David J. Shrager
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Shrager Defense Attorneys
Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Pennsylvania since: 1999
Education: University of Miami School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2017 - 2026 Call today:
412-944-2746
Free Consultation Shrager Defense Attorneys
437 Grant StreetSuite 617, Frick Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Visit website
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, David J. Shrager understands the circumstances people here find themselves in when they have been charged with a crime. Through his law firm, Shrager Defense Attorneys, he counsels and represents clients in the area who are facing charges including DUI, white collar crimes and drug crimes.
No matter what the details of a case may be, Mr. Shrager strongly believes that clients should be able to ask him questions and receive prompt, honest answers. He is available around the clock to provide advice and advocate on behalf of people in the criminal justice system. Over the course of his decades-long career, this open communication is part of the reason he has secured a number of acquittals and case dismissals, among other favorable outcomes.
After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995, Mr. Shrager attended the University of Miami School of Law. There, he was an assistant editor of the school’s law review. He earned a Juris Doctor and graduated with honors in 1998.
Today, Mr. Shrager’s accomplishments have earned him several accolades, including being listed in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100; holding an Avvo “Superb” rating; and being listed in the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys’ 10 Best.
Mr. Shrager is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section, the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Criminal Litigation Section Council.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense: White CollarFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, White Collar Crime
- 40% Criminal Defense
- 30% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 30% Criminal Defense: White Collar
First Admitted: 1999, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.shragerdefense.com/pittsburgh-attorneys/david-sh...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
- Member of The National Advocacy of DUI Defense(NAFDD)
- Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
- The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Florida State Bar
- Vice-Chair, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Allegheny Chapter, 2016
- The National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Member
- Fellow, Allegheny County Bar Association
- Judge, Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to the Court for a four year term (2015 -2019)., 2019
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Our client was charged with aggravated assault of an Allegheny County police officer and resisting arrest. After Attorney Shrager discussed the circumstances with the officer and the district attorney, all charges were withdrawn, 2025
- Our Allegheny County client was originally charged with aggravated assault by vehicle and accident involving death or personal injury. After Attorney Shrager negotiated with the district attorney and the victim, our client pled guilty to a summary accident to unattended vehicle charge, paid restitution owed to the victim and received no probation!, 2025
- Our client was charged with a third offense driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol following a roll over vehicle accident in Allegheny County. This client was facing a 1–7-year mandatory sentence in state prison. After a daylong jury trial in Allegheny County, the jury found our client not guilty of all charges after we were able to highlight the lack of police investigation that the client was under the influence of drugs and or alcohol at the time of the accident, thus resulting in an acquittal., 2024
- Negotiated a Guilty Plea and probation sentence where are young girl was accused of shooting and killing cousin, 2015
- Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity Verdict on an Attempted Homicide charge on a highly publicized case in which a man shot his girlfriend with a shotgun, 2013
- Successfully argued for home electronic monitoting in lieu of jail for a client facing multiple convictions for sex crimes against a minor, 2015
- Negotiated a period of alternative housingfor a client who was facing mulitple DUI convictions with mandatory state sentencing provisions, 2015
Videos
- Don't Be Scared - Be Prepared!, Criminal Law, 2016
Pro bono / Community Service
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- President of Amen Corner, a civic organization based in Pittsburgh for the last 150 years. Our mission is to promote camaraderie and fellowship among people and to publicly recognize those who have served our community with excellence and leadership without regard to politics or religion https://www.amen-corner.org/leadership, 2021
- Ran Pittsburgh Half-Marathon as a fundraiser for The Animal Rescue League, 2012
- Sponsor, Fraternal Order of Police Annual Motorcycle Run, 2013
- Volunteer, Light Of Life Mission
- Sponsor, Senator Heinz Law Enforcement Awards, 2013
Honors
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2025
- Since 2022, Shrager Defense Attorneys was chosen for inclusion in the Expertise.com "Best DUI Lawyers in Pittsburgh" list. https://www.expertise.com/pa/pittsburgh/dui-attorney#ShragerDefenseAttorneys, Best DUI Lawyers in Pittsburgh, Expertise.com, 2025
- Since 2014, Top 10 DUI Lawyers in Pennsylvania, American Institute DUI Attorneys, 2025
- Premier 100 Trial Attorney, American Academy of Trial Attorneys, 2015
- Pittsburgh's 50 Finest, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2016
- 10 Best Client Satisfaction 3 years, American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys, 2016
- Top 100 DUI Lawyers, National Advocacy for DUI Defense(NAFDD), 2015
- Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC), 2015
- Deans Honor Academic Scholarship, University of Miami School of Law
Educational Background
- University of Pittsburgh, Bachelor of Arts, Honors: Magna Cum Laude
- Mt. Lebanon High School, Honors: National Merit Scholar Semi Finalist
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Lecturer, Encouraging Inclusiveness In Doing Sociology, Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology 2014 Annual Conference, 2014
- Teacher/Presenter, 2014 Practice For Success: Skills Training For Lawyers CLE, 2014
- Author, Who Watches the Watchmen?, Forensic Science Encyclopedia 2nd Edition Grey House Publishing and Salem Press, 2015
- Author, Birchfield Ruling Disrupts Longstanding DUI Procedures, The Journal of the Allegheny County Bar Association Vol. 18 No. 18, 2016
- Panel Participant, Beyond Baltimore, Is Perception Reality?, Cyril Wecht Forensic Institute of Science and the Law, 2015
- Inter-American Law Review, Assistant Editor, University of Miami Law School
- Legal Services
Office location for David J. Shrager
437 Grant Street
Suite 617, Frick Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-944-2746
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2017 - 2026
