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 40 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).

• Free Consultation
  Free consultation for the first 45-60 minutes.Fees for review and assessment beyond consultation are addressed during consultation.
• Credit Cards Accepted
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• 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. Officer threatened me during a traffic stop; seeking damages and accountability.

April 14, 2025

A: This seems pretty outrageous as you describe it! There are other ways to press the complaint, epending on how you already went about it, which you do not describe. You can also file a complaint at the POST Commission here: https://policecomplaints.mass.gov/complaint and let them look into it, or write up the chronology and file a complaint with the Town Manager if the police dept did not take it seriously. One thing you may want to consider is whether you live in the community where this officer acted, or drive through it, or are likley to bump into him again. If any of those things might happen, I suggest you speak to an attorney 1st to determine if there are any pitfalls to filing a formal complaint. If you have no risk at all, file at POST, and with the Town/Mayor?Manager too so they understand that aggressive behavior by law enforcement is a community responsibility. Good luck. Great that you had dashboard cams! ... Read More

Q. Can an undocumented immigrant be deported for driving without a license in Massachusetts?

March 24, 2025

A: Well, no one can guarantee that they wont be in the building, but ordinarily an immigrant would not be deported for a misdemeanor motor vehicle offense. It might matter what Court you are going to- it is possible Ice is more in attendance at larger busier courts....they can't be everywhere. However you weigh and measure the risk, it is worse if you do not go. If you fail to appear, a warrant will issue for your arrest, and that warrant gives any law enforcement officer the right to stop and arrest you. You should have attended the clerk's hearing usually offered and then it wouldnot have got to an arraignment. Do you have any license from your own country? can you get a permit or license before Court or start the process so itlook sbetter? Most likely your case would be negotiated at arraignment and dismissed on payment of Court costs. Not going escalates the risk to you substantially. If you want to walk in and walk out, going to Court on your own is the best way. If you can afford an attorney maybe it will make you feel better to be in Court with your own lawyer? only you can answer that, but there are many of us on this list that do these cases all the time. I am sure it is frightening to think about, but having a warrant is far worse from an immigration standpoint- Good luck ... Read More

Q. Will withholding child from father affect child support case?

February 17, 2025

A: Situations like this are best managed in Court, so the boundaries are clear. You may be afraid, but the real question is whether you have a real fear of harm to your child as a result. If he has never harmed the baby and offers responsible care, you might look bad for refusing the parenting time. It is hard. A Court can decide to order supervised visits if there is any risk, or a parenting/nurturing class too. The important thing is that child support gets paid whether or not the father sees the child, and it is separately treated in Probate Court. Child support gets determined based on incomes and offsets. Parenting time and sharing holidays, vacations, etc. gets negotiated and ordered. They will not want you controlling the development of the child's relationship with the other parent, and will set parameters that offer you guidance and comfort. File in Court. If you need a restraining order, you can see if you qualify as well. Godd luck- ... Read More