My Journey as a Criminal Defense and Injury Lawyer
I’ve spent nearly 20 years representing injured people and those accused of crimes. Here’s how it all started as a Criminal Defense and Injury lawyer and why I’m passionate about what I do.
2004 – Michigan Beginnings
My career began in 2004, fresh out of law school in Michigan. I didn’t represent businesses or wealthy clients. Instead, I focused on helping individuals—people hurt in accidents or facing criminal charges. Rarely have I worked with corporations, and I’ve never taken cases just to help the wealthy make more money. My practice has always been about people first.
Though I occasionally draft wills for the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Utah Army National Guard, my work as an injury lawyer and criminal defense attorney has always been the core of my legal practice.
Criminal Defense and Personal Injury – My Focus
I don’t represent insurance companies or businesses. I’ve never handled business transactions or defended businesses against employee claims. The rare times I have prosecuted were for the U.S. Army or small contract cases during my early years in Michigan. I’m not a former prosecutor. All my experience in criminal law comes from defending clients against accusations.
Representing the Underdog
As an injury lawyer and criminal defense attorney, I’ve spent my career defending everyday people—the ones who don’t have the resources of big companies or insurance agencies. When I represent my clients, it’s just me, my law firm, and a small team standing against well-funded opponents.
Starting Out – Solo Practice
After passing the Michigan bar in 2004, I opened a solo practice. My wife was pursuing her PhD at the University of Michigan, and the economy was tough, especially in Michigan’s rust belt. Despite the odds, I started practicing law at 24, renting office space from John R. Bailey, a local attorney in Ypsilanti.
My first office was modest—an old phone and a fire-orange chair I found on the side of the road. My car was loud and falling apart. But I made it work, representing clients who needed an attorney willing to fight for them.
Community and Early Cases
I quickly became involved with the local Ypsilanti Bar Association. Through these networking dinners, I met judges and other attorneys who helped shape my early career. One judge, Kirk W. Tabbey, took a chance on me, giving me court-appointed cases, including child welfare cases that involved defending parents and children.
These early experiences with vulnerable clients—people accused of child abuse or children in delinquency—taught me the importance of fighting for those without a voice. It shaped me into the attorney I am today.
2024 – Utah and Howard Lewis & Petersen, P.C.
Today, nearly 20 years later, I’m a partner at Howard Lewis & Petersen, P.C., a firm established in 1950 in Utah. My focus remains the same: representing people accused of crimes and helping those injured through no fault of their own.
I’m proud to continue standing up for individuals, using my experience as a criminal defense attorney and injury lawyer to fight for justice.
Contact Jake Gunter – Injury Lawyer & Criminal Defense Attorney If you need an experienced injury lawyer or defense attorney in Utah, contact Jake Gunter at Howard Lewis & Petersen, P.C. Call (801) 373-6345 or visit gunterautoinjury.com to learn more.