Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

I began my legal career as a Law Clerk for Judge Joseph Barr in the late 1970's. From there, I worked at Dunham, Bowman & Leskera as their Law clerk till January of 1981 when I became an Assistant States Attorney for Madison County Illinois. My tour of duty there lasted 4 years. From January 1985 through December 1996, my legal career had been with both Attorney Ben Allen and Doug Mendenhall. Effective January 1, 1997 I am a solo practitioner, and handle all sorts of legal matters, specializing in Plaintiffs Personal Injury and Criminal Defense. I provide full service legal representation, and can handle most every legal matter you will face in an expert manner. I have been in practice in Madison County, Illinois for over 28 years now, and am well versed in different diverse and overlapping fields of law. Concentrating in State & Federal Criminal Defense work, and am or have been a Public Defender for both our Local State & Federal Courts.

The office generally is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday. As I am often in court I ask you call first, and I always return phone calls. For general misdemeanor and traffic matters fees range from $150.00 for a simple speeding ticket, to $400.00 for most simple first time misdemeanors like battery or assault, and $1,000.00 to $3,000.00 for first time DUI's or other more serious misdemeanors, this is a general fee base.

The Bankruptcy Laws changed drastically on October 17, 2005! For chapter 7 Bankruptcy's my fees due to the change in the law & my services after that date as a Debt Relief Agency under that statute will start at $1,000.00 Attorney's fee, with the court fee of $300.00. There will be a Credit Counseling Course, you must take before and after the bankruptcy being filed and you are responsible for paying that. Lastly, we can run a credit report if you request, $30.00 for individuals, $50.00 for a married couple. More complicated cases in Bankruptcy of course require more than the $1,000.00 Attorney's fee for the new Chapter 7 cases after October 17, 2005. As required by statute "We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code."

For most divorce and family matters, as well as civil defense I charge at the rate of $200.00 per hour, plus expenses, and generally require a minimum cash retainer of $750.00, and depending on the case, more. For State Felonies, the fees are $1,000.00 to $2,5000.00 for simple first time non-violent felonies, on up, and the fee is negotiable, based upon the accused's record and the severity of the charge.

For Federal Felonies, the fees start at $2500.00 for simple first time non-violent felonies, on up, and the fee is negotiable, based upon the accused's record and the severity of the charge.

Areas of Practice
Bankruptcy Law
Discrimination
Criminal Law
DUI/DWI
Traffic Violations
White Collar Crimes
Employment Law -- Employee
Estate Planning
Trusts
Wills
Family Law
Child Support
Custody & Visitation
Divorce
Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
Medical Malpractice
Workers' Compensation Law
Litigation Percentage
90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
Illinois, 1981
U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1985
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1997
Education
Saint Louis University School of Law, St Louis, Missouri

Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1981
St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

A.B. - 1978
Major: Political Science
Representative Clients
Madison County, Special Public Defender Since 1997
Panel Attorney, CJA, Southern District of Illinois, 1997
References
Bob Means, Madison County Merit Commission
Wood River Ford, Inc.
Dr. E. J. Diestelkamp
Classes/Seminars
Asst. Professor, Lewis & Clark Community College, Godfrey, IL, 1985 - Present
Honors and Awards
Outstanding Young Men of America, 1983
Professional Associations and Memberships
Godfrey Village, Trustee, 1993 - 1999
Past Employment Positions
Madison County States Attorney Office, Assistant States Attorney, 1981 - 1985
Smith, Allen, Merderhall, Delaney & Assoc, Partner, 1985 -

Karl J. Wulff, (BA ’93, JD ’96) is the firm’s principal attorney. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Webster University in 1993. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1996. Prior to attending university Mr. Wulff served in the United States Navy on board the amphibious assault aircraft carrier U.S.S. Tripoli (LPH-10) in the air department from 1987 to 1989 and later on board the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60) as a reservist, earning the Sea Service Ribbon and the National Defense Medal. Mr. Wulff is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) and is a founding member of the Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois (BASIL). A frequent speaker at seminars on the topic of bankruptcy law, Mr. Wulff’s practice has been concentrated in consumer bankruptcy for more than twelve years, during which time he has represented many thousands of individuals in bankruptcy cases. Mr. Wulff is admitted to practice in Illinois and Missouri, as well as the United States Judicial Districts of Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri .

Stephen Jones has spent much of his career in the litigation arena, seeking compensation for victims of medical and financial injuries. Many of his cases involved helping individuals and families in crisis situations, particularly those suffering from Mesothelioma and other lung diseases resulting from exposure to asbestos, and seniors who had been victimized by financial injury and lost their life savings. This, together with watching his grandmother struggle with congestive heart failure, inspired Stephen to found Stephen Jones & Associates. The firm is dedicated to helping families plan for the future, protect themselves against the high cost of healthcare, and cope with crisis situations. Stephen now focuses exclusively on the specialized fields of Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning and Veterans Benefits.

Discusing your needs and concerns with Stephen is a bit like sitting down with an old friend or a member of your family. He takes the time to listen closely to you and gain a thorough understanding of your unique situation. Unlike some large law firms, where you might not know who is actually working on your case, Stephen handles his cases personally and enjoys working with his clients one on one. He brings more to the table than a mastery of Elder Law and related practice areas; he brings compassion and commitment as well.