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Lissa McKinney

Lissa McKinney

33 Years District and Superior Court throughout Massachusetts
  • Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, Consumer Law ...
  • Florida, Massachusetts
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Biography

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).

Practice Areas
    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
Fees
  • 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.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
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Massachusetts
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Languages
  • English
Professional Experience
Member
Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Current
Member
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
Current
Education
Suffolk University Law School
J.D. (1984) | Criminal law, student lawyer clinical program, labor and employment
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Suffolk University Law School Logo
Professional Associations
Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL)
Member
Current
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Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorney's
Member
Current
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Florida State Bar  # 642540
Member
- Current
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Massachusetts State Bar  # 544172
Member
- Current
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Speaking Engagements
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
District Court Bar Advocate Training, Boston
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education MCLE
Trying Drug Cases in Massachusetts, Boston
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education MCLE
Hot Tips for Trying Criminal Cases, Boston
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education MCLE
Emerging Areas of Criminal Practice, Boston
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education MCLE
Probation Violation Proceedings, Boston
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education MCLE
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
social media
Legal Answers
86 Questions Answered
Q. I got pulled over in MA, should I get an attorney?
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. ... Read More
Q. How long is it until an animal is considered abandoned in Massachusetts?
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?"
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. ... Read More
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100 Powder Mill Road
#244
Acton, MA 01720
Telephone: (781) 329-3373
By Appointment only
30 Eastbrook Road
Suite 201
Dedham, MA 02026
Telephone: (781) 329-3373