Marietta, Georgia Attorney Cobb County - Richard S. Lawson, Attorney at Law

Richard S. Lawson, Attorney at Law

Contact: Richard Lawson

(866) 428-8170
Call Now - Toll Free
Free Initial Consultation

1827 Powers Ferry Rd., Bldg. 5,
Marietta, GA 30339

Attorney Richard S. Lawson exclusively practices DUI defense with 15 years experience. He is a former DUI prosecutor. You have too much to lose by having your case handled by a "general practitioner." Richard Lawson only handles DUI cases and DUIs involving drugs.

To avoid an automatic suspension of your driver's license, you must have your attorney send a letter to the Department of Drivers Services within 10 day of your arrest. Call now to protect your right to drive and your freedom.

It is important to realize the difference between a general practitioner with limited experience defending Georgia DUI charges, and an attorney who focuses exclusively on DUI defense and has extensive experience and training.

It is also important to realize that an arrest does not mean you are guilty. You have the absolute right to defend yourself in a court of law and to challenge the case filed against you. Hiring the right attorney is important, as not all attorneys practice drunk driving defense. Most attorneys are general practitioners that engage in several areas of law. Some only want to dispose of cases by having their clients enter a guilty plea.

Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that your right to drive is protected.

Firm Profile

Attorney Profile

Testimonials

Verified Credentials

Verdicts & Settlements

Loading profile...

Firm Profile

Number of Attorneys:

Year Firm was Created:

1997

Practice Areas:

DUI / DWI Traffic

Contact this attorney at (866) 428-8170 or Send Email

Attorney Profile

Name of University Attended:

University of Michigan BA of Arts 1992

Name of Law School Attended:

Emory Law 1995

Year admitted to the Bar:

1995

Admitted to Practice Law in the Following Courts:

All Georgia Courts
Federal Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
Georgia Supreme Court

Admitted to Practice Law in:

Georgia

Professional Association Memberships:

Dodd - Defense of Drinking Drivers Network of DUI Attorneys

Contact this attorney at (866) 428-8170 or Send Email

Testimonials

I had very good experience working with Mr. Lawson. He provided the best solution to my case. he was on time and knew all details involving the case. -by special 08/12/2009

I have had a very good experience with Mr. lawson. he responded and resolved my case very successfully. i have appreciated his good work. -by alt55 08/12/2009

Mr. Lawson represented me in a very sensitive legal matter a while back. I had spoken to a few other attorneys before him and they made me feel awful. Mr. Lawson really listened to me and treated me with respect and professionalism. I surely hope to never have to use him again but would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone! -by Tee 08/09/2009

My case is not completely resolved but Richard has made significant progress towards an acceptable plea. Richard has been a candid and punctual communicator and has held my hand through a very confusing, intimidating, and daunting process. -by ML7777 08/07/2009

I was very happy with Mr. Lawson, he was both great lawyer and a real gentlemen. I must admit that when I first got my DUI, I was worried that my life would completely change. Mr. Lawson advised me on the entire situation and gave me hope that things could be ok. After going to court with Mr. Lawson, things really did work out better than I had expected, He had a good relationship with the Judge and the prosecutor, and that seemed to help a lot. I recommend Richard Lawson to anybody without any hesitation, he got the job done. -by Steve M.08/06/2009

I hired Mr. Lawson when I got a DUI. I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant experience. He explained everything to me in detail and told me what to expect. I was afraid, since I have never been in the courts before. I knew I was in good hands. He knew exactly what to do, and this helped take some of the worry away while going through this scary process. He always answered my questions, and returned my phone calls promptly when I needed to talk to him. I had a lot to lose if I got a DUI on my record and my nerves were shattered. I knew there were no guarantees as to how my case would turn out, and Mr. Lawson told me that everything that he could legally do for me, would be done. Mr. Lawson was prepared to take my case to trial, and we were ready to go trial. Just before the trial day came, Mr. Lawson convinced the prosecutor to reduce my DUI charge to reckless driving. No more DUI! I owe a lot to Mr. Lawson, and I highly recommend him. -by KAM999 08/05/2009

Mr. Lawson represented me in a legal matter and I could not have asked for better results. The court system is complicated and intimidating to say the least but Mr. Lawson was able to obtain what I felt was a great outcome for when when it looked bleak for a long time. I could not be more pleased. -by satisfied customer 08/04/2009

Contact this attorney at (866) 428-8170 or Send Email

Verified Credentials

Credential Description	Verified	Date Verified
Licensed as Attorney in: Georgia - 1995 - State Bar of Georgia		11/13/09
Law School: Emory Law - 1995		11/13/09

For more information regarding the credentialing process, please Click Here.

Contact this attorney at (866) 428-8170 or Send Email

Verdicts & Settlements

http://blog.duiattorney.com/2009/11/altanta_dui_attorney_richard_l/
Altanta DUI Attorney Richard Lawson wins difficult trial
I am happy to report the good news that Atlanta DUI attorney Richard Lawson won a not-guilty verdict in a Cherokee County DUI trial on a case that many Georgia DUI lawyers would have advised their clients was impossible to win.
The victory goes to show that, for DUI attorneys and their clients, good things happen when the defense declares that they are ready for trial.
To sum up the case, Mr. Lawson’s client had a prior DUI charge from about 4 years earlier in Cobb County.
Once question that arises in Georgia DUI trials, and in drunk driving trials around the country, is whether it is appropriate for the jury to hear and consider the existence of prior DUI arrests or convictions.
In this case, the trial judge rules that the prior DUI was a similar transaction, and therefore was admissible into evidence. In Georgia all DUI’s are considered similar in nature and are admitted into evidence to show the bent of mind of the defendant. Then the prosecutor gets to argue to the jury that once the person’s bent of mind is towards getting a DUI, then it is always that way, making the current charge more likely (this type of argument is not allowed in most courts in other states, but is in Georgia, making the GA DUI lawyer’s job that much more difficult).
To make matters worse, in the prior case, Mr. Lawson’s client had run off the road and hit a tree, and remained in a coma for two months thereafter. The Cherokee county jury heard all of this.
Like most great trial attorneys, Mr. Lawson believes that cases can be won or lost in jury selection. During this case, he was able to have 4 adverse jurors removed (including one for cause). Two of those jurors were EMTs that had “seen the effects of drunk drivers.” One was the wife of an EMT who likes to follow drunk drivers and report them to police. The person removed for cause stated that his client would automatically be guilty if she had a prior offense.
Mr. Lawson used the jury selection process to educate them and prepare them for the fact that his client’s prior DUI would be in evidence in the case. Before the facts stage of the trial even began, he made the jury agree with him that they would try the case on the facts of what happened in this case, not the other case from Cobb County four years earlier.
In the current case, Mr. Lawson’s client has a .188 alcohol level (the legal limit in Georgia is .08, so she was over twice). She went to a convenience store to buy more beer. After buying the beer, she went to her car, where she tripped and fell, hitting her head on the car. She finally got her self up and into the car and started the ignition.
A store clerk and another customer had called 911, and a deputy arrived on the scene. Mr. Lawson’s client’s car was on, but she had not moved.
At trial, Mr. Lawson argued that there was no driving (and therefore no DUI), and that the fact that the deputy and the 911 callers prevented her from committing a crime does not equate to a crime.
The client testified at trial. She took the stand and said that she arrived at the store and bought vodka and drank a fifth in the parking lot. The vodka bottle was never found by the officer. The prosecutor made a circumstantial case that she in fact drove to the store drunk. The car was parked terribly. The client claimed to be coming from home and was on video being questioned by the officer.
That his client was very drunk was not an issue in the case. Mr. Lawson is an excellent trail attorney and conceded a fact that he couldn’t possibly have won on, thereby gaining credibility with the jury. Not only that, he even gave the jury something to pin on her that would amount to much less than a DUI. In opening and closing, he told the jury to find her guilty of public drunk, but not DUI. That is what they did.
The “Perry Mason” moment of the trial came when Mr. Lawson questioned the officer who came to testify about the prior DUI. He asked the cop three simple questions, and destroyed any impact that the prior may have had with the jury. They were:
Question: Did you case have anything to do with a women sitting in a parking lot drunk before driving there?
Answer: No.
Question: Does your case have anything to do with a case pending in Cherokee County?
Answer: No.
Question: Why are you even here?
Answer: No Idea.
During deliberations, the jury gave the prior DUI case no consideration. It looked silly to them since it was so dissimilar.
In his closing argument, Mr. Lawson emphasized to the jury that the case was all about circumstantial evidence. He explained that the state had to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt as well as to disprove his client’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mr. Lawson won this victory despite the fact that tape recorded evidence revealed that his client spent 30 minutes in the back of the police car berating the officer. She called the officer the “F” word many times, called him a “little boy,” and even said he couldn’t get it up, that his wife was a lesbian, that his mother hated him and that he was evil.
Mr. Lawson argued that this video did not prove anything since they already conceded the fact that his client was drunk. He used the fact that the prior event was allowed into evidence to convince the judge not to introduce the tape into evidence.
In the end the jury found Mr. Lawson’s client NOT GUILTY of DUI per se and less safe, and, as Mr. Lawson advised, GUILTY only of the public drunk.
The client was sentenced to no jail time, and will have to pay a $300 fine, do 40 hours of community service, get an alcohol evaluation and treatment and be on probation for a year. This was an excellent and light sentence for a second alcohol offense.
Congratulations to Georgia DUI lawyer Richard Lawson on a battle well-fought. You are a credit to the profession and an example of what can happen when you fight for unpopular clients in seemingly impossible cases.
http://blog.duiattorney.com/2009/11/altanta_dui_attorney_richard_l/
Altanta DUI Attorney Richard Lawson wins difficult trial
I am happy to report the good news that Atlanta DUI attorney Richard Lawson won a not-guilty verdict in a Cherokee County DUI trial on a case that many Georgia DUI lawyers would have advised their clients was impossible to win.
The victory goes to show that, for DUI attorneys and their clients, good things happen when the defense declares that they are ready for trial.
To sum up the case, Mr. Lawson’s client had a prior DUI charge from about 4 years earlier in Cobb County.
Once question that arises in Georgia DUI trials, and in drunk driving trials around the country, is whether it is appropriate for the jury to hear and consider the existence of prior DUI arrests or convictions.
In this case, the trial judge rules that the prior DUI was a similar transaction, and therefore was admissible into evidence. In Georgia all DUI’s are considered similar in nature and are admitted into evidence to show the bent of mind of the defendant. Then the prosecutor gets to argue to the jury that once the person’s bent of mind is towards getting a DUI, then it is always that way, making the current charge more likely (this type of argument is not allowed in most courts in other states, but is in Georgia, making the GA DUI lawyer’s job that much more difficult).
To make matters worse, in the prior case, Mr. Lawson’s client had run off the road and hit a tree, and remained in a coma for two months thereafter. The Cherokee county jury heard all of this.
Like most great trial attorneys, Mr. Lawson believes that cases can be won or lost in jury selection. During this case, he was able to have 4 adverse jurors removed (including one for cause). Two of those jurors were EMTs that had “seen the effects of drunk drivers.” One was the wife of an EMT who likes to follow drunk drivers and report them to police. The person removed for cause stated that his client would automatically be guilty if she had a prior offense.
Mr. Lawson used the jury selection process to educate them and prepare them for the fact that his client’s prior DUI would be in evidence in the case. Before the facts stage of the trial even began, he made the jury agree with him that they would try the case on the facts of what happened in this case, not the other case from Cobb County four years earlier.
In the current case, Mr. Lawson’s client has a .188 alcohol level (the legal limit in Georgia is .08, so she was over twice). She went to a convenience store to buy more beer. After buying the beer, she went to her car, where she tripped and fell, hitting her head on the car. She finally got her self up and into the car and started the ignition.
A store clerk and another customer had called 911, and a deputy arrived on the scene. Mr. Lawson’s client’s car was on, but she had not moved.
At trial, Mr. Lawson argued that there was no driving (and therefore no DUI), and that the fact that the deputy and the 911 callers prevented her from committing a crime does not equate to a crime.
The client testified at trial. She took the stand and said that she arrived at the store and bought vodka and drank a fifth in the parking lot. The vodka bottle was never found by the officer. The prosecutor made a circumstantial case that she in fact drove to the store drunk. The car was parked terribly. The client claimed to be coming from home and was on video being questioned by the officer.
That his client was very drunk was not an issue in the case. Mr. Lawson is an excellent trail attorney and conceded a fact that he couldn’t possibly have won on, thereby gaining credibility with the jury. Not only that, he even gave the jury something to pin on her that would amount to much less than a DUI. In opening and closing, he told the jury to find her guilty of public drunk, but not DUI. That is what they did.
The “Perry Mason” moment of the trial came when Mr. Lawson questioned the officer who came to testify about the prior DUI. He asked the cop three simple questions, and destroyed any impact that the prior may have had with the jury. They were:
Question: Did you case have anything to do with a women sitting in a parking lot drunk before driving there?
Answer: No.
Question: Does your case have anything to do with a case pending in Cherokee County?
Answer: No.
Question: Why are you even here?
Answer: No Idea.
During deliberations, the jury gave the prior DUI case no consideration. It looked silly to them since it was so dissimilar.
In his closing argument, Mr. Lawson emphasized to the jury that the case was all about circumstantial evidence. He explained that the state had to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt as well as to disprove his client’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mr. Lawson won this victory despite the fact that tape recorded evidence revealed that his client spent 30 minutes in the back of the police car berating the officer. She called the officer the “F” word many times, called him a “little boy,” and even said he couldn’t get it up, that his wife was a lesbian, that his mother hated him and that he was evil.
Mr. Lawson argued that this video did not prove anything since they already conceded the fact that his client was drunk. He used the fact that the prior event was allowed into evidence to convince the judge not to introduce the tape into evidence.
In the end the jury found Mr. Lawson’s client NOT GUILTY of DUI per se and less safe, and, as Mr. Lawson advised, GUILTY only of the public drunk.
The client was sentenced to no jail time, and will have to pay a $300 fine, do 40 hours of community service, get an alcohol evaluation and treatment and be on probation for a year. This was an excellent and light sentence for a second alcohol offense.
Congratulations to Georgia DUI lawyer Richard Lawson on a battle well-fought. You are a credit to the profession and an example of what can happen when you fight for unpopular clients in seemingly impossible cases.

Contact this attorney at (866) 428-8170 or Send Email

Contact Richard S. Lawson, Attorney at Law at (866) 428-8170
or Send an Email using the form below.

Choose the state where you require legal help

Georgia
Other

First Name
Last Name
Daytime Phone	()
Email Address

Legal Topic

Briefly describe your case

Words Left:


Verification Code


By clicking "Review My Case" you agree to our Disclaimer and Terms of Use.
Please DO not submit confidential information at this time. Attorneys treat inquiries in confidence. The attorney and AttorneyPages do not undertake any responsibility to you as a result of your inquiry. You have no obligation to us, and we have no other obligation to you, unless we both sign a written retainer agreement. There is absolutely no cost to you to submit this form.
Your information will be used only by this attorney to contact you.

Search For

Richard S. Lawson, Attorney at Law

Visit Website

Send Email

Firm Profile