Jennifer McKinnon

Jennifer McKinnon, a former Clinical Instructor at Harvard Law School’s Criminal Justice Institute, is an experienced trial lawyer. She has spent twenty years representing clients charged with major felonies in Boston and surrounding communities. Attorney McKinnon spent three years teaching law students the art of courtroom advocacy at Harvard Law School, and is now a founding partner at Wiesner McKinnon LLP.

In the present legal culture dominated by settlements in civil cases and plea bargains in criminal cases, Ms. McKinnon’s experience and training distinguishes her from many lawyers who rarely, if ever, bring cases to trial—providing a distinct advantage to her clients.

Attorney McKinnon is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. She was recently appointed by the Senate President to be a Committee member of the Committee for Public Counsel Services. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Massachusetts' Prisoners' Legal Services. She has been a member of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for almost two decades. She now represents clients in both state and federal court in civil and criminal matters.

Highlights of Ms. McKinnon’s speaking and teaching engagements and experience include the following:

• Trial Advocacy Workshop, Harvard Law School, Faculty Member (2013-present)
• Criminal Advocacy Clinic, Northeastern School of Law, Guest Faculty (2013)
• Committee for Public Counsel Services’ Regional Supervising Attorneys’ Annual Conference, Organizer (2013)
• Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Panelist (2011)
• New Lawyer Training, Committee for Public Counsel Services, Faculty member (2010-2014)
• Zealous Advocacy in the District Courts, Committee for Public Counsel Services Training Program, Faculty member (2010-2014)
• Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Panelist (2006, 2011)