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John M. Spencer - Fredericksburg, VA

660 Cambridge Street Fredericksburg, VA 22405

Updated: 07/17/2018

Fredericksburg Criminal Law Lawyer

Overview

I was born and raised in New York City. At the age of 18 I joined the USAF and served during the 1st gulf war as a canine handler/ Law Enforcement Specialist 1988 - 1991. Upon my discharge I became a police officer in New York from 1992 - 1997. While a police officer I began to take college courses and moved to North Carolina to attend the University of North Carolina in 1997. I continued to work full time while attending and completing college as a police dispatcher. I received a Bachelors Degree in History with a 3.6 GPA and was awarded summa cum Laude. I was accepted into the University of North Carolina School of Law and graduated in 2003. After completion of my first year of law school I interned for the City of Charlotte or Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office where I prosecuted drug crimes. As this was not a paid position I also worked full time as a police dispatcher. After the second year of law school, I returned to the Charlotte, Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office and ran my own courtroom for the summer prosecuting all misdemeanor crimes. Again, this was not a paid position and I worked as a police Dispatcher full time to again support myself.

Upon completion of Law School in 2003, I moved to Virginia and worked at Steptoe & Johnson a large law firm in Washington DC in their International Trade section. once I passed the Virginia Bar Examination in 2003, I left this employment to focus on Criminal Law. Not having any contacts in Virginia I took a job at the Public Defenders's Office in Fredericksburg Virginia with the intention of it being a stepping stone to a prosecutor position. However, I fell in love with Criminal Defense work.

After one year in at the Public Defender's Office, I left to open my own law firm and have been in practice since that day.

As you can tell I was not born rich. I had to work full time while attending college full time. Once in law school I had to work twice as hard to support myself during the summer breaks. Working on full time job for free and another all night to eat. During my second and third years of law school I worked part-time at Belks department store to support myself. Put simply, I'm no stranger to hard work and I take that same approach with any case I handle. Every client has my cell phone and I even do Saturday appointments.

I have been practicing locally for over eleven years. You will find me in one of number of courts every day. I am a trial attorney who goes to court and tries cases everyday. I have tried everything from your average speeding ticket to 1st degree murder cases.

About John M. Spencer

Current Employment Position(s)

  • Partner

Languages

  • Spanish

Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law

Qualifications

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia, 2003

Specialties and Certifications

  • Death Penalty Certified, Virginia indigent Defense Commission, 2014

Past Positions

  • United States Air Force, Security Specialist/ Canine Handler, 1988 - 1991
  • New York, Police Officer, 1992 - 1997

Education

  • University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2003
    J.D.
  • University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, 2000
    B.A.
    Honors: summa cum laude

Fees

Accepts Credit Cards

Office Information

Address

660 Cambridge Street Fredericksburg, VA 22405

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By Anonymous on Jan. 15, 2020

0.5 out of 5 stars

A lawyer who breaks promises. Has no concern for his client. Just after your money. In the end sides with the prosecutor.

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By Melissa J. on Sep. 24, 2019

5.0 out of 5 stars

Mr. Spencer made me feel like I was family. Took every call from my family or I pertaining to my case. He discussed everything with me and explained things to me so I could understand. He got the job done.

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