Thatcher, Neal M.

Ever since Stephen Klein has been working in the legal profession, he has devoted himself to the area of criminal law. After graduating from the University of Southern California in with B.A. in Psychology, Stephen immediately attended the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Even before Stephen began law school, he worked as a clerk at the Cook County State's Attorney Office in Chicago. Specifically, he was asked to use his psychology background to help organize the expert testimony of the State's top psychological expert in the capital case of People of the State of Illinois v. Paul Runge. 

After working with the State's Attorney for approximately three years, Stephen had a change of heart about where he should place his allegiance. While working with the State's Attorney, he was continually intrigued by the creativity employed by the defense attorneys and the relationships they formed with their clients. The next year, Stephen turned his back on the Cook County State's Attorney, switched sides, and worked at the Cook County Public Defender for his final year at law school. At the Public Defender, Stephen worked both in the Felony Trial Division and the Homicide Task Force. At the Public Defender, Stephen quickly began doing trials, running motions, interacting with his clients, and conducting the various day-to-day activities of a criminal defense attorney. While working in the Homicide Task Force, he assisted attorneys in suppressing illegally obtained confessions and suppressing improper gun-shot residue evidence.

At Ramsell and Associates, Stephen has adapted to the pressures of working in private criminal defense and even won the first jury trial he tried. In addition, he is certified by the National Highway Traffic Administration in the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. He has also attended numerous seminars about the recent advances in DUI laws, local ordinance law, BAIID (Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlocking Devices) law, SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor), Drug Court, and MICAP. Stephen is an active member of the DuPage County Bar Association, the National College for DUI Defense, and the Illinois State Bar Association.  Although Ramsell and Associates primarily does DUI cases, Stephen is always anxious to accept a variety of different criminal cases and loves the challenge a new case brings. Some of the other cases he has worked on include simple batteries, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor, domestic batteries, felony drug possession and delivery, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, predatory criminal sexual assault, forgery, and resisting a peace officer.

In addition to his trial work, Stephen has also written multiple appellate briefs challenging the use of incorrect Warning to Motorist forms, improperly denying petitions to rescind statutory summary suspensions, improper length of license suspensions, whether one can suspended for a refusal when a blood test is performed, and what actions constitute resisting a peace officer.
 
In his personal life, Stephen plays goalie on his hockey team, is a strong supporter of all Chicago sports teams, and considers himself an aficionado in all things music. Stephen has a strong passion for criminal defense and believes that providing a strong defense is necessary to prevent overzealous prosecutions.  He takes pride in being a criminal defense attorney and possesses a passionate desire to guide his clients not only through legal problems, but also issues affecting their well-being.