Introduction
Visiting assistant professor, certified sobriety testing analyst, and criminal defense attorney , William S. Smith brings an academic and technical dimension to defense work that is unusual in a solo criminal law practice. The Law Office of William S. Smith operates from 206 Worcester Road, P.O. Box 585, Princeton, Massachusetts 01541, reachable at (774) 317-9287, with more than twenty years of courtroom experience spanning District Courts, Superior Courts, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and the Supreme Judicial Court.
That appellate track record tells a specific story. Most criminal defense attorneys handle trial work. Smith has gone further , including first and second degree murder appeals at the Supreme Judicial Court level , which means the firm’s experience includes the high-stakes review process as well as the initial prosecution. For clients in Massachusetts facing serious charges, that depth matters.
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
The criminal defense practice covers the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges under Massachusetts law. Charges handled include DUI/OUI, drug offenses, assault, domestic violence, theft, and weapons charges. Smith represents clients from the earliest stages of a case through pretrial motions, trial, and post-conviction proceedings, including expungements. The firm’s posture is consistently aggressive , the goal is dismissal, acquittal, or the most favorable plea negotiation achievable.
Post-conviction relief is a meaningful part of the practice. Expungement services give clients with past convictions a path toward clearing their record, which affects employment, housing, and licensing opportunities.
DUI and OUI Defense
Smith holds certification in standardized field sobriety testing, meaning he can critically analyze the administration of sobriety tests from the perspective of the same training law enforcement uses. That technical foundation allows for a more precise challenge to the evidence in OUI cases, including the validity of the stop, the administration of field tests, and the accuracy of breath or blood testing. Massachusetts OUI law is complex, and the administrative consequences , license suspension through the Registry of Motor Vehicles , run parallel to criminal court proceedings. The firm handles both.
Firearms Licensing Representation
This is a practice area that distinguishes the office from most criminal defense firms. Smith handles LTC (License to Carry) and FID (Firearms Identification Card) denials, suspensions, and revocations , successfully managing appeals without requiring court appearances in many cases. Massachusetts firearms licensing is administered at the local level but subject to state law and appeal procedures, and errors or unjustified denials are common. Smith’s experience in this area provides a specific resource for clients whose firearms rights have been affected.
Appeals and Post-Conviction
The appellate practice covers both criminal appeals and post-conviction relief. Having argued at the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court, including murder cases, Smith can assess whether a trial-level outcome supports viable appellate claims. This is a resource clients should understand before assuming a conviction is final.
Attorney Profiles
Attorney William Smith has practiced criminal defense for over twenty years following experience at a district attorney’s office that gave him insight into prosecutorial strategy. His background as a visiting assistant professor of legal studies brings analytical rigor to case preparation. His certification in standardized field sobriety testing is a technical qualification directly relevant to OUI defense. He has tried cases at every level of the Massachusetts court system, including death penalty matters and murder appeals before the Supreme Judicial Court.
The firm maintains twenty-four hour emergency availability through multiple phone lines , a practical necessity for clients arrested outside business hours.
Location and Service Area
The office is at 206 Worcester Road, P.O. Box 585, Princeton, Massachusetts 01541. The practice serves clients throughout Worcester County and greater Massachusetts. Smith has tried cases in District Courts and Superior Courts across the state. For clients outside the immediate Princeton area, the geographic reach covers the full Massachusetts court system.
Client Focus
The practice serves individuals facing criminal charges who need representation with depth in both trial and appellate proceedings. The firearms licensing component addresses a specific population of Massachusetts residents whose Second Amendment rights have been subject to administrative action. Clients facing DUI charges benefit from Smith’s technical certification in sobriety testing, which goes beyond general criminal defense preparation.
The twenty-four hour emergency availability reflects an understanding that arrests do not happen on a schedule. Clients can reach the firm immediately following an arrest, which is when the protection of rights matters most. The Avvo ratings reflect client experience with a firm that delivers aggressive, knowledgeable defense across a demanding set of circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 15-day deadline that matters in a Massachusetts DUI arrest?
Following a DUI arrest in Massachusetts, there is a 15-day window to request a hearing with the Registry of Motor Vehicles regarding license suspension. Missing this deadline forfeits the opportunity to contest the suspension administratively. Attorney Smith handles both the criminal defense and the RMV hearing, and clients should contact the firm immediately after an arrest to protect this right.
Does the firm handle firearms license appeals without going to court?
In many cases, yes. Attorney Smith has successfully handled LTC and FID appeals without requiring court appearances. Massachusetts firearms licensing appeals involve specific administrative procedures, and the firm’s experience in this area allows for effective representation at that level before any courtroom proceedings become necessary.
Can the firm take on cases that have already been tried and convicted?
Yes. The appellate practice includes post-conviction review. Smith has argued at the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court, including first and second degree murder appeals. Clients with prior convictions can consult with the firm to assess whether viable appellate claims exist.
What areas of Massachusetts does the firm serve?
The firm serves clients throughout Worcester County and greater Massachusetts. Smith has tried cases in District Courts and Superior Courts statewide, and the appellate practice covers the entire Massachusetts court system.
Closing
Twenty years in Massachusetts criminal defense courts, a certification in standardized field sobriety testing, and a track record reaching to the Supreme Judicial Court give the Law Office of William S. Smith a foundation that covers both the immediate crisis of an arrest and the long-term process of appeal and record clearing. The firm is reached at (774) 317-9287, with twenty-four hour emergency availability, from 206 Worcester Road, Princeton, Massachusetts. Full details are at attorneysmithlaw.com