Lissa McKinney

Lissa McKinney graduated Suffolk University (1981) and Suffolk University Law School (1984) and started as a trial lawyer with the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Worcester and Boston. Her courtroom and trial experience spans 33 years and more than 1,000 bench or jury trials, probable cause hearings, restraining order hearings and evidentiary hearings. Lissa's practice concentrates on labor and employment law, personal injury, consumer fraud complaints, administrative hearings, and ALL matters of criminal defense.Out of the courtroom, she represent clients at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Department of Employment and Training, DSS Fair Hearings, disciplinary hearings of licensed occupations, and firearms licensing appeals.

McKinney was an Adjunct Clinical Trial Practice Instructor at Suffolk University Law School where she supervised third year law students providing indigent criminal defense. She served as Staff Attorney for Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ), the Suffolk County bar advocate program assuring the quality of lawyers representing indigent criminal defendants. McKinney has also been a lecturer at various educational seminars sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), the Boston Bar Association, Suffolk County Bar Advocate Program, Suffolk Lawyers for Justice, and the Committee for Public Counsel Services, such as: District Court Bar Advocate Training; Essential Rules of Criminal Procedure; Trying Drug Cases in Massachusetts; Emerging Areas of Criminal Practice; Hot Tips for Trying Criminal Cases, Probation Violation Proceedings; Defending on a Shoestring; Pre-Trial Conference Rules; Evidence-Getting It In and Keeping It Out.

Lissa is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, the U.S. District Court for the First Circuit, & the Florida Bar,
Membership: Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL); Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA).

Criminal Law

Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Consumer Law

Class Action, Lemon Law

Personal Injury

Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death

Employment Law

Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination

Traffic Tickets

Suspended License

• Free Consultation
  Free consultation for the first 45-60 minutes.Fees for review and assessment beyond consultation are addressed during consultation.
• Credit Cards Accepted
  Paypal
• Contingent Fees
  Contingent fees are accepted for personal injury cases such as motor vehicle accidents, property accident and related torts.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Consumer law cases brought under MGL ch. 93A will include a claim for attorney fees. Efforts to recover costs and fees are always made in these cases, but not guaranteed. Accordingly, attorney fees on an hourly basis are billed pending resolution and recovery of fees.

Florida

Since 1987

Massachusetts

Since 1985

Member

Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Current

Member

Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys

Current

Suffolk University Law School

J.D. (1984) | Criminal law, student lawyer clinical program, labor and employment

1981 - 1984

Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL)

Member

Current

Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorney's

Member

Current

Florida State Bar  # 642540

Member

1987 - Current

Massachusetts State Bar  # 544172

Member

1985 - Current

Probation Surrenders, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Evidence: Getting it in-Keeping it Out, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Pre-Trial Conference Rules, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Defending on a Shoestring, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Essential Rules of Criminal Procedure, Boston

Boston Bar Association

Q. I got pulled over in MA, should I get an attorney?

January 18, 2023

A: Chances are you will end up better off with an attorney. You are charged with criminal motor vehicle ofenses, as indicated on the citation. Be sure to keep a copy of the citation and send it in for a hearing within the times designated on the ticket. Do it sooner than later, so a blizzard doesnt get in the way of valuable rights. These are misdemeanors, and that ticket hearing is the start of the criminal process. With a lawyer now, you increase the chances of being successful at the preliminary hearing. With any luck and preparation, you will be successful there. The penalty for just the Operating uninsured is a fine of not less than $500 (no more than $5,000), or imprisonment for no more than 1 year in a house of correction, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each offense you are charged with also carries similar penalties, and collectively they constitute 3 moving violations. Any 3 speeding tickets, or any 5 moving violations results in a license suspension. Here you should factor in the points on insurance for the violations, the potential for criminal process, and the cost if the case goes to a criminal prosecution. Other factors might include how comfortable you are self advocating, and familiarity with langauge. If English is not your first language then that is another reason to think about a lawyer now. IF this is managed at the clerk's hearing level, there will be no criminal record, and the case will be shaped better in terms of points or insurance. If you are completely successful, which is fact specific, then there will be no points, record, or criminal charges. Please discuss what happend with a lawyer as soon as you can. Put the ticket in though! There will be time before you get the hearing notice to address this with a lawyer.

Q. How long is it until an animal is considered abandoned in Massachusetts?

November 29, 2022

A: You have a restraining order. There's going to be a lot more flexibility before the pet is considered abandoned. He cannot communicate with you in any way, shape or form without violating the restraining order, nor can he come to the house unattended. There is no bright line rule on the number of days it takes for something to be abandoned. This is particularly true where the departure is involuntary. You would probably be safe if it's more than 90 days, and notice has been given. If you're looking to be safe, do it in writing.

Q. What is a Dudley district court of MA. "PROBATION STATUS HEARING?"

September 13, 2022

A: You should not be using google, but instead speak to your PO. They are in the best position to state if it is being dismissed or there is an issue. If it is scheduled on the last day of your probation, it is most likley that the Court wants you there when it is terminated. It is also possible that something may need to be reviewed. If all your fees were paid, your records should match the Court records. If you met all your conditions, does probation have proof? Did you need to provide any letters from programs? Check in wth them? Did you move and not tell them? It could be entirely routine. On an unsupervised CWOF at the end, if all went well, the probationer doesnt usually have to be in Court but some Judges and some Courts will require it. If it was a straight probation and you were supervised, then the Court may want to see you to terminate. CALL your PO and ask them if their records show you are all paid up and squared up. ASK them about the letter.