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  • Martindale-Hubbell: Client Champion Achievement - Gold / 2019.
  • Google Reviews Overview:
    474 Reviews
    4.9 Star Average
  • Avvo Reviews Overview:
    50+ Five-Star Reviews
    10.0 Superb Rating
  • Bird Eye Best Lawyer 2019 Achievement.
  • Bird Eye Reviews Overview:
    Best Lawyer Award
    696 Reviews
    5.0 Star Average
  • Bird Eye Best Lawyer 2019 Achievement.
    Best Lawyer Award
    696 Reviews
    5.0 Star Average
Nationally Recognized
& Locally Respected

Award-Winning
Criminal
Defense
Attorneys

Our attorneys have the reputation to take
on any criminal case, from misdemeanor to federal offenses.

  • Columbus CEO Top Lawyer
  • Attorney Award: Martindale-Hubbell - Distinguished. Peer Rated for Higher Professional Achievement.
  • The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
  • Super Lawyers - Rising Stars 2018.
View Awards & Recognitions
Photo of attorney Brian Joslyn Photo of attorney Brian Joslyn

Life Story Resulting in
a Criminal Defense Career

Brian's decision to become a criminal defense attorney was shaped by unique and personal hardship. His life has been and remains a testament to the pursuit of justice for those subjected to overzealous law enforcement. He firmly believes in the dignified respectful treatment of every person before the law. In his late teens, Brian was a victim of police brutality. This experience was the catalyst in his goal to defend the rights of others.

Attorney Brian Joslyn has represented all walks of life; students, white and blue collar professionals, professional athletes, celebrities, police officers, FBI agents and even other criminal defense attorneys. Regardless of your background, profession or status, all of our clients receive the highest level of attention. We understand the stress and anxiety you are feeling from your criminal charge and when faced with a criminal law matter, you need an advocate in your corner who is going to protect you and your best interests with no question. At the Joslyn Law Firm, we make it our business to provide the same level of passionate representation that we would for our own family members. Learn more about Brian by reading his full bio.

Representation With a
Passion For Justice

N.P.A.P logo
National Police Accountability
The NPAP is dedicated to protecting the human and civil rights of individuals and their encounters with law enforcement and also promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the laws and Constitution of the United States.
The NPAP is dedicated to protecting the human and civil rights of individuals and their encounters with law enforcement and also promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the laws and Constitution of the United States.
A.A.J logo
American Association for Justice
The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others obtain justice in America’s court rooms.
The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others obtain justice in America’s court rooms.

We Take On
Tough Cases...
and WIN

We take on difficult cases other Columbus attorneys shy away from. We don’t cherry pick our cases like many other attorneys do. Many lawyers claim great results and achieve notoriety because they do not take on cases that truly require dedicated and skilled attorneys. We welcome the challenge of winning tough criminal cases.

We prepare all cases for trial and develop a meticulous defense. Our dedication is relentless, and our techniques on case investigation and trial preparation are proven. We use the most experienced former police officers to investigate our cases. You are not just hiring a lawyer. You are hiring a team that works together on your case to give you the best chance of winning.

We Will Get You Through This

Not all cases are worthy of a trial. Some cases just simply require damage control. We pride ourselves in helping good people in bad situations that deserve a second chance. We don’t believe that your life should be defined by a mistake. We are here to fix your legal problems with a non-judgemental approach and achieve the lowest penalty possible. Know that at the Joslyn Law Firm:

  • We fight for the best possible result regardless of your circumstances
  • We fix problems with a non-judgmental approach
  • We truly care about our clients
  • We will never turn against you
Read More Victories

Representation With a Passion For Justice

N.P.A.P logo
National Police Accountability
The NPAP is dedicated to protecting the human and civil rights of individuals and their encounters with law enforcement and also promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the laws and Constitution of the United States.
The NPAP is dedicated to protecting the human and civil rights of individuals and their encounters with law enforcement and also promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the laws and Constitution of the United States.
A.A.J logo
American Association for Justice
The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others obtain justice in America's court rooms.
The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others obtain justice in America's court rooms.

Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyers

All Criminal Charges
Are Serious

Any criminal conviction can result in severe and often lifelong consequences. Ohio law gives a range of penalties for each offense that usually include a maximum (and sometimes minimum) period of time of incarceration and a range of fines, along with court costs. These penalties are, by themselves, crushing and difficult to bear. The statutory penalties are only the beginning, however. You could also lose your driver’s license or your right to carry a firearm. Apartments could refuse to rent to you. Banks could view you as unstable and refuse your loan. A school could turn down your application.

Your employer does not have to keep your job open for you while you spend time in jail or prison. Even if you aren’t incarcerated, they are usually within their rights to fire you just based on an arrest. With a criminal record, it can be much harder to get a job. If you’re a teacher, nurse or member of certain other professions, conviction for certain offenses can lead to disqualify you from getting a job in your field. The consequences of a criminal conviction are dire. Don’t take chances. Hire the best attorney to build the strongest defense.

Read More

Ohio Felony Sentencing

DegreePrison TimeMaximum Fine
First Degree3-11 years$20,000
Second Degree2-8 years$15,000
Third Degree9-36 or 12-60 months$10,000
Fourth Degree6-8 months$5,000
Fifth Degree6-12 months$2,500

Ohio Misdemeanor Sentencing

DegreeJail TimeMaximum Fine
First DegreeUp to 180 days$1,000
Second Degreeup to 90 days$750
Third DegreeUp to 60 days$500
Fourth DegreeUp to 30 days$250
Minor MisdemeanorNone$150

Collateral Effects of a Criminal Conviction

Most people understand that there are significant consequences of criminal conviction imposed by the court system. Although, many people don’t think about the seriousness of the collateral consequences of a criminal accusation, an arrest, and especially a conviction.

  • Parenting Rights
    Convictions of certain crimes cause courts to curtail or terminate parental custody rights.
  • Gun Rights
    If you have any felony or a misdemeanor Class A conviction, you will not be able to possess a gun.
  • College Admission
    If you are applying to college or graduate school, you may find that colleges don’t want to admit you even if your conviction is for a misdemeanor.
  • Immigration Status
    With a misdemeanor conviction on your record, you are not only risking your chance at getting a green card, but also risking deportation.
  • Professional Licenses
    If your profession requires you to have a license to practice it, you may have just thrown it away.
  • Voting Rights
    If convicted of certain crimes, you may lose your right to vote.
  • Adoption Rights
    If you want to adopt or foster children in the future, you may not be allowed to do so.
  • Financial Aid
    You may be unable to obtaion financial aid if you have a criminal record for a drug or sexual-related offense.
  • Security Clearances
    You may lose your ability to have security clearances for certain professions such as teaching, working with children or security.

Representing Students

In Disciplinary Hearings and in Court

If a college student is charged with a university conduct code or academic code violation it threatens his or her academic standing and future opportunities. It is important to seek legal advice from an experienced student defense attorney immediately. This help should involve an attorney who has experience in three areas: civil rights, Title IX litigation, and criminal defense.

In our experience, students recognize too late that campus administrators and law enforcement investigators are not concerned with their best interests. When faced with student conduct code violations, parents and students often feel disbelief that the school entrusted with their child’s education has turned against them. This is oftentimes accompanied by confusion due to the complexity of disciplinary procedures conducted by University administrators investigating allegations of student misconduct.

"Disciplinary hearings conducted by The Ohio State University involve a process for which we believe it is difficult if not impossible for students to fairly represent themselves."


Even in situations that do not involve any criminal charges being filed by the State, students can face serious disciplinary penalties and sanctions imposed by the University, including:

  • Loss of campus housing
  • Disciplinary or academic probation
  • Suspension
  • Expulsion
  • Disciplinary and academic violations may remain on a student's record long after the sanction is served.

Ohio
Courts System

Experienced in all central Ohio courts

We have handled over 15,000 Cases in the central Ohio Courts. As a result, we know the Judges, prosecutors, and court personnel, along with their preferences and intricacies. It is these invaluable relationships and knowledge of each court system that can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. A good criminal lawyer will know each judge and each prosecutor and know what to expect from each. Judges have different preferences and opinions on different matters. For example, while one judge might be willing to grant recognizance bond in a domestic violence case, another judge in the same court the next day may refuse to grant that kind of bond. It’s this kind of knowledge that can be the difference between going home or being stuck in jail. Put our vast experience in your corner.


Union Delaware Licking Fairfield Franklin Pickaway Madison

Our Office
Locations

3 Convenient
Locations to Serve You
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Joslyn Law Firm

Columbus Criminal Defense Attorneys

We focus exclusively on criminal defense in Central Ohio, including Franklin County, Pickaway County, Madison County, Delaware County, Licking County, and Fairfield County. Our recognized attorneys have represented all walks of life; students, white and blue-collar professionals, professional sports stars, celebrities, police officers, FBI agents, and even other criminal defense attorneys. Regardless of your background, profession, or status, all of our clients receive the highest level of attention. We understand the stress and anxiety you are feeling from your criminal charge and we make it our business to provide the same level of passionate representation that we would for our own family members.

When Reputation Matters

The Joslyn Law Firm is proud to be regarded as one of Ohio’s top criminal & DUI defense firms. Our firm’s managing lawyer, Brian Joslyn has been ranked Columbus CEO Magazine as a top criminal lawyer in Columbus. The National Trial Lawyers Association has nominated Mr. Joslyn as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in the country. We pride ourselves on our legal accomplishments and strive to lead our legal community to a higher standard of criminal representation.

All criminal charges are serious. A conviction for any criminal offense can have devastating, lifelong effects on school enrollment, professional licenses, careers, finances, family, and freedom. The worst mistake you can make is going it alone.

Do not think that if you plead guilty without an attorney, judges and prosecutors will give you a light sentence. The opposite is likely true. Hire a criminal law firm where the attorneys know the judges and prosecutors and know what needs to be argued to have your charges reduced or dismissed. Our lawyers have successfully handled thousands of criminal cases in federal, state, city, and mayors courts and routinely get charges dismissed.

Protecting You Like Our Own

Our goal from the beginning is to get your charge(s) dismissed outright. We work with our clients and help identify every way to get the best possible results. That could mean negotiating with prosecutors to get deferred adjudication or vigorously making challenges to the constitutionality, veracity, or sufficiency of the prosecutor’s evidence.

When faced with a criminal law matter, you want an advocate in your corner who is going to protect you and your best interests with no question. At the Joslyn Law Firm we represent our clients as if we were representing our own family members. We fight for the results our clients expect and deserve.

Contact us today.

Are You Under Criminal Investigation?

DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE

  • Are the Police knocking on your door?
  • Are you being asked to provide a statement?
  • Is a detective trying to contact you?
  • Are you being asked to the police station?
  • Are you being asked to consent to search?
  • Has your property been searched or seized?

Every criminal prosecution starts with an investigation by law enforcement. Whether it involves following a driver for 10 minutes to determine if they might be intoxicated or mounting a months-long undercover operation, investigations allow the police and other agencies to collect evidence to help the prosecutor prove someone committed a crime. Sometimes, you may have no idea you are under investigation. In other situations, officers may request that you come in for questioning or otherwise make it known that an investigation is underway. If you ever suspect you may be the subject of a criminal investigation, you should not wait to contact a criminal defense attorney before you agree to talk to the police. To learn more about how the Franklin County Jail works and how to contact your loved ones, visit our in-depth jail guide here. 

Remember that law enforcement officers do not have to abide by any promises that you will not face criminal charges. Even if you’ve done nothing wrong, you can still say something to officers that may unknowingly incriminate you. It happens all the time when people speak with police without legal representation. Police have the training to get information intended to arrest you. They are not on your side, so you need a lawyer who is working to protect your rights.

We take an aggressive, proactive approach and look for every option to get you the best outcome. Contact Columbus criminal defense lawyers that care about you and your future. Call Joslyn Law Firm at (614) 444-1900 or message us.

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