A criminal defense attorney for the past seven years, Aneeq Ahmad is involved in minor cases from disorderly conduct, to a recent double homicide case in Southeastern Wisconsin.
“A lot of people ask me, ‘how do you represent someone that’s guilty/why do you represent someone that’s guilty?’ The way I see it, we’re all granted the right to a fair trial by our constitution, and it is my job to uphold the notion that a person is innocent until proven guilty. I’m there to advocate for my client, to make sure they’re heard and that the law was followed with no rights being violated.”
With a new office in the Third Ward, Ahmad is making a name for himself in the city of Milwaukee. Even with his growing caseload, he still takes on pro-bono cases based on his interest in the subject matter. You can tell by talking to Ahmad that he is passionate about law and enjoys a challenge. He is a unique example of a young, motivated entrepreneur in his field.
“Out of law school, I worked for a private criminal defense firm. I realized I had enough skills to do this on my own and better serve my clients because I could determine my case load and how I spend my time with clients.”
Instead of the traditional attorney fees, Ahmad charges a flat fee so he can spend more time with clients and not have them worry about being charged for every minute. “I don’t think it’s good to rush. I let my clients know ahead of time the cost and their payment options. That way, clients can call anytime without worry,” he says.
‘Being backed by BBB helps establish the foundation that is key to having a good relationship with my clients.’
Ahmad also regards spending time with and getting to know a lot about his clients personally as one of the most important aspects of his work. He gives each client a questionnaire about their life, encourages them to bring in their families, and even visits their homes. Ahmad often takes on fewer cases so he can be more involved in the ones he handles. He believes it is very important to educate the court about who the client is as a person. Having this human interest can often make all the difference in some cases.
In order to gain the trust of potential clients, he values online reviews, word-of-mouth referrals and other attorney endorsements. “In the legal field, reputation really does matter,” he says.
“If you think about it, when someone is charged with a crime, it can feel like it’s them against the rest of the world. A whole team of prosecutors and even dozens of police can be called on a case against them,” explains Ahmad. “They are looking for someone to turn to, a lawyer that guides them through the justice system, which can be intimidating and full of uncertainty.
“Being backed by BBB helps establish the foundation that is key for having a good relationship with my clients. It helps them feel like they can place their trust in me.”
Recently, Ahmad helped to form a group of Muslim lawyers in Wisconsin that helps serve the local community by providing legal representation with immigration issues. He also hopes to become even more involved in the City of Milwaukee and the other counties he serves.
