Who We Are

Smart. Resourceful. Relentless. We provide zealous, client-focused legal representation to individuals throughout the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Law is but the means – justice is the end.*

At The Law Offices of Erica J. Suter, LLC, we pride ourselves on our dedication to our clients and our unyielding work ethic. We practice throughout the state of Maryland and in the District of Columbia.

The firm focuses on post-sentencing criminal practice: appeals, post convictions, petitions for writ of actual innocence, federal habeas petitions, motions for modification of sentence, motions to correct illegal sentence, motions for drug treatment, and parole hearings.

Our firm knows that no one cares more about your case than you. We make sure that you are fully informed of any developments in your case and we are always available to answer your questions and explain the process. As a client of this firm, you will never be “just another case.” With many of our clients facing life sentences, we know the stakes could not be higher. We bring to bear our experience, skills, and creativity to every case as if it is our only case.

*This is the motto of Georgetown University Law Center.

ERICA J. SUTER

Founder and Principal Attorney

Erica J. Suter is a Post-Conviction and Appellate Criminal Defense Attorney practicing throughout Maryland and DC. She blogs on the subject and has been quoted in People.com, Rollingstone.com, Fox45, WBAL, and ABC News Australia. Since establishing her firm in 2011, the life sentences of ten of her clients have been modified or vacated. She has also obtained significant relief for clients who were serving a term of years. Ms. Suter previously practiced law at Maryland law firm, Bennett & Bair, LLC, where she focused exclusively on criminal defense, specifically, collateral review and appeals.

Prior to joining Bennett & Bair, LLC, she worked for Williams & Connolly, LLP. She has been selected to the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Best Lawyers Under 40, as a Super Lawyer Rising Star (Washington, DC and Maryland), for membership in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, and as a Maryland Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyer.

Ms. Suter serves on the Executive Committee of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association (MCDAA) and on APABA-DC’s Nominations Committee. She chairs MCDAA’s Amicus Committee. She is a Council Member of the Criminal Law and Practice Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. Ms. Suter earned her JD from Georgetown University, her MA from the University of Chicago, and her BA from Bates College (with honors). She is admitted in Maryland, DC, Illinois (inactive), and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Teaching and Publications:

Ms. Suter taught legal research and writing as an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law.
“Unger v. State, Court of Appeals Decision Vacates Defendant’s 1976 Conviction and Life Sentence” MCDAA Quarterly, Winter 2012-2013.
“Accountability for Terrorism” Accountability for Atrocities (International and Comparative Criminal Law Series), published in 2003.

Recognitions & Awards

Super Lawyer Rising Star Ms. Suter selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the State of Maryland. Super Lawyer Rising Star Ms. Suter selected as a 2014 Super Lawyer Rising Star in Maryland and Washington, DC. No more than 2.5% of attorneys in a State may be selected.

Best Lawyers Under 40 List Ms. Suter named to the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Best Lawyers Under 40 list. This year’s list was limited to just 21 lawyers from throughout the country in all fields of practice.

2016 Maryland Pro Bono Service Herbert S. Garten Special Project Award