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Patrick Mahaney
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Patrick Mahaney
Law Office of Patrick Mahaney
8244 Old Federal Road
Montgomery, AL 36117
Phone: (334) 277-3974 | Fax: (334) 277-0423
http://www.mahaneylaw.com/
30+ Years of Law and Law Enforcement Experience
Legal Topic
Criminal Defense
Preferred New Clients
I handle cases involving Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases; defense of alcohol related traffic homicide and assault cases; driver license suspension or revocation; drug possession and drug violation cases.
Sub-Categories
Criminal Defense
- Felonies
- DUI
- Felony Auto Accidents
- Open Container
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Driving without a License
- DWI
Bar Admissions
AL, May 1989
Bar Number: ASB-4417-A41P
Other Court Admissions
Alabama Supreme Court; U.S. District Court (Middle District and Southern District of Alabama); 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. Supreme Court.
Association Memberships
Alabama State Bar; American Bar Association; Montgomery County Bar Association (Board of Directors, 2007-present), and Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (President's Award 2009).
Continuing Education
I am a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education seminars. (Cumberland School of Law, 2006; Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2008 to 2009).
Papers and Publications
Author: Alabama DUI, Traffic, and Driver License Law Handbook, 2nd Edition. Editor: The Alabama Trooper (official publication of the Alabama Police Benevolent Association, Trooper Chapter).
Example Cases
1) Enterprise, Alabama Municipal Court: client arrested for DUI with .16% BAC. Result: case dismissed after Motion to Suppress was filed on the court, showing lack of probable cause for the traffic stop.
2) Montgomery, Alabama Municipal Court: client arrested for DUI with .15% BAC after traffic accident. Result: client acquitted ("Not Guilty") after effective cross-examination of the officer demonstrated to the court that the arresting officer could not establish probable cause for the arrest, could not establish if the defendant had ever been lawfully arrested, and could not establish if the required 20-minute wait period for the breath test had been complied.
3) Chilton County District Court: Client arrested for DUI-controlled substances. Result: client acquitted ("Not Guilty") after effective cross-examination of the arresting officer could not establish if defendant had ever consumed any controlled substances and lack of any evidentiary test to support allegation of use of controlled substances.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Jones School of Law
City:
Montgomery
State:
AL
Year:
1988
Honors:
Dean's List.
Degree:
B.A.
School:
The Citadel
City:
Charleston
State:
SC
Year:
1973
Honors:
Dean's List.
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
Alabama
Firm Focus and History
The Law Office of Patrick Mahaney focuses on defense in driving under the influence cases and related areas. I also represent defendants in alcohol or drug related traffic homicide/traffic assault cases, driver license suspension and revocation cases.
I established the Law Office of Patrick Mahaney in July 2006, shortly after completing five years of overseas service on behalf of the United States government where I had been engaged in international rule of law and police development missions.
Previous Employment Summary
My employment career spans nearly 40 years of service to state and country. After graduation from high school, I attended South Carolina's military college, The Citadel, as a recipient of an Army R.OT.C. scholarship. Upon graduation in 1973, I was commissioned as second lieutenant, Regular Army, and reported to the U.S. Army infantry school at Fr. Benning, Georgia for training. After discharge from the U.S. Army in 1977, I entered the field of law enforcement and for the next 23 years served as a sworn law enforcement officer, initially as a municipal police officer, then in 1978, as an Alabama state trooper.
I served 22 years with the Alabama Department of Public Safety as a uniformed state trooper, a training academy instructor, staff officer, and as department assistant legal counsel. While I was serving as a uniformed state trooper, I attended law school at Jones School of Law. I earned my law degree after 3½ years of intensive legal studies and successfully passed the strenuous Alabama bar exam. I served nearly ten years as an assistant attorney general for the Department of Public Safety, representing the department in both state and federal court in all areas of litigation.
Between 2001 to 2003, I served as an International Police Officer with the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). In 2003 to 2004, I was a Staff Officer/Training Coordinator at the Jordan International Police Training Center, Amman, Jordan.
In December 2004, I was then selected to serve as executive officer for the United States civilian police advisory mission to Iraq, and from December 2004 until May 2006, I was the deputy commander of the 650+ members training and advisory mission. Please visit my website to learn more.
Activities and Awards
In 2007, I was elected by the members of the 1000+ members Montgomery County, Alabama Bar Association to serve as a Director of the county bar association. I also serve on the legislative committee of the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association where I am responsible for drafting and reviewing proposed legislation and testifying before the state legislature committees.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
Only a well-trained and licensed attorney has the legal skills, specific education, and general subject knowledge to determine the client's issues and ways to best resolve the client's problems. Complex legal problems require the skills of a competent attorney.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
No, that is not a good idea. Assisting a non-lawyer in submission of legal documents is professionally unethical and constitutes the criminal offense of unauthorized practice of law in this state.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
A person with a legal problem needs the sound advice and counsel of a trained attorney, just as a physically sick person needs the healing hands of a trained physician. You would not expect to perform dentistry or perform a medical procedure on yourself. The practice of law is equally challenging. You should recognize that the practice of law requires years of training and experience to attain professional level competency.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
While working as a state trooper, I had always admired certain trial court judges and court-room lawyers and wanted to attain a legal education. After my first year of law school, I knew I wanted to be a trial lawyer.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have practical experience, both as a lawyer and a former state trooper, which gives me insight as to both the prosecution and defense side of each case. This insight makes me a better attorney and better able to represent clients.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I was very experienced in this area of law after 23 years of law enforcement service, having taught and trained hundreds of law enforcement officers in every area of DUI enforcement and criminal procedure and after serving as an assistant attorney general and municipal court prosecutor.
What do you like best about your career?
My goal is to ensure that every defendant's legal rights are protected and that every defendant is afforded effective representation. The prosecution must prove each element of the offense. As a former law enforcement officer and prosecutor, I am more aware than most lawyers of the elements of proof required to convict. Although I do not approve or condone the intemperate use of alcohol, I recognize that every defendant is entitled to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner who employs part-time help to work in my office.
What are your strengths and style?
I am hard-working and dedicated to serving the needs of my clients. I am experienced in all areas of criminal law and have a "bull-dog" attitude in representing my clients.
Personal Interests:
I am a fitness buff and strive to attain a strenuous physical training program.
Office Manager/Assistant
Kim.
Fax
(334) 277-0423
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Evening appointments and Saturday and Sunday appointments are accepted to meet the needs of clients.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
No.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Fixed fees on all criminal defense work. The law office accepts credit cards.
Hourly Rates
$150 hour, when applicable.
Free Initial Consultation?
No. Initial consultation is $150 for a one-hour, detailed consultation.
Typical Retainer
No. Retainers are generally only used in civil practice.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
