Mr. Lake's reputation for integrity May 2, 2026

I am a retired attorney who recommended a personal friend to Justin Lake. I received his name by speaking with an old friend of mine who is still considered one of the top criminal lawyers in Maryland. My friend was clearly guilty of driving while impaired as was evidenced by a video taken at the scene by the investigating officer and the fact that he failed the breathalyzer test. A verdict of Probation Before Judgment or guilty would have been life-altering for him and his family in that it could have resulted in his deportation from this country and the absolute prohibition of his being able to apply for admission of his family into the United States. My friend had learned that he had been granted asylum three days before he was charged. Aside from that charge he had an impeccable record. He is employed by a continuing care community where his service is valued which is evidenced by the excellent job reviews he has consistently received. Mr. Lake was engaged to represent him and charged a fee customary for representing someone charged with such an infraction. I know from my experience that he expended far more time on the case than he was compensated for, but he did not ask for an increase in the fee. He spoke multiple times with an assistant state's attorney of the county as well as state's attorney, Removed the case to a higher court and with the assistant state's attorney met with the circuit court judge of the county. At that meeting Mr. Lake introduced a legal opinion prepared by my friend's immigration attorneys with whom he conferred which set forth the aforementioned consequences that would ensue were any judgment aside from a PBJ(C) entered. It is the only judgment that would not impact his and his family's immigration status. Such a judgment is extremely rare. I am of the opinion that Mr. Lake's reputation for integrity, diligence and competence which he has earned as a former assistant state's attorney and while he has been in private practice aided him in achieving the result he did.

Rosser

I Still Can't Believe the Miracle Outcome Apr 14, 2026

I still can't believe the miracle outcome I had for my case. I had Mr. Justin Lake represent me to fight against a DUI. The odds were against me, I won't lie. I was beyond stressed, I thought life was over, but Mr. Lake maintained clear communication and made this whole process go so smoothly and filled me with hope while keeping the possible outcomes realistic based on the specifics of my case. Immediately, he had me do a list of things to get me back on track and have PROOF that I am serious about this and taking responsibility. I promise you, Mr. Lake will fight tooth and nail for you. This dude knows his stuff. I swear he is a lifesaver. I owe my life to this dude because honestly, having my DUI case dismissed is half miracle and half Mr. Lake, but having Mr. Lake represent me is a blessing itself. Honestly, this still doesn't feel real. I am at a loss for words. But I vow to do all I can to help others choose Mr. Lake because this dude is the best. I know for a fact I'll never need Mr. Lake's help again, but I'll always keep his contact just in case there's someone out there that is going through a DUI. Extremely professional, he listens and thinks of the positives always. Please guys, if you are reading this and wondering if you should call him, please do. I beg you. You will not regret it. He is worth every penny. I still can't believe it though, man. I have a second chance at life, honestly.

Le0

Justin Lake is the best lawyer at this firm. Dec 8, 2025

My lawyer, Justin Lake, was the best. I understood everything that was happening, never in the dark about anything. Such a nice person, great lawyer—he did everything to keep me out of jail with my 3rd DUI. And the outcome was no jail time because he’s just that good. If you’re reading this, stop calling around and looking—you found the best lawyer at this firm. Thanks again, Justin Lake—the best.

tyeacha counts

Call David Zwanetz for Peace of Mind Jan 21, 2024

I had the pleasure of being represented by David Zwanetz from the firm of Shapiro, Zwanetz and Lake (SZL). I’m old and this was the first time I really needed a lawyer to help me. I got a DUI, and it was my 2nd one. I knew the dreadful flood of ambulance chasing lawyer mail was forthcoming, but I found out about David through an online post, and called him the day after I got my charges. We came to an agreement to proceed during my initial consultation with him. It was a wise choice on my part. From the initial call to the court date, David and the SZL staff were awesome. In particular, his legal assistant, Lauren, was available to help and answer questions. David will give you a cell #, and you can reach him anytime with anything you need answers for. If you go with SZL, you will not have to worry that your representation is hard to reach or ignores you. David has been in this business a long time, and will help you, and work with the State’s Attorney to facilitate a fair outcome. Mr. Zwanetz will put in the work to prepare for your case – and he will help you to help yourself. You will get to court in a good spot. Before my court date, I went to court for a day to watch cases myself. I’m convinced I couldn’t have done better than having David, and SZL, represent me. I wouldn’t want anybody else from that day of court watching. If you want peace of mind, and a good result … call David Zwanetz. I don’t know about other lawyers, and other firms, but I can’t imagine the experience could be better elsewhere.

G. Ruby

Outcome Dismissed, Wow! Dec 15, 2023

Working with David Zwanetz and the team at Shapiro, Zwanetz and Lake (SZL) was the experience you hope you will get with a lawyer but is all too rare. From the first phone call to the final resolution of the case, SZL was pleasant to work with, knowledgeable, skilled, and accessible. We called David after having had a very bad experience with another lawyer on a DUI case. David assured us that he could take over the case and immediately got in touch with the correct people at the court to straighten things out and get the ball rolling. The legal assistants, Kristina and Lauren, were always available by phone and email to answer questions promptly. I felt very comfortable calling or emailing them with even the littlest question. One of the reasons I think we had the best outcome was that David is honest and above board with his clients, as well as the people in the courts. The judges and State Attorneys know that David has done the work to get the facts, so when he works with them, they know his presentation is thorough. David worked directly with the State's Attorney on our case, and the violation was dismissed. David advised us well – about postponing the case briefly to our advantage, and by communicating with the State's Attorney before the scheduled hearing, which resulted in the hearing being cancelled and the violation dismissed. Wow! It really does matter who is representing you, even if it is a “first time” offense. His fees were also reasonable and transparent. We paid one price at the beginning when engaging him, and even though there may have been more work involved, we were never asked to pay more. Don’t take a chance with attorneys that mail you fliers after you are charged with a crime. They may be cheaper in dollars, but not in your peace of mind nor the outcome of your case.

Darlene Orr

SZL got me a second chance at life Jan 31, 2023

I love these guys! I primarily worked with David Zwanetz, who does exactly what he says. David is a legal Pitbull that will passionately fight for your best interest and the best possible outcome. I also worked with Justin Lake, who has a talent for presenting all options clearly, which naturally puts you at ease. These guys are legal masters and worth every dollar! There are cheaper options for DUI representation, but that cliché 'you get what you pay for' is also conventional wisdom. They are not the cheapest game in town, but they are by far a quality option, and when your life is on the line, who wouldn't pay a little more? SZL got me a second chance at life. I am forever grateful! Thank you, David! Thank you, Justin! Thank you, SZL!

EB