Law Office Of J. Patrick Nelson

Solo Practitioner, 2010 - present

Maintain all aspects of a general practice consisting of divorce, family law, criminal law, traffic and juvenile cases. Attend court appearances on a daily basis for divorce, criminal, family law and traffice cases.

Associate Attorney, 2006 - 2010

Maintained a general practice consisting of criminal, traffic, family law, divorce, real estate, appeals and collections. Attended court appearances on a daily basis and litigated numerous divorce, family, and criminal cases. Drafted and prepared marital agreements, parenting agreements, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, pre-trial motions, legal memorandums and various pleadings. petitions and motions regarding pre-decree and post-decree divorce and family law cases. Reviewed and monitored discovery responses, communicated and advised clients regarding the status of their case, conducted depositions and conducted initial consultations with clients.

Senior Assistant Public Defender, 2000 - 2006

Supervised, trained and assisted attorneys with daily court call, trials and motions. Maintained a case load of over 200 cases. Litigated over 60 bench trials, 15 jury trials and numerous involuntary civil commitment hearins. Drafted and successfully argued motions for bond reductions, motions to suppress evidence and motions to dismiss. Successfully presented evidence of mitigation for a successful outcome at numerous sentencing hearings. Managed a juvenile caseload including trials, shelter care hearings, detention hearings, hearings to terminate parental rights, dispositional hearings and permanency review hearings.

Assistant Public Defender, 1999 - 2000

Managed all stages of felony cases including first appearances, bond hearings, prelimary hearings, pre-trial motions, bench trials, sentencing hearings, and negotiated with the State's Attorney's Office in "402" conferences. Managed all stages of a juvenile and misdemeanor case load.

Extern, 1999 - 1999

Assisted and observed attorneys in the Felony Trials Division. Attended arraignments, bench trials, jury trials and plea agreements.

711 Law Clerk, 1998 - 1998

Managed daily traffic and misdemeanor court calls. Researched case law regarding the Fourth and First Amendment and prepared legal memorandum. Litigated numerous traffic and misdemeanor bench trials.