Shevelle McPherson is a seasoned criminal trial lawyer and author with over twenty years of courtroom and trial experience. Shevelle began her legal career as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. As a former prosecutor, Shevelle knows firsthand how uneven the legal playing field can be for those accused of a crime. She understands the techniques used by prosecutors and how to defend against them. Shevelle has successfully defended clients charged with capital homicide, murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, firearms and drug offenses.
Ms. McPherson aggressively fights back against a legal system rampant with prosecutors over charging defendants in an effort to secure plea bargains and law enforcement’s flawed presumption of guilt mentality. Her slogan “show me the evidence” is her response to any criminal charge, no matter the severity, because Ms. McPherson is ready, willing and eager to challenge it. She meticulously scrutinizes every piece of evidence in every criminal case she handles and can quickly uncover mistakes, taint, unreliable witnesses, misconduct, trumped up charges and flawed legal theories and assumptions. Ms. McPherson leaves no stone unturned because often times she is fighting for her client’s life. She has taken on some of the most difficult cases, including high profile matters, and has had her clients vindicated by jury in many cases where the government assumed they had a slam dunk win. Ms. McPherson gets positive results because she knows the importance of thorough case preparation and outworking her opponent.
Ms. McPherson is also a successful civil litigator and formerly served as an Arbitrator in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. Ms. McPherson has effectively resolved personal injury matters, including Civil Rights cases arising out of Police Brutality. She has secured significant monetary recoveries in federal and state civil litigation cases where her clients suffered physical and financial losses due to the negligence of others. Ms. McPherson is a warrior for justice in both the criminal and civil sector.
Ms. McPherson earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University, her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law School and her Master of Laws, LLM. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University, Beasley School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New Jersey District Courts. As a practicing attorney, Ms. McPherson has received some of the highest honors and accolades. She was endorsed by her colleagues and then selected a Rising Star Attorney by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers in 2008 and 2010. She has been featured in Super Lawyers Magazine as well as Philadelphia Magazine. In 2011 she was featured in South Jersey Magazine. In 2016 and 2023 she was selected to the Top 100 National Black Lawyers. In 2016 and 2017 she was selected a Top 10 Female Criminal Attorney.
In 2017, she was also selected a Top 25 Criminal Defense Lawyer, a Top 100 National Trial Lawyer and a Top 10% USA- Lawyer of Distinction.