2017 Trusted Advisers Lawyer: Adam Woody

SBJ photo by WES HAMILTON

Resume Highlights

• Bachelor’s in criminology and psychology, Drury University; Juris Doctor, University of Missouri School of Law

• Launched his own firm in 2014.

• Worked seven years as an attorney at The Law Offices of Dee Wampler & Joseph Passanise PC.

• Named in 2016 as one of the top 10 criminal defense attorneys under the age of 40 by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

• Seven-year board member of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and member of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

People don’t ever want to have to enlist the help of Adam Woody. But during the worst times in their lives, he’s there to professionally provide advice and counsel.

A criminal defense attorney and owner of Law Office of Adam Woody LLC, Woody says his thousands of clients over the years were experiencing especially difficult circumstances, but his legal work positions them to leave better off than when they entered his firm’s doors.

“The vast majority of my clients are good people with good jobs, who have made the worst mistake they will ever make,” Woody says. “I’ve represented businesspeople, doctors, other lawyers and pretty much every profession imaginable.

“My goal is always first and foremost that the lives of my clients are not adversely affected forever.”

Woody launched his own firm in 2014 after working seven years as an attorney at The Law Offices of Dee Wampler & Joseph Passanise PC, a firm known for its criminal defense work.

At his 806 W. Battlefield Road office, Woody’s services include advising clients on traffic offenses, DWIs and DUIs, and drug and theft crimes. Additionally, he represents clients facing charges of assault and battery, burglary, homicide, domestic violence, robbery, federal crimes, sexual crimes and white-collar crimes.

“As a criminal defense attorney, typically we get little credit for the positive role we play in our justice system and our community,” Woody says. “There is a running joke that the only people to honor criminal defense attorneys are other criminal defense attorneys.

“I have worked tirelessly over the past decade to represent my clients during their darkest hours, and I am incredibly proud of the work that I do.”

Beyond the walls of his office, Woody volunteers in the legal community and in civic endeavors.

For three years, he’s served as the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association’s criminal law committee chairman. In that role, he’s given frequent lectures to the group’s membership body, now more than 1,000 attorneys.

Woody also previously served as board member for The Network, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s group for young professionals. A graduate of Leadership Springfield Class 36, he’s also been involved in the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast.

Woody is currently secretary of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is on track to become president in two years. The organization comprises more than 450 criminal defense attorneys.

“It has been a great honor to have first been elected as a board member and then as an executive board member of that organization that I have looked up to since law school,” Woody says.