Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Key Takeaways

Thomas Gallagher is a Minneapolis Criminal Defense Attorney with 38 years of experience.
Communication, compassion and curiosity are at the core of his approach to criminal defense.
Gallagher’s works to provide the best defense for each client, in a broad range of criminal cases.
He is recognized in the legal community, achieving high peer and client ratings.
Presents details about his legal background, leadership and experience.
Clients can expect personal attention and support with Attorney Thomas Gallagher.

Thomas Gallagher is a Minneapolis Criminal Defense Attorney. The best criminal defense lawyers have the best legal skills. But the best criminal attorney must also have compassion, ethics and loyalty. He has all of these. Thomas Gallagher’s focus is on helping people.

Every client deserves the best defense. Every person facing accusations deserves the best defense attorney. But Thomas Gallagher can only represent his clients.

The emotional truth: An accused person feels the weight and power of the government. And the State would force a bad outcome; and disregard the truth and justice. As a result, every defendant feels trauma and stress.

Solution? A good defense lawyer can give you a real voice. And you deserve a fair chance. We can make that happen. So, justice can prevail, after all. But the lawyer you choose makes a difference in the outcome of your case. So why not contact one of the best criminal attorneys in Minnesota?

Meet Attorney Thomas Gallagher

Gallagher Criminal Defense law office is in Uptown Minneapolis. And Attorney Thomas C Gallagher has over three decades experience defending clients in Minnesota Courts.

“Liberty means you don’t need to justify your choice, government must justify its intrusion.”
Attorney Thomas C Gallagher

Origin story: After a Psychology Bachelor’s Degree, Thomas Gallagher began work as a paralegal in 1984, discovering a passion for criminal law. So, he went to the University of Minnesota Law School, one of the best in the United States. And after graduating in 1988, he worked for a law firm doing all their criminal defense attorney cases. But he also handled cases in their other practice areas. And that broad legal experience in the early years provides a solid foundation. After all, the law is a seamless web.

Creative control: Then, in 1993, Thomas Gallagher founded his own practice, Gallagher Criminal Defense law firm in Minneapolis. Part scholar and part public communicator, the secret ingredient to his success is hard work.

Communication

The best criminal defense attorney must have written communications skills. And Thomas Gallagher is a writer. He writes motions, briefs, legal blog articles, and legal education materials.

But verbal communication skills – including listening – are at least as important. And, Attorney Thomas Gallagher presents cases to juries and judges. And he speaks to other groups.

“We must think things not words, or at least we must constantly translate our words into the facts for which they stand, if we are to keep to the real and the true.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, “Law in Science and Science in Law,” p. 460, Harvard Law Review, 1899

Client communication, too, is an essential skill. And this is something you can experience first-hand, beginning with a phone call.

“The law isn’t justice. It’s a very imperfect mechanism. If you press exactly the right buttons and are also lucky, justice may show up in the answer. A mechanism is all the law was ever intended to be.”
Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye, 1953

Recognized expert: Thomas Gallagher

Professional consults: Other lawyers consult Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher. And he is happy to help colleagues. He answers questions about:

criminal law practice areas
defenses, and
legal problem-solving.

Referrals: Most of Thomas Gallagher’s clients are referrals. And clients tell him who recommended him to them. Referral sources include other lawyers, judges, prosecutors and police officers, as well as former clients.

Attorney Tom Gallagher’s Approach

Every lawyer has their own unique personality and background, like all people do. So what core values and experiences drive Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher? Here are the top three:

Curiosity. Sustained effort can be hard work. But problem-solving can be fun. Either way, Attorney Gallagher is relentless.
Compassion. We are not so different. So let’s see through each other’s eyes. We can share our emotional truths.
Communication. No matter how developed your communication skills, we can improve. We can understand each other. And active listening helps us connect.

Thomas Gallagher comes from the Minnesota community. Gallagher has been a political issue activist. And he’s been a party leader in two of the state’s major parties. He served as Credentials Chair for Minneapolis political conventions. Gallagher worked on campaigns of Minneapolis City Council Members and Mayors, Governor and Presidential candidates. And he’s even been a candidate for the Minnesota legislature himself.

He serves on the Board of Directors of Minnesota NORML, working to legalize marijuana in Minnesota.

“’In that case,’ said Napoleon, ‘let us wait twenty minutes; when the enemy is making a false movement we must take good care not to interrupt him.’”
Archibald Alison, French Revolution: Volume 5, Page 476, 1836

Teaching & Media: Thomas Gallagher

A recognized expert in Minnesota criminal law, Gallagher is an author of numerous legal articles.

Many bar associations and “Continuing Legal Education” providers ask Thomas Gallagher to teach CLE classes on criminal law topics. So, he works hard to provide quality education and materials to the lawyers, judges, paralegals, and police officers who attend.

Attorney Thomas Gallagher has taught on many legal topics. And these include jury trial practice, marijuana laws, DWI defense, sex crimes defense, and gun laws. In addition, he often speaks to groups about legal rights, criminal law and reform.

And here you can see a detailed list of: courses and topics Attorney Thomas Gallagher has taught.

News reporters contact him for expert comment and background on criminal-law and legislature news stories. And he testifies in the Minnesota legislature on criminal justice issues.

Question? Call Attorney Thomas Gallagher, 612 333-1500

Thomas-Gallagher-Washington-Post 400 webp — Minnesota Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher

Courtroom Success: Thomas Gallagher

Attorney Thomas Gallagher has conducted and won numerous jury trials.

And he wins cases with pretrial motions.

Past success does not guarantee future results, but it shows what can be done.

“The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, The Common Law, Page 1, 1881

Practice areas – criminal law: Minnesota Criminal Lawyer Thomas Gallagher’s criminal defense practice includes criminal matters of every type, including these practice areas. Thomas C. Gallagher devotes his time, heart and soul into being the best criminal attorney possible, in every case, for every client. And he successfully defends clients in the most serious felony and misdemeanor cases.

Attorney Thomas Gallagher has handled numerous jury trials, trials to a judge, evidentiary hearings, probation hearings, and appeals. These include serious and high-profile cases.

Lawyer Thomas Gallagher is relentless, works hard, with the client’s outcome goal in mind.

Clients also retain Criminal Lawyer Thomas Gallagher to be available during police investigations. And when they do, he provides “pre-charge counsel” to reduce the likelihood of charges. He also represents witnesses.

Thomas Gallagher represents non-citizens. And his clients include Permanent Resident “Green Card” holders, at risk of Removal (Deportation) or other immigration law consequences. A criminal prosecution, guilty plea, or conviction can trigger immigration consequences. But Attorney Thomas Gallagher can help manage the criminal case to avoid immigration problems.

Answers to Your Questions

Attorney Thomas Gallagher answers questions about criminal law and cases every day when people call him. And many are other attorneys seeking his expert advice.

So you are welcome to call him with your question, at 612 333-1500 during office hours.

In addition, he participates in several online Q & A sites. Posting a criminal law question on a public website carries risks. But it’s a comfortable way for some to begin reaching out for help.

Looking for the best criminal attorney near you?

If you someone has accused you of a crime, or if police want to question you, get help now. Or, if you have a criminal law question, call Minneapolis Criminal Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher. So you can discuss your case, in a limited phone consult, at no charge.

Are you looking for the best criminal attorney in Minnesota? Then, meet Thomas Gallagher. And he will listen. He is happy to help; and put his expertise to work for you.

Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney Thomas C Gallagher’s professional leadership, associations, educational background, peer-review best-ratings and five-star reviews, appear below.

Best-rated by lawyers & clients

Thomas C. Gallagher is a top criminal attorney in Minneapolis, according to other lawyers and clients.

Reviews: Thomas Gallagher works hard to be the best criminal attorney. And he provides the best defense for every client. Just check out his five-star reviews online, with Google and others.

Lawyers in the community have voted for him in peer-review ratings: Thomas Gallagher is a top-rated Minnesota criminal attorney.

AV rated: Martindale-Hubbell’s peer-based rating by lawyers and judges, awarded Thomas C. Gallagher its “AV-rating,“ the highest possible rating. The “A” rating means “very high to preeminent” legal ability. And the “V” rating means “very high” ethical standards. So Thomas Gallagher’s AV Preeminent® (4.5-5.0) rating means peers in the legal community rank Thomas C. Gallagher at the highest level of professional excellence and ethics.

Leading the Way: Thomas Gallagher is a proud Member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice (“MSCJ”). Limited to fifty members, MSCJ is a College of the best criminal lawyers in Minnesota. So MSCJ’s members vote on applicant’s admission, based on jury trial experience and commitment to Criminal Justice. Then, MSCJ members meet monthly to share information and improve advocacy skills.

Leadership, education, ratings & reviews

Recognized Leader Among Lawyers
Leadership positions in legal, political, community organizations; and bar association memberships:

Member	Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice	2000 – present
President	Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice	2010 – 2011
Member	Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers	1995 – present
Member	National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers	1995 – present
Member	NORML Legal Committee	1995 – present
Chair, Board of Directors	Minnesota NORML	2017 – 2018
Board of Directors	Minnesota NORML	2011 – present
Commissioner	Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission	2011 – 2017
Member	Hennepin County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section	1988 – present
Member	Minnesota State Bar Association, Criminal Law Section	1988 – present
Member, Issue Editor	Hennepin County Bar Association, The Hennepin Lawyer Editorial Committee	1989-2004
Member – Board of Governors	Minnesota State Bar Association, Board of Governors	1995-2001
Chair	Hennepin County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section	1995-1999

Links to list of courses taught: by Criminal Defense Attorney Thomas C. Gallagher, Lecturer and Presenter at Seminars presented to Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers, and others in the legal community.

Voted Member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, limited to fifty of the best criminal defense lawyers in Minnesota: