Expert defense attorney recognition
How do you know whether a lawyer is an expert defense attorney? One way is to look at whether other lawyers view that lawyer as learned in law. So if they do, they will ask him to teach criminal law courses and share his expertise. And they’ll pay course fees to do so.
Continuing Legal Education providers and Minnesota bar associations ask expert defense attorney Thomas C. Gallagher to teach on criminal law and other law topics. And this shows that lawyers in Minnesota see him as a legal expert.
Attorney Thomas Gallagher also often takes calls from other lawyers seeking consultations. And news media reporters frequently contact Thomas Gallagher for quotes, comments and background.
Thomas C. Gallagher teaches law and legal topics. Course attendees include other lawyers, judges, police officers and others working in the criminal justice system. And he provides a comprehensive outline of the law and practical tips for each of them.
This is evidence that Thomas C. Gallagher is a recognized expert defense attorney. A summary of the courses presented by Thomas Gallagher follows.
Criminal Law Courses Presented, Seminars Taught
Suppression of illegal evidence
When the government breaks the law, who will enforce it? An expert defense attorney must be skillful in spotlighting police illegality and asking judges to remedy illegal evidence. And illegal evidence includes:
Attorney Thomas Gallagher teaches criminal law courses on these topics.
Traffic Stops, Search and Arrest Law; and, Confession Suppression, Law of Arrest, Search, Seizure, and Confessions in Minnesota. Lorman Education Services, April 20, 2007. An expert defense attorney enforces constitutional law.
Auto Stops, Searches and Arrests Law; and, Confessions and Suppression, Law of Arrest, Search and Seizure, and Confessions in Minnesota. Lorman Education Services, November 30, 2012
Traffic Stops, Search and Arrest Law; and, Confession Suppression, Law of Arrest, Search, Seizure, and Confessions in Minnesota. Lorman Education Services, April 20, 2007. An expert defense attorney enforces constitutional law.
Defending marijuana and illegal drug cases
Defending marijuana and illegal drug cases is a focus practice area for Attorney Thomas Gallagher.
A longtime legalization activist, he is the author of articles on defending marijuana cases and law reform. And he is a recognized expert defense attorney for marijuana cases.
Three Marijuana Case-Win Short-Stories. Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, “Guns N Drugs N Sex” CLE, Minneapolis, April 21, 2023.
DWI A to Z: Handling the Marijuana Case. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, April 14, 2023.
DUI Marijuana Science at Pretrial & Trial. Minnesota Third Judicial District Public Defenders, Rochester, Minnesota, February 24, 2023.
Science and Defense of Marijuana Cases. Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice CLE, May 11, 2019.
Handling the Marijuana DWI Case – Understand the special aspects of DWI cases involving marijuana. DWI Science & Advocacy – Advanced Practice Strategies. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, April 30, 2019
Defending Marijuana Cases. Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice Annual CLE, June 15, 2018. An expert defense attorney defending marijuana charges must know marijuana laws.
Marijuana – It’s Still Illegal: Defending Marijuana Cases in Minnesota. Criminal Justice Institute, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, August 26, 2013
Domestic assault and domestic crime defense
With his psychology background, Attorney Thomas Gallagher has a special interest in domestic abuse cases. And he’s handled a heavy rotation of domestic assault and domestic sex crimes cases for over three decades.
Domestic crimes cases are similar to other criminal cases in many ways. But we have added layers of:
- relationship,
- chemical health, and
- mental health issues.
And Thomas Gallagher is a recognized expert defense attorney in these areas. So he teaches criminal law courses on domestic assault and domestic criminal defense.
Preparing the Defense, Ethical Issues, and Guns, Immigration and Collateral Consequences, Defending Domestic Crimes. Hennepin County Bar Association CLE, October 21, 2004. An expert defense attorney protects clients from collateral consequences, such as gun rights and immigration consequences.
Ethical & Practical Considerations When Representing a Person Accused of Violence Against a Loved One; Guns and Immigration; State and Federal Laws; and, Defense Strategy, Family Law and Domestic Abuse. Minn. Continuing Legal Education, May 16, 1997
Mental health defense
Attorney Thomas Gallagher has much educational background and professional experience in chemical and mental health. So, beginning with his undergraduate Psychology major, Gallagher is a life-learner keeping up with developments in cognitive, social and clinical psychology. And DSM 5 is a constant reference.
His professional experience includes 13 years on Hennepin County Mental Health Court’s civil commitment defense panel. And this includes hundreds of cases. Mentally ill, chemically dependent, developmentally delayed, traumatic brain injured, or cognitively impaired; were the allegations.
So, working with court appointed psychologists, treating psychiatrists, and social workers, Thomas Gallagher developed his expertise in mental health law. And he is a recognized expert attorney in mental health law and the insanity defense.
Civil Commitment Law in Minnesota. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, March 29,1996. For criminal cases involving mental health issues, an expert defense attorney is fluent in psychology and mental health law.
Jury Trials
The jury trial is the most powerful tool we have to check government overreach. So we invite the jury to secure Liberty and deliver Justice.
The jury trial is the most important step in the criminal court process. And Attorney Thomas Gallagher has represented many clients in jury trials in both Minnesota state and federal courts. So Continuing Legal Education providers have asked him to teach on the topic.
The Closing Argument, Basic Civil Trial Litigation. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, March 7, 1996. How to conduct a jury trial.
Preparing for trial
Even though most cases never see a jury trial, we must prepare every case as if it will. So an expert defense attorney must gather all available facts and evidence. And then we organize it to help the jury understand the legal issues and do the right thing. Attorney Thomas Gallagher teaches on trial prep topics.
How to Use Medical Records to Win Your Case. Minnesota Association of Legal Assistants, June 16, 1995
Gun laws, civil rights, defending gun crime cases
Fortunately, gun crimes are relatively uncommon. But when they accuse you; you want an expert defense attorney who knows guns and gun laws. And Thomas Gallagher is that lawyer. He’s an author of articles on gun crimes defense and gun laws. And Continuing Education providers and bar associations ask him the teach on gun laws and gun crimes defense. Here are some of the criminal law courses he taught related to gun laws.
How to Restore Gun Rights After a Misdemeanor Domestic Crime Conviction in Minnesota. Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice CLE at Hennepin County Government Center, November 10, 2018. And for an in-depth article see Attorney Thomas Gallagher’s article: Restoring Gun Rights After a Domestic Misdemeanor in Minnesota.
Guns – Criminal Laws and Civil Rights, Carry Permits. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education October 27, 2016
Criminal Defense and Guns. Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice CLE, July 9, 2011. Criminal defense lawyers handling gun cases should be expert defense attorneys in gun laws.
DWI and driving defense cases
The most important trait of a good DWI defense lawyer is stubborn persistence. With that, over time the DWI defense attorney will climb the learning curve and become an expert. And that’s when we start winning lots of cases.
Thomas Gallagher is a recognized expert defense attorney in Minnesota DWI defense. So, Continuing Legal Education providers and bar associations ask him the teach about Minnesota DWI defense.
Drivers License Law and DWI Practice. Minnesota DWI Practice Institute, Minn. Continuing Legal Education, November 14, 2005
Winning DWI And CVO Cases at Pretrial Hearing and at Trial; and, Winning Implied Consent and Drivers License Cases. Strategies for Success with DWI Cases in Minnesota. Lorman Education Services, June 10, 2005
Winning DWI & CVO Cases at Pretrial and Trial; and Winning Drivers License Cases. Strategies for Success with DWI Cases in Minnesota. Lorman Education Services, December 3, 2004
Drivers License Law and DWI Practice. Minnesota DWI Practice Institute, Minn. Continuing Legal Education, November 4, 2004
Drivers License Law and Records; Expungement. Minnesota Criminal Justice Institute, Minn. Continuing Legal Education, August 23, 2004
How to Win DWI — Constitutional Right to an Independent Chemical Test, Exculpatory Evidence, State’s Duty to Preserve Evidence. Winning DWI Cases. Hennepin County Bar Association CLE, November 14, 2002
Strategies in Handling DWI and DUI Cases in Minnesota, Topics: (1) Searching for the Truth – Winning with Discovery; and (2) Vehicle Forfeiture and Plate Impoundment – Get It Back. Lorman Education Services, January 27, 2000
DWI Defense Update. Criminal Law Committee of the Hennepin County Bar Association, January 21, 1998
Contacting an expert defense attorney is easy:
Lawyers rely upon Thomas Gallagher to learn more about Minnesota criminal law, by attending his criminal law courses.
Have a Minnesota criminal law question? You can call expert defense attorney Thomas C. Gallagher on the phone to ask: 612 333-1500