About David R.
David R. Yannetti studied government and mathematics at Bowdoin College, earning a B.A. in 1981. He went on to Boston College Law School and received his J.D. in 1986. Those academic years set the stage for a career centered on criminal law and courtroom work.
He began his legal career in public service. In 1989 he joined the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district lawyer. That role placed him in a busy prosecutor’s office and gave him steady trial experience across a range of criminal matters. He later turned to teaching. In 1995 he served as an instructor at Boston University Law School, bringing practical courtroom lessons to students.
In 1999 Yannetti opened his own practice, founding Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Office and serving as principal. The move marked a shift from prosecuting cases to defending people accused of crimes. Over the years he has balanced courtroom advocacy with case preparation, trial work and motion practice. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Yannetti is active in bar and professional groups. He has been a member of the Massachusetts State Bar since 1989. He joined the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association in 2002. In 2007 he added membership in both the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Those affiliations place him in regular contact with other trial lawyers and defense practitioners.
His work spans state and federal criminal cases. He handles arraignments, pretrial hearings, and jury trials. He also files appeals and post-conviction motions when cases require review beyond the trial court. Colleagues note his courtroom presence and his familiarity with procedural and evidentiary rules.
Outside the courtroom he manages the practice he founded. The office handles client intake, investigative work, and coordination with experts when needed. Over time he has maintained a steady private-practice caseload while remaining connected to legal education through occasional instruction and mentoring.
He is currently principal of Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Office, practicing criminal defense in Massachusetts and in federal matters before the First Circuit. His current practice focuses on defending clients in state and federal criminal cases.
