wesley Schroeder
From the minute we met with Mr. Schroeder, we were impressed with his sincere empathy and his attentiveness to our situation regarding our son, Frankie. Mr. Schroeder took an active interest in our son's situation and followed a line of questioning that immediately got to the issues as to why and how our son had gotten into the trouble he was in and the underlying issues, including our son's mental disability that led to his predicament and incarceration. Mr. Schroeder's subscribes to the importance of properly representing a mentally disabled person through the legal system and exercising persistent due diligence consistently throughout the long and arduous process (Mr. Schroeder personally attended/represented Frankie during the many case hearings and follow up cases). In this respect he never wavered and it was through his persistent and thorough representation of our son, that he was able to get Frankie channeled through properly through the legal system. We are indebted to Mr. Schroeder for his pro-active and caring approach, total adherence to our son's case and his excellent legal expertise. I highly recommend Mr. Schroder, as we always felt that our son was in good hands and being represented by the best.
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Posted by Tina | January 29, 2012
Tina for San Jose
Very compassionate extremely empathetic
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AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Owner
  • Wesley J. Schroeder, Attorney At Law
  • 1981 - Present
  • Instructor in Criminal Law for Paralegal Program
  • Santa Clara University School Of Law
  • 2014 - 2014
  • Judge Pro Tem, Small Claims & Traffic
  • Santa Clara County Court
  • 2014 - 2014

Education

  • University of California at Davis School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1971
  • Whitman College
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1967

Associations

  • California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
  • Attorney Member
  • 1995 - Present
  • Santa Clara County Sentencing Alternative Program
  • Board of Directors
  • 1990 - Present
  • California Public Defenders Association
  • Attorney Member
  • 1974 - Present
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association, Judiciary Committee
  • Attorney Member
  • N/A
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association
  • Attorney Member
  • N/A
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • BV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2015
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • National Trial Lawyers Association
  • 2015
  • BV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2014

Attorney endorsements

Received (10)
Given (2)
Endorse Wesley
Criminal defense Attorney | May 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the opportunity to witness his work in the courtroom and have found him to be diligent and hardworking. He is well respected in the legal community."
Unknown Attorney | Sep 02
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | May 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Wes Schroeder is a well known and respected trial attorney. I have seen him in the local courts many times over the past twenty six years that I have been an attorney. He knows criminal law backward and forward, inside and out. If he gives you legal advice, take it. He also fights hard for his clients. He does not just talk the talk. He walks the walk; he will go to the mat on cases, no matter how serious, no matter how challenging. He also manages to aggressively represent his clients and still be a gentleman. I most certainly endorse this attorney."
Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 02
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Wes is an aggressive advocate for his clients. He is effective as a litigator inside the courtroom and out. I have worked with Wes and was impressed with his hard work, knowledge of the law, and ethics as a criminal defense attorney. I endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 28
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Wes is a highly experienced criminal lawyer who is a skilled and paasionate advocate for his clients.."
Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer 100%. Wes is a hard working aggressive attorney. He is as honest as they come and will be your advocate. Wes is very well respected amongst his peers, the District Attorneys' office and the bench."
Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Wes “cut his teeth” as a public defender. He has been in private practice for many years. He is experienced, smart, aggressive when he needs to be, and is is a true advocate for his clients. If someone is in need of a very good criminal defense attorney, Wes meets that criteria! Also, Wes does not shy away from very difficult cases."
Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Wes is the consummate professional. His reputation for representing criminal defendants is immaculate. I have been co counsel with Wes in high profile, extremely serious criminal matters. If I were in difficulty I would not hesitate to retain Wes to represent me and expect the best result possible."
Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Wesley Schroeder is highly respected by judges, prosecutors and fellow criminal defense attorneys in Santa Clara County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. We have represented co-defendants in very serious felony criminal cases. "Wes" Schroeder is always prepared and represents his clients with the highest level of integrity and competence. He is a great negotiator. And when prosecutors are not willing to "deal," he knows how to fight a case."
View more endorsements
Criminal defense

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San Jose Criminal defense Lawyer Wesley James Schroeder
Wesley James Schroeder
Criminal defense Attorney
San Jose, CA
Licensed for 49 years