BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL LAWYER BY THE TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION| CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY COLIN MCLAUGHLIN

Highly recommend! Colin thank you so much for your dedication. Thank you for actually wanting to sincerely help and give us the best outcome we can get. You are by far one of the best. You helped my bf reschedule a court date after it was missed and was able to give him the same plea deal. Thank you again Colin.

Kassandra H

Absolutely wonderful! Collin was fantastic. He really fought for me and I am very happy with the outcome of my case. He really fought for my case to have a positive outcome and was supportive, easy to get ahold of when needed and walked me through everything. I would definitely recommend him to anyone and everyone!!

Stephanie M

I would highly recommend Hoeller McLaughlin. They helped my husband on a probation violation case and did an excellent job. Dustin Trammel was our attorney and he communicated with us and was supportive and helpful throughout the process. Very good legal service and would recommend this firm.

Hillary G

Colin by far has been one of the BEST attorneys in Ft. Worth. His dedication and attentiveness really shows not only in court but with the client and family. Great communication, easy web portal and friendly staff. 5 stars are NOT enough. Thank you Colin

Stephanie Alvarado

I can not say enough about how grateful I am that Dustin Trammel was my attorney! Having no experience with court proceedings, Dustin explained everything and stayed in touch with me the entire time. I couldn’t have asked for a better attorney! Very highly recommend!!

Brenna Mills

Accused of a state criminal offense? Looking for a board certified criminal lawyer? Tarrant County Criminal Defense Attorney Colin McLaughlin is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a former Tarrant County and Harris County prosecutor with over 80 criminal jury trials.  He previously worked for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the State’s Highest Criminal Court.

About Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC – our firm represent clients on all types of criminal charges, including drug possession charges, DWI, marijuana charges, adult and child sex crimes, crimes against children, theft, fraud, white collar crimes, gun and weapons charges, assault, murder, and violent crimes.

BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL LAWYER | FORT WORTH & COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS

WHAT OUR BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL LAWYER OFFERS IN YOUR DEFENSE:

EXTENSIVE TRIAL EXPERIENCE

In order to become Board Certified in Criminal Law, the Texas Board of Specialization requires a large number of criminal trials.  Criminal Attorney Colin McLaughlin has over 80 felony and misdemeanor criminal jury trials.

FORMER PROSECUTOR IN TARRANT AND HARRIS COUNTY

Board Certified Criminal Lawyer Colin McLaughlin is a former criminal prosecutor in Tarrant and Dallas County, Texas. Prior to leaving for private practice, Colin was assigned to a special unit in the felony trial division.  He was responsible for prosecuting sex offenses and crimes and against children.

SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE IN CRIMINAL LAW

In order to become Board Certified, it is necessary to know the inside and out of each and every aspect of a police investigation and State or Federal prosecution, including criminal laws, proper police procedures, DNA and blood forensic evidence, knowing exactly how the State plans to introduce evidence into trial, and appellate. Partner Colin McLaughlin is Board Certified in Criminal Law and also formerly clerked at the Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest criminal court.

Colin McLaughlin Board Certified Criminal Law

“PROTECTING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS!”

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. – Sixth (6th) Amendment of the United States Constitution.

WHY HIRE A BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL LAWYER?

There were only a handful of Texas attorneys in the DFW area recognized by the State Bar of Texas as being Board Certified in Criminal Law, and among them were several judges serving on state trial or appellate courts.   Not many criminal defense attorneys have achieved Board Certification in Criminal Law in the area, and across the state there are less than 1000 attorneys (less than 1% of Texas lawyers) who can claim this certification.

In becoming a part of this group, these lawyers have the distinction of being considered in the words of the State Board of Legal Specialization as “… Certified Criminal Law specialists hav[ing] experience in the preparation and trial of serious criminal matters. They have extensive knowledge of state and federal constitutional law, evidence, procedure and penal laws involved in these matters.”

Why isn’t every criminal lawyer Board Certified?  One reason may be the hurdles that an attorney has to cross in order to achieve this distinction.

The State Bar of Texas describes the road to Texas Bar Board Certification as “rigorous and thorough with stringent, ongoing requirements after initial certification.”

Every attorney must do the following:

  1. Practice in criminal law for at least 5 years with 3 of those years being substantially involved in that specific area of law;
  2. Take more courses (yes, after law school) – all lawyers must take continuing legal education but for those seeking Board Certification, they must insure that their course are approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Board purposes.  Applicants had to provide confirmation that they had taken 60 hours in the specialty area of criminal law, all being in TBLS approved CLE courses;
  3. Provide the TBLS with a minimum of five (5) qualified references (each reference is vetted).  Amount them, there must be: four (4) Texas criminal law attorneys; one of which who has tried a criminal case with or against the Board Certified attorney; and one (1) Texas court judge who has had this lawyer advocate before his or her bench
  4. Forward to the TBLS documentation to demonstrate the lawyer has had “extensive, relevant” experience in the area of criminal law; and
  5. Take and Pass an exam in the area of criminal law that covers the gamut of current Texas criminal law and practice and takes an entire day for examination.

WHAT DOES BOARD CERTIFIED IN CRIMINAL LAW MEAN?

The Texas Supreme Court will recognize an attorney as Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization only after a rigorous evaluation process in which the attorney has demonstrated years of experience in the preparation and trial of serious criminal matters. Moreover, the lawyer must be able to demonstrate that he has an extensive knowledge of state and federal constitutional law, evidence, procedure and penal laws involved in the trial and appeal of all manner of criminal cases.

WHAT IS CRIMINAL LAW DEFINED BY THE TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION?

According to the TBLS, “Criminal Law” is the practice of law dealing with, by way of definition not limitation, matters involving:

  • legal aspects of pretrial release;
  • examining trial, indictment, information and complaint;
  • change of venue; continuance;
  • severance;
  • discovery;
  • speedy trials;
  • jeopardy;
  • immunity;
  • confessions;
  • search and seizure;
  • identification;
  • competence to stand trial and culpable mental state;
  • jury voir dire;
  • rules of evidence- state and federal (e.g., impeachment, extraneous offenses, etc.);
  • procedure and rules of evidence at punishment hearings;
  • U. S. sentencing guidelines;
  • law of sentences;
  • legal aspects of plea bargaining and guilty pleas;
  • motions for new trial;
  • motions for arrest of judgment;
  • appeals;
  • post conviction remedies;
  • probation and parole granting;
  • probation and parole revocation;
  • executive clemency;
  • death penalty;
  • other substantive criminal offenses; and
  • juvenile crimes.

WHY DOES BEING BOARD CERTIFIED MATTER?

The State Bar of Texas has determined that only a Board Certified Attorney can claim to potential clients that they are an expert or a specialist in a particular area of law in which the attorney is Board Certified.  That is, any attorney that claims to be an expert or a specialist in Criminal Law in the State of Texas, MUST BE Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law.

HOW MANY ATTORNEYS ARE BOARD CERTIFIED IN CRIMINAL LAW?

According to the latest State Bar information, there were over 100,000 attorneys licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Texas.  Statewide, there are only 7350 lawyers who have achieved certification in one area of specialty and only 834 of those attorneys have become Board Certified in Criminal Law.

This means that less than one percent (1.0%) of all Texas lawyers statewide is Board Certified in Criminal Law.

In other words, 99% of the Attorneys in Texas cannot claim to be Board Certified in Criminal Law or claim to be a Criminal Law Specialist.

CONTACT A BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL LAWYER

Contact Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC today to learn how Colin McLaughlin, a Board Certified Criminal Lawyer, can help you.  Our office number is 817-334-7900.

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