Zachary Divelbiss

Future First Criminal Law is a law firm located in Phoenix, AZ and focuses only on DUI and criminal cases in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Goodyear, Surprise and Glendale. At Future First Criminal Law, the lawyers typically have anywhere from 50-70 cases at a time, which means a lot of attention to their cases and clients.

All clients will receive a group text message with the entire legal team so updates, questions and answers are all provided in the quickest time possible. All major case updates are done by the lawyer recording videos on their computer screens so they can highlight certain points of the police reports, body cameras, 911 call, etc. and the recordings are provided to the clients so you can rewatch them as needed. Lawyers will then attend court with their clients once the case is ready to be solved.

Ideal clients for Future First Criminal Law are first time offenders who care about their future and typically have something major to lose such as jobs, residency, driver’s license, child custody, financial instability, reputation, etc.

Future First Criminal Law accepts credit cards and offers flexible financing through Affirm (the same company Amazon uses for payment plans).

Future First Criminal Law handles a wide variety of cases including: DUI, criminal speeding, racing, reckless driving, leaving scene of accident, shoplifting, theft, trespassing, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, domestic violence, felony DUI, drug possession, drug sale, unlawful flight, theft & criminal damage, prohibited possession of a weapon, leaving scene of accident, aggravated assault, fraud and prefile cases.

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Financing Options Available via Affirm (the same company Amazon uses for payment plans)

Arizona

State Bar of Arizona

Attorney

Future First Criminal Law

2018 - Current

• Advocate and educate criminal defendants through all processes of felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses throughout Maricopa County. At Future First Criminal Law We Help Keep Good People From Going to Jail! We Advocate and Educate Criminal Defendants Through All Processes of Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Offenses Throughout Maricopa County.

Attorney

Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite

2017 - 2018

• Reviewed and analyzed documents for discovery in a large, complex intellectual property and breach of contract case using Relativity platform. • Analyzed complex legal documents including emails, contracts, spreadsheets and other contract documents. • Determined which issues applied to each document and coded the documents accordingly. • Reviewed and determined if the document was responsive to the issues in the case and determined if any type of attorney-client privilege applied. • Performed quality control on other reviewers work to ensure the client was receiving a top quality product.

Law Clerk/Extern

Maricopa County Public Defender's Office

2016 - 2017

• Received projects from a team of over twelve attorneys while working hand-in-hand with paralegals, investigators, and secretaries. • Successful Motions: Rule 20 – Charge Dismissed, Reaffirmation Finding of Incompetency – Case Dismissed, Severance of Charges – Granted, and Necessarily-Included Lesser Offense – Granted in Jury Instruction. • Compiled thorough pre-litigation research memorandums for matters involving double jeopardy, standing, discovery and counsel disqualifications. • Performed expedited projects for attorneys during trial on matters involving judicial discretion and prosecutorial misconduct. • Completed extensive post-litigation research memorandums for matters involving sentencing, restitution, and expungement laws. • Research, memo writing, courtroom observation, various criminal pre-trial and trial proceedings. • Completed over 200 hours of legal research and writing while working in close contact with supervising attorney. • Courtroom Duties: Assist with Voir Dire, Attend Conferences, Assist with Clients at Health Court Probation Violations, and Observe Complete Trial. • Motions: Franks and Pre-Indictment Delay. • Memorandums: Pre-Indictment Delay, Sexual Misconduct - Position of Trust as Teaching Assistant, Possession of Marijuana - Fresh vs. Burnt, and Misidentification. • Attend: Psychiatric Review Board Hearing and Restoration of Rights Volunteer.

Law Clerk

Lorona Mead, PLC

2016 - 2016

• Gained general and advanced civil litigation experience in over 30 separate cases. • Drafted complaints, answers, amended complaints, 26.1, interrogatories, request for production, attorney fees, wrongful termination, negotiation letters, status reports, scheduling orders, failure to prosecute, and specific research memos. • Completed over 400 hours of research, writing, and client interaction.

Law Extern

Cavanagh Law Firm

2016 - 2016

• Researched complex insurance statutes and cases involving insurers obligation to provide replacement parts of “like kind and quality” and “diminution of value.” • Created and compiled a 36-page report including statutory and case law for all 50 states to be included in insurance treatise. • Completed over 200 hours of legal research and writing.

Law Extern

Harla Davison Law Firm

2015 - 2015

• Experience drafting motions to suppress, remand grand jury and sentencing memos. • Observational experience with change of plea, continuances, initial pre-trial conferences, discovery requests, oral arguments, witness interviews. • Completed over 350 hours of overall experience with Rule 38(d) Limited Practice Certification.

Arizona Summit Law School

J.D. (2016) | Legal Studies

2014 - 2016

Honors: Donald E. Lively Mission Pillar Award Cum Laude Castro and Merit Scholarship Dean's Award 2014-2016 Top 10% Graduation

Activities: Law Review Moot Court

Arizona State University

B.S. (2014) | Justice Studies

2010 - 2014

Honors: Cum Laude Provost Scholarship

Client Champion Award 2023

Martindale-Hubbell

2023

Client Champions are an elite group of attorneys who have received exceptional reviews from the people that know them best, their clients. The confidential client review process is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource, Martindale-Hubbell.

112th Fastest Growing Law Firm 2023

Law Firm 500

2023

Law Firm 500 ranks the top firms in the nation based on review growth over a three year period. Rankings are trusted because this award is based on actual tax returns and cannot be paid for.

Top Attorney DUI & Criminal 2023

Avvo

2023

Avvo awards the years top lawyers to proudly recognize thier distinguished accomplishments provided each year.

Best Criminal Defense Attorney 2023

Expertise

2023

Expertise reviews and rates all lawyers and places only the top among those that are proudly diplayed with Expertise.

Client Champion Award 2022

Martindale-Hubbell

2022

Client Champions are an elite group of attorneys who have received exceptional reviews from the people that know them best, their clients. The confidential client review process is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource, Martindale-Hubbell.

State Bar of Arizona  # 033949

Member

Current

3rd DUI in Arizona

James Publishing

November 1, 2023

2nd Offense DUI in Arizona

James Publishing

October 1, 2023

1st Offense DUI in Arizona

James Publishing

September 1, 2023

8 Ways To Find The Money To Pay For A Lawyer

James Publishing

August 1, 2023

Can Police Come On My Property In Arizona?

James Publishing

July 1, 2023

Arizona State University Criminal Justice Presentation, ASU Downtown

November 2, 2021

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Watch: Presentation: Live presentation to ASU criminology students about the justice system and the complexities of short term criminal justice vs. long term unforeseen consequences. Hosted by: Claudine DeCarolis, Ed.D. Lecturer/Honors Faculty Alpha Phi Sigma Advisor Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Arizona State University

Arizona State University Alpha Phi Sigma Presentation, ASU Downtown

October 18, 2021

Alpha Phi Sigma

Presentation: To Alpha Phi Sigma sorority presentation in relation to the criminal justice system and how the consequences of criminal charges can damage future potential unexpectedly and how to avoid the long-term consequences of criminal cases.

Scottsdale Community College - Criminal Justice & Justice Studies, Virtual

November 2, 2020

Scottsdale Community College

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0f01XvvC_k&t=343s Presentation: Legal and Ethic Perspective from a Criminal Defense Lawyer Assignment: 1. In one or more paragraph/s explain what you would do if you were the defense attorney in this case - what you would do and why? 2. In one or more paragraph/s explain what the ethical issues are in this particular case, as it relates to the defense attorney. Use words and terms you have learned from reading your textbook and studies.

Certified Notary Public - State of Arizona

Arizona Secretary of State

2020

Q. Can my son hire another attorney just for his plea bargain in Phoenix Arizona

February 22, 2024

A: This is a common issue that happens and I hate to say it but if your son already accepted the plea deal then there is nothing that can be done. A lawyer would have to basically prove that something legally was significantly wrong with the plea to undo accepting the plea.

If, however, you want to hire a new lawyer before your son accepts the plea offer then you are always free to do that. The issue there is you will likely not get any money back from your first law firm and you will have to pay a new law firm on top of what you already paid. Even then, there is no guarantee that the second law firm can get your son a better deal. This is kind of like in a baseball game bringing in a new pitcher in the 9th inning when the game is pretty much over and you are losing 5 - 0. They might be the best pitcher/law firm in the world but they are pretty much out of time to make any real change in the case since it is already at the end. ... Read More

Q. how to defeat an affirmative defense plea

February 22, 2024

A: I am not sure your entire question was posted correctly.

There is no such thing as an "affirmative defense plea" so that is the first thing that we would need to know. What it sounds like is maybe you believe there is an affirmative defense based on mental capacity. That can happen but usually it is a very high standard. For instance, you cannot just say you have ADHD/bi-polar/etc and got overly stressed and mentally blacked out and didn't know what you were doing and therefore cannot be held responsible. If that situation happens, then a plea is not the answer because you have to admit you knew or should have known you committed a crime. What happens in this situation, is that you usually have to take the case to trial in order to see if a jury believes your affirmative defense, which you have to prove (not the prosecutor when it comes to affirmative defenses). In many of these situations, it is best to hire a local law firm to see if they can negotiate with the prosecutor to dismiss the case, do counseling, etc. Trial is usually not the best option, especially if you have any prior criminal history. ... Read More

Q. Why was i charged w hindering in 2 degree ? Police came on a welfare check, but refused to leave.

February 22, 2024

A: Hindering in the 2nd degree comes from ARS 13-2511. The law is fairly simple as it says, "A person commits hindering prosecution in the second degree if, with the intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another for any misdemeanor or petty offense, such person renders assistance to such as person."

There are a few common issue people have here. First is that you didn't really do anything in relation to "hindering prosecution". However, prosecution can basically start at the investigation phase, which is basically what happened in your situation.

Secondly, based on what you said, there isn't much that you did to "render assistance". But that is part of the problem with this law as it was specifically very broadly written to catch people for all kind of situations. Based on what you said happened, it seems like you should hire a local law firm and see if they can try to get your case dismissed. Either way, the police are going to say they had probable cause for a violation of this statute and technically they are correct since it is really such a broadly written law. ... Read More