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Ghislaine M. Storr Burks
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Ghislaine M. Storr Burks
Livesay & Myers, P.C.
308 Wolfe Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: (540) 370-4140 | Fax: (540) 370-0953
http://www.lawyers-virginia.com/
Aggressive Virginia Criminal & Traffic Defense Lawyer
Legal Topic
Criminal Defense
Preferred New Clients
I prefer to handle cases involving criminal defense matters and construction litigation.
Sub-Categories
Criminal Defense
- Aiding, Abetting, Accessory, Conspiracy
- Appeals
- Capital Crimes/Capital Cases
- Environmental Violations
- Felonies
- Grand Jury Proceedings
- Juvenile Crimes
- False Identification
- Truancy
- Military Crimes (UCMJ)
- Misdemeanors
- Parole
- Probation
- Perjury
- Plea Negotiation
- Search & Seizure
- Victims' Rights
- Animal Abuse
- Child Abuse
- Domestic Violence
- Elder Abuse
- DUI
- Felony Auto Accidents
- Traffic - Moving Violations
- Open Container
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Driving without a License
- DWI
- Hacking
- Malicious Code
- Unauthorized Access
- Expungement or Expunction
- Drug Cultivation & Manufacturing
- Drug Possession
- Intent to Distribute Drugs
- Intent to Sell Drugs
- Medical Marijuana
- Constitutional Rights Defense
- Illegal Possession or Transportation
- Other Weapons & Devices
- Bank Fraud
- Checks & Credit Cards
- Corporate Espionage & Sabotage
- Embezzlement
- Extortion
- Forgery
- Identity Theft
- Insider Trading
- Insurance Claims
- Money Laundering
- Public Offerings
- Racketeering & RICO
- Securities Fraud
- Smuggling
- Tax Evasion & Fraud
- Trade Secrets
- Wire Transfer
- Arson
- Burglary
- Embezzlement
- Larceny
- Shoplifting
- Theft
- Trespass
- Vandalism
- Abduction
- Child Abuse
- Child Pornography
- Indecent Exposure
- Prostitution, Solicitation, & Pandering
- Rape
- Stalking
- Trafficking in Women
- Assault & Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Extortion
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Murder
- Robbery
Bar Admissions
VA, Jan 2006
Bar Number: 73456
MD, Jan 2005
Other Court Admissions
Supreme Court of Virginia; Court of Appeals of Maryland; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia; United States District Court for the District of Maryland; United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Association Memberships
American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section; Fredericksburg Area Bar Association; Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Virginia State Bar.
Continuing Education
All of my continuing legal education credits are obtained by taking criminal law focused seminars and training sessions. Specifically, I participate in the annual criminal law seminar and also by attending seminars geared towards the defense of those charged with felonies related to sexual assault. I always exceed the number of required hours. I also take courses focused on general litigation, which provide tips and exercises geared towards improving an attorney's performance in a jury trial.
Example Cases
I handle all types of criminal cases ranging from felonies to misdemeanors. I also handle traffic offenses for people who need to avoid adding a conviction for a traffic offense to their driving record due to special requirements related to their employment, like holding a CDL license. The majority of the cases I handle are felonies, and a large portion of the felony matters I handle are sex offenses ranging from forcible sexual assaults such as rape, child molestation and electronic solicitation cases. I have been successful in jury trials of forcible sexual assaults where the alleged victim gave a false account and I have been successful in placing my clients in a good position for sentencing through the use of expert witnesses and presentation of mitigating evidence when the commonwealth's evidence against the client is overwhelming.
With construction disputes, I have represented and consulted with general contractors, sub-contractors and homeowners. I have offered my services in a number of venues such as before the General District Courts for warrant in debts, the Circuit Courts and the American Arbitration Association. I have also offered my services in areas such as the incorporation or formation of LLC's for various construction related businesses. I have drafted and provided base contracts for construction related businesses.
Education
Degree:
Doctorate of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
School:
Valparaiso University School of Law
City:
Valparaiso
State:
IN
Year:
2005
Focus and Accomplishments:
Executive Board Member of Moot Court Honor Society; Moot Court Honor Society Member (By Invitation Only); Finalist in Luther M. Swygert Memorial Moot Court Competition; Competitor in the Vanderbilt University National First Amendment Competition in Nashville, TN; Valparaiso University School of Law Mock Trial Team (Invitation Only); Executive Member, Chairperson of Interschool Competitions; Competitor in Association of Trial Lawyers of America Mock Trial Competition; Competitor in the National Trial Competition; Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Valparaiso Law School Community (2005).
f. Focus/Accomplishments/Major (Family Law; Moot Court; Law Review):
For accomplishments (see above). Focus in Moot Court, Mock Trial and Trial Advocacy.
Also completed all criminal law courses available.
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
School:
Kalamazoo College
City:
Kalamazoo
State:
MI
Year:
2002
Honors:
Graduated cum laude.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Major in Psychology; Minor in Political Science.
Number of Attorneys
7
State Licensed In
Virginia and Maryland
Firm Focus and History
The focus of the firm is to provide diligent representation with personal attention to our clients. We provide immigration, criminal defense, personal injury, construction law, estate planning, and family law (divorce, custody, visitation, and support, including military divorce) representation to residents of Fairfax, Manassas, Woodbridge, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Henrico, Hanover, Caroline, and Richmond, Virginia, and surrounding areas.
Livesay & Myers opened its first office in Woodbridge, Virginia in March 2003. The firm then expanded with its first Fredericksburg office in April 2004. The Fredericksburg office grew exponentially in the years from 2004 - 2007, leaving the firm in need of more spacious facilities to expand to better meet the needs of its clients. The firm relocated its Fredericksburg office to a large new building, at 308 Wolfe Street in Downtown Fredericksburg, on July 18, 2008. Meanwhile, in May 2008 Livesay & Myers opened its Fairfax office, and is preparing to open a new office in Richmond in the fall of 2008.
Previous Employment Summary
I was previously employed as a contract attorney working at McGuireWoods in Richmond, Virginia, from June 2006 until December 2006. Prior to that, I was a criminal defense attorney in a small firm in Maryland, which served clients throughout the state of Maryland, northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. It was in Maryland that I also began practicing in the area of construction litigation, beginning with my first case which was heard over a three week period before the American Arbitration Association.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
It is dangerous for a client to educate themselves with regards to a legal issue. Unfortunately, the law is dense and often difficult to understand. Furthermore, it appears that in many cases clients often have difficulty comparing their case validly to another case or have difficulty in understanding how different jurisdictions may treat their case. This is especially true in criminal cases since different jurisdictions may prosecute certain criminal acts more aggressively. In order to ensure that clients are aware of the law that applies to their case, the legal proceedings, and any jurisdictional differences it is necessary for clients to work closely with an attorney who is not only familiar with the law, but also familiar with the judges and attorneys practicing in a specific jurisdiction. Clients should only educate themselves about particular legal issues with the assistance of an attorney.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am always willing to work closely with a client who may wish to prepare a draft for my review. In my practice, I typically prepare the draft after taking into account the specific concerns of the client and our goals. I review that document with my client to ensure that he or she both understands and agrees with the document.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Because I represent mostly clients who have been charged with a criminal offense, I never recommend for people facing a loss of their liberty to represent themselves. For a client with a construction issue, I still would not be comfortable providing coaching advice for a client who wanted to represent him or herself.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was a small child. Once I was in law school and given the opportunity to learn trial advocacy techniques and also given the opportunity to compete, I knew that I wanted to practice in an area of law that put me in the courtroom on a frequent basis.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
As a criminal attorney handling a number of sexual-based felonies, I definitely excel because of my background in psychology. While in law school, I worked towards obtaining my master's degree in clinical psychology. Much of the training I received allows me to communicate with expert witnesses who are necessary for the defense of my clients or who become necessary for mitigation in sentencing proceedings. Because of my background, I tend to not only focus on the charges and criminal representation, but also focus on how to ensure that my clients are not in a similar situation in the future.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I chose criminal law primarily because I have an innate passion for defense work. I enjoy the fast pace of the practice and also enjoy that the law constantly changes and presents new challenges.
What do you like best about your career?
Although the practice of criminal law is a high stress field because of the potential penalties associated with criminal offenses, I enjoy the fight and also enjoy the relief I can bring to people during their roughest times.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am one of seven attorneys at Livesay & Myers, PC and one of two criminal attorneys. I am the only construction attorney in this office. My practice is concentrated within Stafford County, Fredericksburg City and Spotsylvania County for the time being. I handle all sex felonies for the firm.
I have a paralegal that is available consistently for my clients when I am unavailable and in court. She has a wonderful working relationship with the clerk's office and Commonwealth Attorney's office in all of the aforementioned jurisdictions. I repeatedly receive compliments from attorneys, clerks, clients and families with regards to her attention to detail and attentiveness to the needs of my clients.
What are your strengths and style?
As an attorney fighting to attain the best results for my clients, my strengths lie in my relationships with the attorneys in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office and with the clerks who have a great deal of influence on the ease with which a matter is brought to final resolution. I am also very forthcoming with my clients regarding their likelihood of success, and am always willing to explain the procedures and laws affecting their case as many times as necessary. I provide a great deal of personal attention to each client and his or her case. I strive to ensure that my clients always have a complete understanding of what is in their best interest.
With regards to my personal style, I am aggressive in court but always professional.
Personal Interests:
I do not wish to publish any information regarding my personal interests.
Office Manager/Assistant
Callie Kyhl.
Fax
(540) 370-0953
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Other hours by appointment.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
Spanish.
Additional Offices
Fairfax, VA
3913 Old Lee Hwy.
Suite 33-B
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 499-9005
Woodbridge, VA
1308 Devil's Reach Road
Suite 302
Woodbridge, VA 22192
(703) 499-9005
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
For criminal cases there are no fixed prices. Each case is reviewed with the potential client for a determination of the complexity of the case and the specific needs of the client in order to determine a fair and appropriate price. Once that is determined, the client is offered a flat fee for representation. Depending on the fee, there are sometimes options for breaking up the fee into payments, but this is not offered in every case.
Misdemeanor cases generally range from $1,200 and up depending on the number of charges and the type of charge. For felony cases, including probation revocation or violation hearings, the fee would likely start at $2,000 and might be higher based on the type and number of felony charges. Traffic cases start at $850.
With regards to construction cases, clients are required to deposit $2,000 as a retainer and I bill at $210 per hour. Clients are provided with two statements per month and are required to maintain a minimum balance of $2,000 in their trust account. The retainer may increase depending on the complexity or nature of the case.
Hourly Rates
$225 per hour which is subject to increase over time.
Free Initial Consultation?
Initial consultations for criminal cases are free. The initial consultation for a construction case is $225 for a one-hour meeting, wherein I would provide a plan to meet the goals of the client.
Typical Retainer
The typical retainer for construction cases is $2,000.
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