Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Hampton Roads, VA
Felony and Misdemeanor
Defense Across the Region
Criminal Defense Attorney in Norfolk & Hampton Roads
Facing a criminal charge is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. The decisions made in the first days and weeks after an arrest can shape the entire case. You need a lawyer who regularly tries cases, knows the local courts, and is willing to fight.
Attorney Chad G. Dorsk has more than 19+ years of criminal jury trial experience defending people in Hampton Roads state courts and in the Eastern District of Virginia. He routinely tries five to six high-profile jury trials per year — in both federal and state court — ranging from murder and violent felonies to domestic violence, strangulation, drug distribution, weapons charges, and white-collar offenses.
A Trial Lawyer Who Hates to Lose
Chad Dorsk hates to lose. He works tirelessly to achieve the best possible result for every client. Many cases resolve without a full trial, but when a case must be tried, preparation and courtroom experience matter. He has obtained not-guilty verdicts in first-degree murder and malicious wounding jury trials that received local news coverage, and he regularly takes serious felony cases to juries in both state and federal court.
Recent federal jury trials have included multi-jurisdiction armed robbery, drug trafficking with a firearm, child pornography, and smuggling, as well as misdemeanor charges occurring on federal property. In state court, the range runs from murder and malicious wounding to domestic violence, strangulation, and everyday misdemeanors. That volume of actual trial work is uncommon and shapes how every case is prepared.
Charges We Defend
Dorsk Law Office handles a full range of criminal charges in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, and the surrounding area:
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Drug offenses — possession, distribution, and related charges
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Violent crimes — murder, malicious wounding, robbery, and related offenses
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Assault & battery and domestic violence — including strangulation
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Larceny, property crimes, and related misdemeanors
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Juvenile and student charges
Experience with Mental Health and NGRI Defenses
A meaningful number of criminal cases involve clients who are dealing with serious mental health issues. Chad Dorsk has extensive experience working with individuals who are mentally ill, counseling them through the process, and evaluating whether a not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) defense is appropriate.
He has successfully used NGRI defenses. These cases require careful coordination with mental health professionals, a clear understanding of the legal standard, and a willingness to present the defense when the evidence supports it. Clients and families in these situations need a lawyer who is both aggressive and compassionate.
Getting to Know Clients — Trust and Responsiveness
Chad Dorsk gets to know his clients. That is intentional. When you understand the person, the family situation, the mental health history, and the pressures they are under, you are in a better position to help when it matters most — whether that is at a bond hearing, a critical motion, or a jury trial.
These cases work best when the client and attorney trust each other and operate as a team. Open communication, honest assessment of the evidence, and a shared commitment to the defense have produced acquittals and the strongest results in his practice. Responsiveness is part of that approach: clients should not have to wonder when they will hear back.
The practice is built around that personal touch. Clients are not treated as case numbers.
A Hands-On, focused criminal defense practice.
Dorsk Law Office is a focused criminal defense practice. It is not a large firm where clients get lost in the shuffle or handed off to junior associates. Every case receives direct, hands-on attention from the attorney handling it.
When you call the office, you will speak with a real person, Nanci, not a call center or automated system. Learn more about Chad Dorsk and the firm.
Related Defense Pages
Violent Crimes · Federal Criminal Defense · Suppression Motions · Assault & Battery · DUI Defense · Gun Crimes
Contact Us About a Criminal Charge
If you or a family member is facing a felony or misdemeanor charge in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, or anywhere in Hampton Roads — or a federal charge in the Eastern District of Virginia — call as early as possible.
Call (757) 423-0271. When you call, you will speak with Nanci, a real person who can help you.
Your defense starts now. Don’t wait to get the legal support you need. Contact Dorsk Law Office to discuss your case and speak directly with an experienced defense attorney who serves all of Hampton Roads.
Serving: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk,
Hampton, Newport News, and surrounding areas
(757) 423-0271
DorskLawVa@gmail.com