A Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney Who Understands Both Sides
Few attorneys can claim the diverse experience and history of successful cases of Howard J. Wise.
The dedicated and talented Chicago defense attorney began his criminal law journey more than two decades ago, when he began studying at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After being admitted to the Chicago & Northwest Suburban Bar Associations in 1997, Mr. Wise joined the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as the assistant state attorney.
During his time at the State's Attorney office, Mr. Wise was able to gain extensive experience in many different areas of the law, including criminal appeals, traffic cases, DUI, misdemeanors, and felonies. While working as a prosecutor, Mr. Wise developed a unique insight into how prosecutors in the Chicago criminal justice system reason, move, and attack. He honed his skills crafting arguments to put criminals behind bars, and he was quite good at his job, but something about it just was not satisfying.
After several years, he left his position to join the other side and protect people's rights as a criminal lawyer. Today, he uses his firsthand knowledge of prosecution tactics to strengthen his defense strategies. His exceptional understanding of both sides of criminal defense make him a formidable opponent in court with some of the most creative and resourceful strategies in the industry.
Education
| School | Major | Degree | Grad. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas M. Cooley Law School | Law | JD – Juris Doctor | 1996 |
| University of Arizona | Media Arts | BFA – Bachelor of Fine Arts | 1991 |
Work Experience
| Title | Company Name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Law Offices of Howard J. Wise & Associates | 2006 – Present |
| Partner | Law Offices of Wise & Wise | 2003 – 2006 |
| Associate | Law Offices of William H. Wise & Associates | 2001 – 2003 |
| Assistant State's Attorney | Cook County Felony Review | 2001 |
| Assistant State's Attorney | Cook County Felony Preliminary Hearings | 2001 |
| Assistant State's Attorney | Cook County Criminal Division | 2000 – 2001 |
| Assistant State's Attorney | Cook County Traffic Division | 1999 – 2000 |
| Assistant State's Attorney | Cook County Criminal Appeals Division | 1999 |
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Recommendations
- I hired Mr. Wise on a friend's advice/recommendation. Before calling, I considered entering a guilty plea on my own behalf to DUI after having blown above a .08%. Thank God I re-considered – Mr. Wise won the case. Mr. Wise's knowledge of DUI law was obvious during our first consultation. He made...
- Mr.Howard is an excellect lawyer.He respect the law.He respect the court.He respect his clients.He always called me returned my calling and made time to answer my question.He a straight with you about what may happen. I thank Gid for Mr.Howard.He can be trusted. - Tammy
- If you are looking for a lawyer who is trustworthy, knowledgeable, understanding, passionate, honest, and much more. Howard j Wise is “The One”! He help me and my fiance. Thanks to him we still have a clean record! I can't see myself working with any other attorney. He is the best! Believe me he ...
- Howard Wise is simply the best criminal defense/DUI defense attorney around. As a former prosecutor he knows the opposition and knows how to get the best results for all his clients. His dedication and tenacity are second to none and he gets results, period! - Client
- I chose to have Howard represent me for three different cases and was extremely pleased with his services. He prepared me for every case, talked me through each step, told what I had to do to get the best possible outcome and never lied to me about my chances of winning or losing a case. Further,...
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