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 |
Recent Blog Posts
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Recommendations
- Dear XXXXXX, I thought you would want to know that Howard did an exceptional job yesterday, meeting early with the prosecutor, getting the case moved from adult court to juvenile and eventually having the case dismissed outright. We know another co-defendant that was not so fortunate. Howard's ...
- Dear Howard, The purpose of this letter is first to assure you that I am deeply grateful that you were able to work out an agreement with the State's Attorney to secure a lesser charge of reckless driving which will allow me to continue driving with a baaid device installed in my vehicle. Second,...
- Dear Howard, I can't thank you enough for all your assistance. Please let me know if you ever need anything in xxxxxx. I will be running for councilman in about a year and stand a good chance of winning. Now without this skeleton in my closet my odds are even better. Just remember, you always ...
- Mr. Wise, You were brilliant as you always have been. xxxxxx is improving day by day. Love - XXXXXX
- Dear William & Howard, One of the real joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to say THANK YOU, and to wish you and your family the very best for the New Year. Thank You - XXXXXX
- Thank you for all the time you spent on my case. I was very pleased with the service I received. Thank-you again, - XXXXXX
- Howard, Just a sincere note of thanks to you for doing such a great job and being relentless with my case. I truly appreciate your tenacity and will gladly recommend you to my family and friends! Best Wishes - XXXXXX
- Thank you very much for your time and superb efforts! I am very pleased with the outcome. - XXXXXX
- Mr. Wise, Thank you so much for your hard work. You did a beautiful job! Hopefully, nothing like this will happen to me again! I will definitely refer anyone who does have a problem of this nature to you. Good Luck in the Future - XXXXXX
- Dear Howard, Thank you for all the hard work and driving! You helped me through a difficult and frustrating process, and I really appreciate it. Sincerely - XXXXXX
- Dear Mr. Wise, The outcome you got for my case was nothing short of a miracle. I don't know how to thank you enough for standing by my side through the process and giving your best for my best. Thank you for getting me the second chance in life…. With heartfelt gratitude - XXXXXX
- Howard, Thank you so much for meeting with me last minute on Sunday. I appreciate you taking time away from your family to see me. I also wanted to thank you for everything you are doing for XXXXX. Sincerely - XXXXXX
- Dear Howard, Thank you again for your assistance. You have been invaluable to both me and my son XXXXXX. Yours truly - XXXXXX
- Dude, You are so cool! You saved my ***. I will refer anyone that might need your services. Thank you & Happy Holidays, - XXXXXX
- Mr Wise, Thank you so much for your hard work & efforts for my Grandson Thanks - XXXXXX
- Hello Howard, Just a note to thank you for your help with my stepson, XXXXXX. You're a good man! I appreciate your empathy with this matter. All - XXXXXX
- My family and I want to express how thankful we are to you and your father for all the help, hard work, support and time you took out for us. Thank you both so very much!! May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! God Bless you. From, - XXXXXX & Family
- Thanks for being a dedicated atty and for keeping your words, that means a lot to me. W/o a doubt I would recommend you, you're the best in the business, you're about the people. Thanks again P.S. You helped my son get a second chance in life. - XXXXXX
- Dear Howard,The purpose of this letter is first to assure you that I am deeply grateful that you were able to work out an agreement with the State's Attorney to secure a lesser charge of reckless driving which will allow me to continue driving with a baaid device installed in my vehicle. Second,...
- Dear Howard,I can't thank you enough for all your assistance. Please let me know if you ever need anything in xxxxxx. I will be running for councilman in about a year and stand a good chance of winning. Now without this skeleton in my closet my odds are even better. Just remember, you always hav...
- Dear XXXXXX,I thought you would want to know that Howard did an exceptional job yesterday, meeting early with the prosecutor, getting the case moved from adult court to juvenile and eventually having the case dismissed outright. We know another co-defendant that was not so fortunate. Howard's exp...
- I went to six attorneys and they all said the evidence against me was strong that I was going to lose my case I went to howard and he said he don't like to lose and if worst comes to worst he going to look for the best solution for me when we went to court he fought hard for me and won and the be...
- I recently had a legal matter and was represented by Mr. Wise. Mr. Wise is an attorney of unparalleled distinction. There was a mistake on some of the paperwork brought before the court. I didn't notice the mistake, but Mr. Wise picked it out immediately. I spoke with two other attorney's and poi...
- Howard is a wonderful attorney. He is very diligent, knowledgeable, and honest. My friends and I have used Howard for many years and have received outstanding results. I have referred him to many friends and will continue to do so. Grade A+++++
- 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,...
- 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
- 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 ...
- 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
- 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...