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I am a graduate of the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania and Stetson University College of Law. My work background includes being an Assistant Public Defender in Polk County doing both trial and appellate work, and then I spent almost 11 years as an Assistant State Attorney in Lee County prosecuting juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases. These two positions gave me great introspect when I went into private practice. I am better able to assist my clients because I have been on both sides of the legal system.. At some time in our lives, we all have a need to hire an attorney to represent us in some legal matter. I can help you navigate through the legal maze and will represent you with knowledge, dedication, and compassion. Every client is treated with the respect they deserve. Your phone calls will be returned, and you will always be apprised of the status of your case. I can accomodate you on the weekend when you can't get away from work.

My Firm, Bass, Cerino & Brizel is a true full service personalized law firm. Each of us have tried many cases in the criminal and civil courts.  We believe that preparation is the key to getting the desired result.. Joseph Cerino is a seasoned criminal defense attorney.  Practicing for 13 years in defending those accused of crimes, he has spent the last 8 of those years applying his trial experience and know-how to representing people in marital disputes.. Jay Brizel has been spending the last 12 years representing those charged with criminal offenses.  He has a reputation of tenaciously defending his clients and frequently is appointed by the Court to represent people with particularly bad facts or cases.. We are used to fighting so you do not have to.

Mr. Shestokas earned his B.A. in Political Science from Bradley University in 1975 and his Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School, cum laude, in June of 1987. In 1986-87 he served on The John Marshall Law Review. He also studied law at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.. Mr. Shestokas founded the Law Office of David Shestokas in November, 1987. After practicing in areas such as criminal defense, corporate law, real estate, and business financing, he later served as Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, IL, from 1994 to 1998, involved in over 5,000 criminal prosecutions. During that time he also worked on the Felony Review Unit, participating in police investigations and making charging decisions in over 400 felony matters. He is the senior and founding partner of the law firm of Shestokas, Raines & Malavia, with offices in Chicago, Joliet and Lemont, IL and Fort Myers, FL.. Mr. Shestokas has been admitted to practice law before the Illinois Supreme Court in 1987, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 1988, the Supreme Court of Florida in 2004, and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 2006. Additionally, he has participated in numerous activities and associations; for instance, he has been a member of the Lemont Law Enforcement Association (1998-2004), Lemont Public Library Trustee (1995-2004), Lemont Township Board of School Trustees (1998-1999), the Chicago Bar Association (from 1999 to the present), the Baltic Bar Association (1991 to the present), and has been a contributor to RWSCC Insider from 2005 a publication for real estate professionals. Additionally, from 2004 to 2006 he did a column entitled "Ask an Attorney" for the Joliet Herald.. Mr. Shestokas was also the Republican nominee for the United States Congress (5th District) in 1990 and a Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress (13th District) from 1997-1998. He has studied Spanish in both Cuba (2005) and Costa Rica (2006).. Additionally, he is currently writing for the online magazine Suite 101.  His articles can be found at

Mary is a native of Tuscaloosa and a graduate of both the University of Alabama (BS Nursing 1986) and the University of Alabama School of Law (1989). She is also a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College and the National Criminal Defense College.. Mary teaches Trial Advocacy at the University of Alabama School of Law and serves as vice president of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Volunteer Lawyers Program.. Outside of the law, Mary is very involved in the community of Tuscaloosa. She started a survivors of suicide support group in Tuscaloosa, and she presently serves as the secretary for the Alabama Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mary is the Chapter Advisor for the Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta. She also serves on the City of Tuscaloosa Personnel Board and the Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation Board. Mary is a member of Northwood Church of Christ.

Attorney David M. Allen is the son of a Navy veteran and a native of south Alabama. Captain of the soccer team, David graduated from Fairhope High School in Fairhope, Alabama, and later studied Political Science and Philosophy at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he graduated cum laude. David then attended the University of Iowa: College of Law on a merit scholarship where he studied Federal Criminal Defense and Personal Injury law. While in law school, David interned in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill and for Circuit Court Judge, Carmen Bosch in Baldwin County, Alabama. During his first years of practice, David worked on high profile criminal defense cases in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, and assisted in a civil jury trial resulting in a $1.6 million verdict in his client's favor. Attorney David M. Allen prides himself on excellent and honest communication with his clients and outstanding results.