Established in 1990, Silverman & Associates is the premier Pennsylvania law firm providing first-rate, winning representation in post-conviction proceedings for state-sentenced inmates convicted of serious crimes. The firm specializes in representing clients on their direct appeals and in PCRA proceedings in state court and their habeas corpus proceedings in federal court. If you or your loved one is serving a lengthy sentence in state prison, you need a law firm with several decades of experience navigating this complex area of the law and a lawyer that will fight hard at every turn to win relief.  Our two investigators and mitigation specialist work with me to help overturn your conviction.

I have 39 years’ experience as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer. I love what I do and you see it in the passion, care and individual attention I show my clients. After graduating with high honors from Temple University Law School in 1985, I honed my trial skills for several years representing poor people with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, recognized then and now as one of the finest public defender offices in the nation. After two years supervising the Criminal Defense Unit at a Center City law firm representing working-class union members, I opened Silverman & Associates in February 1990.

For 34 years I have devoted my private law practice to representing defendants in serious criminal post-conviction proceedings, suing lawyers whose unprofessionalism harmed my clients, and bringing civil rights actions against police and prosecutors for abusing their power.  For decades I’ve taught fellow lawyers, law students and undergraduate criminal justice students with the goal of improving a legal system whose participants too often shirk their responsibility to do justice.

I’ve won awards. I’ve published articles. But I am most proud of my consistent record of success winning cases for my clients.  Nothing gives me greater pleasure than notifying my life-sentenced client that “We Won!” – that his murder conviction has been overturned, that his life sentence has been vacated, and that he will soon be getting out of prison to reunite with his friends and family.