Lissa McKinney

Lissa McKinney graduated Suffolk University (1981) and Suffolk University Law School (1984) and started as a trial lawyer with the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Worcester and Boston. Her courtroom and trial experience spans 33 years and more than 1,000 bench or jury trials, probable cause hearings, restraining order hearings and evidentiary hearings. Lissa's practice concentrates on labor and employment law, personal injury, consumer fraud complaints, administrative hearings, and ALL matters of criminal defense.Out of the courtroom, she represent clients at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Department of Employment and Training, DSS Fair Hearings, disciplinary hearings of licensed occupations, and firearms licensing appeals.

McKinney was an Adjunct Clinical Trial Practice Instructor at Suffolk University Law School where she supervised third year law students providing indigent criminal defense. She served as Staff Attorney for Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ), the Suffolk County bar advocate program assuring the quality of lawyers representing indigent criminal defendants. McKinney has also been a lecturer at various educational seminars sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), the Boston Bar Association, Suffolk County Bar Advocate Program, Suffolk Lawyers for Justice, and the Committee for Public Counsel Services, such as: District Court Bar Advocate Training; Essential Rules of Criminal Procedure; Trying Drug Cases in Massachusetts; Emerging Areas of Criminal Practice; Hot Tips for Trying Criminal Cases, Probation Violation Proceedings; Defending on a Shoestring; Pre-Trial Conference Rules; Evidence-Getting It In and Keeping It Out.

Lissa is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, the U.S. District Court for the First Circuit, & the Florida Bar,
Membership: Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL); Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA).

Suffolk University Law School

J.D. (1984) | Criminal law, student lawyer clinical program, labor and employment

1981 - 1984

Member

Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Current

Member

Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys

Current

Probation Surrenders, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Evidence: Getting it in-Keeping it Out, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Pre-Trial Conference Rules, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Defending on a Shoestring, Boston

Suffolk Lawyers for Justice (SLJ)

Essential Rules of Criminal Procedure, Boston

Boston Bar Association

Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL)

Member

Current

Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorney's

Member

Current

Florida State Bar  # 642540

Member

1987 - Current

Massachusetts State Bar  # 544172

Member

1985 - Current

Florida

Since 1987

Massachusetts

Since 1985

• Free Consultation
  Free consultation for the first 45-60 minutes.Fees for review and assessment beyond consultation are addressed during consultation.
• Credit Cards Accepted
  Paypal
• Contingent Fees
  Contingent fees are accepted for personal injury cases such as motor vehicle accidents, property accident and related torts.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Consumer law cases brought under MGL ch. 93A will include a claim for attorney fees. Efforts to recover costs and fees are always made in these cases, but not guaranteed. Accordingly, attorney fees on an hourly basis are billed pending resolution and recovery of fees.

Q. Can they place a bail on you if you get indicted, even though a bail in district court wasn’t set

May 2, 2024

A: Yes. Even if you were out on personal recog in the District Court, the indictment is considered a 'change in circumstance' that will result in the higher/ Superior Court *reviewing bail. It does not mean that they will alter it, or that it will be too high to make. Bail is set based on your liklihood and history of returning to Court, among other factors, and only so high as to ensure you return to Court if it is set. The factors that could influence the bail are your roots in the community such as education, residence and family in MA, employment, and compliance with District Court release conditions. If you have shown up to District Court , it is very likley the Court will set a recog with conditions, or a bail you can meet. If you received a Notice of an Arraignment in Superior Court and show up, it is a good indicator that you are not considered a flight risk. Be sure to be in regular touch with your lawyer as well, and let them know you will report to the Superior Court wheever you are directed to. Good luck ... Read More

Q. Can someone secretly record me outside in massachusetts

May 1, 2024

A: No one can secretly record AUDIO record a private person in MA. ( the rules are a bit different for public officials, police etc). Massachusetts is one of 12 consent states requiring consent of all parties to a recording. The issue is one of secrecy though. Making it clear that a recording is being made may be enough, as in raising your hand holding the recording equipment high enough to be visible to anyone, or advsing on it that a person is being recorded. This offers the person the opportunity to leave and not be a part of the conversation. Consent is implied by the context/circumstances if a person knows they are being recorded and continues to engage rather than walk away.

However, a video recording does not offend the wiretap statute, G.L. ch. 272 sec 99 unless it is video in a private area where one has an expectation of privacy, eg.a bathroom or dressing room of a store.

When you say public, it could be your backyard or the town playground. You can be video recorded when you are in public, and *possibly audio recordings there are OK too because you have no reason to believe anything you are doing or saying is private. These are very fact specific determinations though.

There is also a distinction between violating the wiretap statute, and actually being prosecuted (criminally) or sued over it (civil damages). ... Read More

Q. Two citations for rear-ending someone?

January 5, 2024

A: Since the ticket was issued in CT, then what they can or cannot do or issue is governed by CT law, not MA.

Even if you have an MA license, that ticket will be processed by the ruls of CT. You should ask this in a CT forum.