Juvenile Crimes Attorney in Hamilton Township, NJ
Criminal Defense for Hamilton Township Families Facing Juvenile Charges
When your child is taken into custody in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, the decisions made in the next few hours can shape what happens for years. The Law Office of Zapicchi & Liller, LLP is a New Jersey criminal defense firm that has been handling matters like yours since 2010.
Early attorney involvement matters enormously in New Jersey juvenile proceedings. Diversion paths that can resolve a matter without a formal record can close quickly once the process advances. Getting a Hamilton Township juvenile crimes attorney engaged from the first call gives your family the best chance of keeping options open.
How the New Jersey Juvenile Justice System Works
In New Jersey, any person under 18 at the time of an alleged offense is governed by the New Jersey Code of Youth Justice (N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-20 et seq.). The language differs from adult court: a juvenile isn’t “arrested”, they’re “taken into custody.” If charges are proved, they aren’t “convicted”, they’re “adjudicated delinquent.” Those distinctions reflect the system’s underlying purpose.
Cases originating in Hamilton Township are heard in the Family Division of the Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton. A judge decides the outcome; there is no jury. Proceedings are closed to the public, and juvenile records are generally confidential, though exceptions exist for first-, second-, and third-degree crimes, aggravated assault, and property damage exceeding $500.
New Jersey’s juvenile justice system balances three goals: accountability, rehabilitation, and public safety. Rehabilitation takes priority over punishment, which means the available outcomes differ significantly from what an adult facing the same charge would face.
The Juvenile Case Process: From Custody to Disposition
When police take a juvenile into custody, they have several options. Minor matters may be resolved through a Stationhouse Adjustment, releasing the child to the parents without a formal complaint. A formal delinquency complaint triggers referral to Court Intake Services, which can route first and second offense matters to a Juvenile Conference Committee (a citizen volunteer panel) or an Intake Services Conference. These informal resolutions avoid court but come with conditions the family must fulfill.
More serious matters move to a Juvenile Referee or directly to the Family Part of the Superior Court. At a formal hearing, the juvenile enters a plea of delinquent or not delinquent, and charges must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. If the court finds the juvenile delinquent, a disposition hearing follows where the judge weighs age, prior record, family background, and rehabilitation potential.
Disposition options include probation (up to three years), community service, restitution, counseling, electronic monitoring, residential programs, loss of driver’s license, and in serious cases incarceration in a juvenile facility. A deferred disposition lets a juvenile complete a period of good behavior; success can result in dismissal and no formal record. One significant risk: a juvenile who is 15 or older and charged with a serious offense may be waived to adult criminal court, where adult penalties apply and no rehabilitation-focused disposition is available.
Common Juvenile Charges in Hamilton Township
We handle juvenile criminal defense as part of our broader criminal defense practice.
The charges that most frequently bring Hamilton Township families into the New Jersey juvenile system include:
- Assault
- Drug possession
- Underage DWI or DUI
- Criminal mischief
- Theft and shoplifting
- Weapons violations
- Disorderly persons offenses
- Sex offenses
Some drug charges carry mandatory dispositions regardless of circumstances. Certain sex offenses resulting in an adjudication of delinquency for a Megan’s Law violation carry mandatory registration and community notification requirements that can follow a juvenile into adulthood.
Why Preparation and Access Matter in Juvenile Defense
New Jersey juvenile proceedings move faster than adult criminal cases. Diversion opportunities available at the complaint stage aren’t available once formal proceedings begin. That timing is why our approach of studying every matter thoroughly before committing to a strategy pairs directly with what juvenile defense demands. There’s no room for a generic response when a child’s educational and professional future is at stake.
Aaron S. Liller’s background includes an externship with the U.S. Department of Justice, training that extends well beyond private practice experience. Mario D. Zapicchi has been selected to the Super Lawyers New Jersey Rising Stars list, a recognition based on independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Clients return to us across multiple separate legal matters because the relationship doesn’t end when the case does.
Aaron and Mario work together on files rather than assigning each case to a single attorney in isolation. That collaborative approach means a Hamilton Township family gets the full firm’s thinking applied to their child’s case.
We offer prompt, professional, and affordable legal services to families throughout Hamilton Township and the surrounding Mercer County communities. Call us at (609) 400-4404 to discuss your child’s case.
Clients Who Came Back More Than Once
One reviewer noted this was their third matter with Mario. That's not luck, that's trust built case by case.
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Mario is an exceptional attorney that not only listened and cared but also represented with confidence.Joe Palomba
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It truly felt like we had a top tier concierge service guiding us to closing day.Mike Dello
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Second time using this law firm for real estate and both times I had a fantastic experience!Siena G
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He got my case dropped; he’s an amazing guy even if he’s not your paid attorney.K D
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He was honest, straightforward, and always answered when I reached out.Robert Breeze
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Really went above and beyond to make sure we closed.Lauren Hernandez
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They were responsive, timely, and very professional.Joseph Kelleher
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The entire process was smooth and well organized from start to finish.Michele Han
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We are out-of-state owners, but everything went smoothly and efficiently.Irena Kocol
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The team was professional, responsive, and incredibly thorough throughout the entire process.Natalie Diamond
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He truly goes above and beyond for his clients, always making sure you feel supported and informed during stressful times.Nick Fryar
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Lindsay was incredibly helpful, responsive, and on top of every detail.Erik Liepins
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He was not only highly skilled but also compassionate and reassuring.jik dzh
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They were knowledgeable, responsive, and made sure every detail was handled properly.Robert Wetzel
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The Law Offices of Zapicchi & Liller did a great job helping us as first-time home buyers to understand the process and protect our interests.Jim Civale
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This was a complex transaction with a number of moving parts, and Aaron handled it with precision, professionalism, and total command of the process.Joseph Dolce
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An awesome experience with a great team of people at this law firm.Loretta Ashley
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We highly recommend this firm if you're considering selling or buying a home.Michael Delpome
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The team was incredibly helpful and responsive throughout the entire process.Patricia Masi
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Lindsay went above and beyond to be accommodating and helpful.Carl Calderone
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It was a really smooth experience.kush shah
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Lindsay specifically was such a pleasure to work with.Breanna Doane
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Communication was top notch and to have him work on my case took all of my stress out of it.jaeger996X
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My experience with him was awesome and, yes, I won my case.Shanay Bryan
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They are responsive, give great advice and will advocate for you every step of the way.Lui G
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From start to finish, their team was professional, organized, and incredibly responsive.Rick McLaughlin
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Mario and his team were wonderful, patient, and understanding, and made sure we were aware of every change in the case.Courtney Bush
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The experience was exceptional from start to finish.Guy Armour
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We used them for both the purchase and sale of our properties.John Peterson
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We had a very good experience with this team.Lisa Peterson
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From the moment I first contacted their office, I felt an immediate sense of care and genuine dedication that completely set them apart.Nyoka N Parchment
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Zapicchi & Liller LLP made our dream home purchase smooth, clear, and stress-free.Irina Asinski
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Sandy was super helpful and explained everything in ways that made sense.Justin
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Highly recommend this attorney and his firm.Art Petrosian
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They made everything such a breeze with purchasing our home.Cait Whitemore
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Everyone was professional, responsive, and really made the process feel smooth and stress-free.Sonia Gracia
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The whole team at Zapicchi & Liller are so personable, knowledgeable, and put their clients first!Marisa Robinson
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Had a seamless experience with them while selling my property.Josh N
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Mr. Zapicchi got my son’s speeding ticket reduced to zero points.arkleston
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I have great appreciation for Mario Zapicchi.Michael Mahon
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Got me out of jail time; I got off with fines.Patrick Lilly
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They helped me find which type of lawyer I needed for my case even though they don't offer those types of services.antonio ortiz
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Awesome 🔥 thank you again. Couldn’t have asked for better representation!Demarcus Johnson
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Every phone call is met with professionalism and personal care.Kimberly Suarez
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If you get in trouble in Bordentown and need help, you gotta go see Mario.Steve Harris
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I had the pleasure of working with Mario Zapicchi to handle a traffic ticket, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional.Umit
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Anytime I called him or texted him, he was quick to respond. Highly recommend him!michael prezioso
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He went above and beyond for my case to get dismissed.Raymond “Krazy” San Lorenzo
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Very helpful and knowledgeable. Went to great lengths to ensure my best defense.Shannon Stegmaier
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His communication throughout both were so helpful.Justyn Roderick
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Mr. Zapicchi not only got the case dismissed but cleared the entire situation from public records, this attorney is amazing.New Vision Remodeling
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Aaron, Sandy, and the team at Zapicchi & Liller are your unsung heroes working diligently behind the scenes.Jason Devino
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Mario is reliable and knowledgeable.khadar potter
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Aaron and team were very helpful and responsive.Gregory Leonberg Jr
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He definitely cares about his clients and did the best possible job representing me.Ashley Robnett
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Excellence and also thorough and pleasant to work with.Cindy Amato Dashko
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I want to thank Mario for doing such a great job and having the patience to go the extra mile.lelia mccants
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He took care of everything for me and was very fair about what he charged me!Dean Cartagena
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They saved me thousands of dollars and charged me very fairly for their top notch services.Deb P
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Insightful, informed, involved, informative. Awesome attorney.Gualberto Gonzalez
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He reassured me he had my back and he definitely followed through, literally the best hands down if you need a great criminal attorney.Erica Adams
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Very professional and the communication is priceless!Dee Dee
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Mario is one of, if not the best lawyer I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting.jon morrell
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I was very pleased with their help and their service!John B. Lewis
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Mario was so easy to work with, and his connections with all the different parties made everything go smoothly.MrColtonMartin
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Mario Zapicchi helped keep my license in New Jersey with traffic violations multiple times.Rohan Sarang
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Mario was super helpful and reassuring. You cannot beat that kind of service.Ade Ibikunle
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All of the staff were wonderful and made me feel valued and heard.Cassie Barrows
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He was responsive, attentive, knowledgeable, consistent, and confident.Nñe White
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I was very pleased with the way I was represented today in court.Shalane Brooks
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They remained in constant communication with me, provided me with all the information I needed and delivered on their promise.Stockton Bond
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I’ve been going to Mario for over four years now and I have to say, he’s by far the best lawyer that I’ve ever encountered.Gwyneth Perfect
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I will always recommend him to everyone I know because of his dedication and care for my ticket.Sabrina Ulshafer
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Mario was absolutely amazing throughout my case; he was very helpful and answered all my questions.hervens escarment
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He was always readily available whenever there was a question.miyopa little
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He really helped me and I would recommend him to anyone who needs an attorney!Katlin Riddle
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He’s a man of his words, no lawyer can guarantee the outcome of any case, but Mr. Zapicchi didn’t make me feel as if I didn’t stand a chance.Stubban Sound
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He was able to get me out of numerous charges and I would highly recommend!Celina Del Duca
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Thank you, Mario, for your awesome, detailed, quick solution to my New Jersey ticket matters.Samira Robinson
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I am grateful for his passion, dedication, and professionalism because that is hard to find.Kayla Hightower
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Had my speeding ticket on the NJ Turnpike, 93 mph, dropped to 0 points.Oleg Farniev
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Mr. Zappicchi assisted me with my divorce in a very kind manner.Vicki McDaid
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Mario and his team were incredibly professional and simply the best in the business.James Hagedorn
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I was unavailable and Mario represented me, and I could not be more pleased with the outcome!Erica Skribner
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I would highly recommend for a traffic violation.Mary Piciocchi
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Great experience! Highly recommend!Pavlo Onyskovets
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I would highly recommend him for any of your legal matters.Muhammad Talha
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Very nice, very well spoken, funny and gets the job done.Collin Cassarini
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By the time my case was in court, he had gotten me a no-points deal and a small fine from a much worse points ticket.Parth Patel
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He took time to explain the process to me and did what he promised.Sonia Akella
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Very professional and got points taken off.Jayquallin
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Helped me out through my struggle and no doubt he was coming through to beat my case as well, very reliable, ask for Mario.Jose Reyes
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He told me what he was going to do and made it happen.mark klosinski
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He was always quick to respond to our questions and helped us to get the best outcome possible!Nancy Padovano
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He explained clearly what possibilities may occur and did his very best to get me the outcome I asked for.Anthony Gonzalez
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He was always patient and never wavered from his word. Kept a calm, empathetic and confident demeanor.Stephanie Davis
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Mario is an excellent attorney who is truly professional and dependable.Kevin Ruppel
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Didn’t have to deal with court at all nor miss a day of work!El Presidente
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Got me the lowest possible cost for my ticket with no points.mike muce
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Mario was so great in helping me resolve a speeding ticket and helped get me down to a 0-point offense.Todd Martin
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Excellent lawyer, great person and does a great job.Carlos Cevallos
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Mario represented me and made sure I didn’t get any points for the violation, and all I had to pay was a $90 fine!Israel McCray
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This attorney went above and beyond to help me get my ticket dropped all the way down.Ce ce
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Mario is very professional and pleasant to work with.M. Y.
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They are super responsive and attuned to the needs of their clients.Anthony Vetrano
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He did an amazing job reducing my crazy 14 points to 4 points only and avoided suspending my license.Arshin Nef
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He got all of them taken care of; reduced drastically or dropped altogether in just a few weeks without us even needing to come back to New Jersey.Shanley Autz
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It was the best court experience I ever was involved in with the least amount of stress, especially during this COVID time.Sue Tonz
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Mario is a consummate professional, very accommodating and easy to relate to.Wayne Kohlmyer
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I appreciated the way you guys were fighting my case.Jude Charles
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Mario Zapicchi handled my case quickly, professionally, and at a fair price.Jay Green
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Mario Zapicchi is a very professional lawyer, no issues, very easy to work with.Alex Andrese
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This is the 3rd time he has helped my family out with traffic tickets and a more serious charge.Sheryl Orlen
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Mario handled everything very professionally and worked diligently to reduce the violation down to 0 points.Carmine
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Mario was absolutely amazing throughout my case. He’s very professional and trustworthy.Rosa Pineda
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He helped me tremendously by getting me the best deal possible!James Edwards
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Best lawyer I've ever seen; he will get the job done.Adam Meszaros
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He is always professional and communicated frequently to keep me informed.Bryan Rice
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They have been really helpful and always available.Hemal Patel
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Went out of his way to send me some info on a matter he took care of last year.Oscar Torres
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Works quick and efficient, great service.Joe C
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Mario Zapicchi is a very professional lawyer. Best prices around, hands down.Cesar Laboy
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I got arrested for marijuana and he handled my case perfectly!Tolga Gunaydin
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If you're looking for someone who knows their practice and will fight for you in court, Mario is your guy.Junior Brown
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Responds quickly to inquiries and is knowledgeable and strategic.Ariel Loza
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Attorney Mario works very quickly and effectively!Akshar Patel
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I entrust Mario with my most valued commodity: my son.Joseph Lombardo
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5 stars is not enough to rate these winners.Wilmage Canes Paul
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He was prompt, professional and highly educated on all laws/regulations.DaVaughn Brockett
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They did all the work and saved me from 2 tickets out of 3 with no points.Luis Felipe Tavarez Pepen
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One of the best attorneys I had the pleasure of ever working for me. Very affordable if you ask me.Brandon Walker
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Very responsive and answered all questions I had involving my case.Jeremy Rodriguez
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Highly recommend this lawyer for any traffic violations.Mast Pharmacy
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Mario was highly communicative, responsive and professional.Matthew Phillips
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I highly recommend him; he is very professional and reasonable at everything he does.Miguelina Rodriguez
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The absolute best help and legal services you could ever hope for, my attorney was with me every step of the way.Tyrell Walker
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If you want a lawyer that’s gonna fight your battle in court, please, please, look no further. Mr. Mario is your guy.SHERRY HALL
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He handled my son's speeding violations with great efficiency.William Ponton
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Out of all the attorneys who help our drivers across the lower 48 states, Mr. Zapicchi is one of the most professional and knowledgeable.J.B. Expedited
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He was extremely helpful! He always got back to me quickly with any information and kept me in the loop.Kira Wojtowicz
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Mario and his assistant are so easy to talk to. I feel like they're family.Kathleen Meszaros
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He had my best interest and communicated everything clearly and in a timely manner.Kash Xan
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He is very professional, responsive, and diligent.Sue Clarke
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He went above and beyond and made us feel at ease during a scary time.Denise Olaff
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My experience with Mario far exceeded my expectations.Ryan Cody
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Aaron stays with you from start to finish.Dan Okavage
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He was extremely patient, helpful, prompt, and no nonsense when dealing with the other lawyer.Lee Anne Aluotto
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I had a positive experience with Mario.Vicki Massa
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Mario is amazing. His skills and respect for his clients are second to none.Rich Holmak