Blackard & Brinkmeyer Attorneys

I am writing this review as a relative of the reviewer. The reviewer is unable to to post the review himself at this time, and he has asked me to submit this for him. I retained Barry Blackard for a serious felony case that lasted approximately two and a half years. Through the case, I was repeatedly told that the prosecutor's case was weak and that dismissal was a realistic possibility. As the case progressed, I was frequently told through text messages that my attorney did not believe I would be going to prison and that the judge appeared to be looking favorably on my case. My attorney told me repeatedly that he was meeting regularly with the prosecutor to discuss my case and those discussions led him to understand that incarceration was not even a possibility. Based on these repeated assurances, I believed probation or another non-incarceration outcome was likely. My family and I relied on those representations throughout the entirety of the case. As time went on, and especially within the last 3-4 weeks of the case, the advice changed dramatically. Dismissal was no longer being discussed, and I was eventually advised to throw myself on the mercy of the court and plead guilty under an agreement that capped my sentence at 7 years instead of risking a substantially longer sentence at trial...a trial that I was repeatedly told was highly unlikely to happen. After pleading guilty, to a charge that I believe was excessive for what happened, I received the full 7 years. Communication was another source of frustration. After the initial states of the case, it became difficult to have meaningful conversations with my attorney. Meetings were scheduled that did not occur as expected, including occasions where I traveled to the office only for my lawyer to not be there or the place would be closed. I often felt that I was not receiving timely updates about important developments about my case. My preference is for face-to-face meetings or phone calls, but my attorney was insistent on text messaging as the primary source of communication, and he was often slow to respond or would not respond at all for days. I understand that no attorney can guarantee a result and that criminal cases can change over time. However, after paying $50,000 in legal fees and being repeatedly told for years that prison was unlikely, receiving a 7 year prison sentence came as a complete shock to me and my family. The biggest disappointment was how expectations were set throughout the case timeline and the lack of communication when the outlook suddenly changed.

Mr. Blackard was a pleasure to work with. He provided detailed explanations and communication. It took many years to work through all this and he helped us understand what was happening and our next steps. I highly recommend Mr. Blackard if you are considering legal help. The firm offered a free consultation which was helpful. I would have pursued the wrong strategy and avenues without him. His experience and connections help ensure the best outcome. He is very fact based in communication style and yet it’s clear he cares deeply about his clients and providing the best service and outcome.

Barry is amazing! My husband was falsely accused of a crime. Through his diligence and hard work, Barry was able to get him acquitted of all charges. When you see Barry in action, it is easy to understand why he is so successful at what he does. He is the best investment we have ever made!

Barry gave me my life back!!! There are not enough stars to adequately portray how amazing Barry is. He is worth every penny. His professionalism and abilities in the courtroom are unparalleled. After over three years of living in hell, I was acquitted after only 10 minutes of Jury deliberation. I highly recommend Barry.

Barry blackard was hired for 5k for my criminal case in Gibson county. He put in very little effort and didn't help my case out even a little bit. After hiring him, I got sentenced to more time than I was offered by the prosecutors. Severally disappointed and wish we would have hired someone else. Then had the nerve to quote me an extra price when I asked if he would do my modification. He's a joke