Gary L. Straw

Gary L. Straw is a skilled criminal defense attorney who has returned to his hometown to defend the rights of his clients in Lynchburg and the surrounding central Virginia area. Before starting his own firm, Mr. Straw was in private practice with the law firm of Shoemaker & Straw, as well as a prosecuting attorney for the city of Harrisonburg, where he handled cases involving DUI, domestic violence, drug crimes, juvenile crimes and other criminal offenses. While serving as a prosecuting attorney, Gary was certified through the Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys Services Council for prosecuting all Virginia criminal statutes.

Gary received his law degree from Appalachian School of Law in 2009. While in law school, Gary and several of his classmates formed the Appalachian School of Law Jug Band. The ASL Jug Band was created to meet the school’s community service requirement and they were responsible for brightening the lives of many members of the community from local schools to nursing home residents. Shortly after graduation from law school, Gary’s alma mater James Madison University, approached him about developing a Constitutional Law class and Criminal Procedure class for undergraduates. After building the curriculums for each class, he lectured on the basics of criminal procedure and other constitutional issues.

He is admitted to practice in Virginia courts and is a member of the Virginia State Bar Association. Gary is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia.

Outside of the practice of law, Gary is a diehard Washington Redskins fan, and enjoys running, golfing, fishing and is an avid supporter of his own high school alma mater athletics department at Brookville High School. He also enjoys spending time with his 6-year-old boxer, Reyna. Gary routinely donates to, and volunteers at, many local organizations throughout Bedford, Amherst and Campbell Counties.

Gary has strong local ties and he takes a common sense, practical approach to helping his clients resolve their unique issues and disputes. His practice focuses on family/divorce law, criminal law, personal injury and general litigation.

Areas of Practice:

FAMILY LAW

• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Property Division
• Visitation
• Child Support
• Modifications
• Contempt
• Uncontested Divorce
• Paternity
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Postnuptial Agreements
• Mediation
• Juvenile Court proceedings

CRIMINAL LAW

• DUI
• Drug Charges
• Public Intoxication
• Expungement
• Traffic Offenses
• Misdemeanor Offenses
• Pretrial Diversion

PERSONAL INJURY

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Boating Accidents
• Catastrophic Injuries

Education:

J.D., Appalachian School of Law (2009)

• Co-Editor, Natural Resources Law Journal

B.S., Criminal Justice, James Madison University (2004)

Licensed In:

• Virginia (2009)

Admitted In:

• Virginia Supreme Court and all inferior Virginia Courts
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia

Professional & Community Activities:

• Member, Virginia State Bar
• Completed Virginia Criminal Defense Seminar – Virginia Trial Lawyers Association – (2011 – 2019)
• Certified by Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VDIC) to handle court appointments by local judges for all felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile cases