Mr. Serpa's expertise in criminal law and criminal procedure, and his commitment to clients' futures, families and careers, make him a persistent and talented advocate. A twenty-year record of Massachusetts criminal defense victories is the result of that skill and dedication.

When your future, your family and your career are at stake, a false accusation or a single mistake should not derail a lifetime of hard work.

Preserving your future and your career is Mr. Serpa's focus. If you've been accused of a crime in the Massachusetts courts, your criminal case can set your life, your family, your future and your career off track, sometimes permanently. A false accusation or a single mistake should not derail a lifetime of hard work.

For many people, a Massachusetts criminal record is simply not an option. If you are in a profession that will not tolerate a criminal conviction, you need the best Massachusetts criminal lawyer with the time-tested talent and expertise to get you back on track and restore your family and future. Likewise, if you are facing a jail sentence or a felony conviction, you need the top Massachusetts criminal defense attorney with the deep trial experience and courtroom skills to save your future and keep you at home with your family.

Serpa Law Office is a Massachusetts criminal law firm located in Boston's Back Bay. We represent clients of all professions all over Eastern Massachusetts. We have restored the futures of fellow lawyers, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, retail workers, laborers, drivers, finance or tech professionals and stay-at-home parents. Our specialty is making sure you make it out of your case with your career, your family and your future intact.

We are accessible to clients at our Back Bay location just off the Arlington Street Station on the Green Line and in our Quincy Marina Bay office ten minutes south of Boston.

Criminal Defense Attorney Joe Serpa is among Boston’s most highly respected and accomplished criminal defense attorneys, thanks in large part to an extraordinary winning trial record in the criminal courts of Massachusetts. He is a cum-laude law school graduate, a law review member and a Georgetown Law educated lawyer.

With an innovative and assertive approach to the law, Attorney Serpa has repeatedly and steadily obtained acquittals before Massachusetts juries in cases from drunk driving to first degree murder. Joe Serpa's clients have been found not guilty by Massachusetts juries in the district courts and superior courts of nearly every county in Massachusetts, including Suffolk County, Norfolk County, Middlesex County, Bristol County, Plymouth County and Essex County.

Criminal Defense and DUI Expertise

Mr. Serpa's outstanding jury trial record has made him a deeply trusted and respected criminal defense attorney in Massachusetts courts hearing both felony and misdemeanor cases. When you hire Attorney Joe Serpa as your Boston criminal defense attorney, you have equipped yourself with one of the most deeply experienced, battle-proven and dedicated attorneys you can find.

"We believe in the fight because we owe it to our clients and because a fair and just criminal justice system only works when there is a real fight by a smart, tough and serious lawyer.” - Joe Serpa

Attorney Serpa was educated at Georgetown University’s prestigious Law Center. He is deeply versed in the intricacies of criminal and trial law, and has a sharp ear for weakness in an accusation or in the credibility of a witness or a piece of scientific evidence. His sharp ear for unreliable evidence and his skill in presenting his clients’ cases has repeatedly left the prosecution’s cases in pieces before juries and judges.

Serpa Law Office serves a wide client base. Mr. Serpa practices in the Federal, Superior, Family and District Courts of Massachusetts, and represents clients from:

• Greater Boston and the South Shore including Quincy, Cambridge, Somerville, Revere, Chelsea, East Boston and Brockton.
• Metrowest including Framingham and Newton.
• The North Shore including Woburn, Peabody, Lawrence, Lynn and Salem.
• Southeastern Massachusetts including Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.

Attorney Serpa’s approach to advocacy comes from a deep ethic of work, family and empathy. His accessible and attentive approach to representing his clients makes him an advocate who will be by your side from the beginning of your case until the very end.

The circumstances and details surrounding an arrest for a criminal offense vary from case to case, but a skillful attorney uses their years of experience, knowledge of the law, and working relationships with others in the local criminal justice community to fight for their client’s rights. Whether the charge a person is facing is a misdemeanor or a felony, a lawyer who is dedicated to the best interests of their client can better uncover possible outcomes that result in as little disruption to their client’s future as possible.

A first-offense for DUI can have life-changing consequences for the vehicle operator and can result in substantial penalties, including loss of driving privileges and time in prison. Massachusetts allows some consideration for first-offenders, however. Repeat offenders can face a period of time in prison and substantial fines. With so much at stake, it is best for a driver stopped for a DUI, whether a first-offense or something more serious, to confer with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Boston to discuss possible options.

Common charges for domestic violence include assault and battery on a family or household member, violation of restraining orders, stalking, and harassment. In some instances, the parties involved prefer to avoid a potentially painful and lengthy court process. A negotiation involving dismissal of charges may be possible. Other times, however, circumstances may require that a case go to trial. A skillful attorney is able to strike the right balance between aggressive representation and respect for the serious nature of the issue at hand.

Controlled substances are divided into classes of drugs in Massachusetts. Penalties for individuals convicted of a drug crime depend upon the class the drug has been assigned and the specific crime the person is convicted of. Some crimes are more easily proved than others. Consequences of drug-related charges, if proven, can have a lasting impact on a person. A seasoned Boston criminal defense attorney will go over in great detail the specifics of a case to determine whether a person’s rights were violated by law enforcement.

Regardless of the circumstances, a person facing charges for a sexual offense is anxious about their future. Details about the moments leading up to the alleged offense must be investigated. Due to the seriousness of the matter, it is important that a person arrested for a sexual offense have the right lawyer representing them. A criminal defense lawyer who both aggressively defends their client and interacts with other involved parties with respect and compassion can make the difference between a lengthy prison term and a dismissal.

A person may take part in events that spiral out of control, resulting in an arrest. An apprehended individual may have evidence in their possession or been identified by witnesses to the alleged crime. In some cases, the details can be less straight forward and a person insists the theft was not their idea. Regardless of the circumstances, meeting with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Boston as soon as possible after an arrest for theft may mean the difference between going to jail and having the charges dismissed.

Whether a person is brought up on charges for murder or attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery, vehicular homicide, or some other violent crime, they want to know that their lawyer will listen to them and hear their side of the story. Police detectives, under pressure to solve a case quickly, may fail to follow up on information that would prove the accused innocent of charges. Joe Serpa is a criminal defense lawyer adept at uncovering the truth in order to mount a robust defense.

Mandatory minimum sentences apply if a person is convicted for carrying a firearm without proper license to do so. Penalties are harsher if the person has a prior record that includes certain types of crimes. Gun crime charges, in some situations, may be dismissed. This can be the result if investigation indicates that the arrest resulted in a search or confession that was not properly performed per police procedure. Having a Boston criminal defense lawyer on the case is crucial under such circumstances.

Drivers receiving a Massachusetts Uniform Citation for reckless, negligent or unlicensed operation, leaving the accident scene, or operating a vehicle with a suspended license are entitled to a hearing in an attempt to appeal the ticket, but only if they ask for one. A skillful attorney may be able to have a case dismissed before it gets to court. Some motor vehicle crimes result in an arrest. A driver is under no obligation to answer an officer’s questions during or after a motor vehicle stop.

Massachusetts clerk-magistrate hearings present an opportunity for a person given a notice to appear for a hearing (or a person with an applicable motor vehicle citation) to prevent charges from being associated with a person’s criminal record, so it is worth having a knowledgeable attorney to prepare for and be present at such a hearing. A lawyer can investigate the case, arrange for witnesses to provide testimony, and possibly speak to the accuser to stop the case from moving forward.

Expunging an adult’s criminal case can occur under limited circumstances. In some situations, a juvenile’s charges are eligible to be expunged three years after a misdemeanor offense when tried as a juvenile and seven years after a felony offense when tried as a juvenile. Sealing of criminal charges is in many ways similar to expungement of such charges. A person must wait three years after a misdemeanor offense and seven years after a felony offense before applying to have a criminal record sealed. Access to such records is limited.

Serpa Law Office represents clients in the Federal, Superior, Family and District Courts of Massachusetts.

Our Back Bay location is located just off the Arlington Street Station on the Green Line and our Quincy Marina Bay office is ten minutes south of Boston.