Boston, MA criminal defense attorney J. W. Carney Jr. talks about why he became a lawyer and covers his honors and awards. He shares that he aspired to be a criminal defense lawyer since the age of 14, recalling an assignment in his homeroom class where students wrote essays about their future careers. While many of his classmates dreamed of becoming airline pilots or professional athletes, he knew from that age that he wanted to practice criminal defense law.

What he finds most rewarding is achieving his clients’ goals, whether in a jury trial or a jury-waived trial. Regardless of the outcome, he strives to maintain a positive, professional relationship, leaving every case as a friend and advocate for his client.

He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the most prestigious organization for trial lawyers in the United States. For 20 years, he co-chaired the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Strike Force and was frequently called upon to support attorneys facing improper pressure or contempt issues. Additionally, he served on the judicial nominating commission for 24 years under five different governors—a role he considers a significant honor. Most recently, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Lawyers Hall of Fame, as part of its second class of honorees.