Joseph G. Vaccaro graduated magna cum laude from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, concentrating his coursework in criminal law and other areas serving working people, including workers' compensation and labor law. During law school he clerked for both the Ramsey County Public Defender's Office and the Neighborhood Justice Center, as well as concentrating his coursework in criminal law, and other areas serving working people Joe is a member of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and currently serves as that group's Mass Defense Coordinator, arranging the legal representation of activists arrested and charged with crimes following protests and demonstrations.
Prior to attending law school, Joe was employed as an editorial assistant at Harper's Magazine in New York City and for an antiquarian bookseller in Maine. He is passionate about Minnesota history and rare books, and collects historical material related to Minnesota's social movements.
Hamline University, 2011 B.A., English summa cum laude
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, 2017 J.D., magna cum laude
Any contact with the criminal system from a minor traffic ticket to more serious felony charges like drug possession and more serious assaults can threaten your housing, driving privileges, and most obviously your liberty. I will zealously advocate for your interests. I am not afraid to take cases to trial and file every constitutional challenge appropriate to a case. My goal is to see you through the justice system with as little disruption to your life as possible.
If a criminal conviction has become an obstacle to finding employment or housing, I can help you find out if you might qualify for an expungement of your criminal record. Generally, expungements are granted to those who have been convicted of certain criminal offenses and have remained law abiding for a specific period of time. Please feel free to contact me with questions regarding whether you may qualify for an expungement.
Civil law governs most legal matters which are not criminal offenses. Whether it is an issue with immigration services, your landlord, your employer, or if you, yourself are seeking to start a small business, I am happy to schedule a consult and discuss your legal needs.