About Justin K.
Justin K. Schwemmer began his academic path in the liberal arts. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Towson University in 2008. He then went on to study law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 2014. The combination of humanities and legal education shaped a practical, argumentative approach to legal problems.
After law school, Schwemmer opened The Law Office of Justin K. Schwemmer, LLC in 2014. He also joined the Maryland Office of the Public Defender as a panel lawyer in 2015. Those early years established a dual rhythm to his work: private practice matters handled through his own firm, and court-side defense work on behalf of clients appointed through the public defender system. The two tracks have informed each other, giving him steady courtroom experience while maintaining a base for private clients.
Schwemmer’s professional associations sketch a wide set of interests. He holds membership in the Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and local bar groups in Howard and Baltimore counties. He is a member of The Honorable James Macgill American Inn of Court and has been involved with Phi Delta Phi. Nationally, he lists membership in the National Lawyers Guild and American MENSA. He also maintains ties to organizations outside traditional criminal practice, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
Volunteer work has been a visible part of Schwemmer’s career since 2015. He has served as a volunteer lawyer with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, and offered pro bono assistance to the arts community through Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. He is a network lawyer for Civil Justice, Inc., a role that connects private practitioners to broader access-to-justice efforts. For a time he also belonged to the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during 2015 and 2016.
Colleagues describe his practice as courtroom-centered and community-oriented. The combination of public defender panel work and private practice means he spends substantial time in state courts, handling hearings and trials. His memberships reflect an interest in criminal defense alongside civic and professional engagement in the broader legal community.
As of 2026, Schwemmer maintains his Maryland practice, where he handles criminal defense matters and provides volunteer legal services to community and arts organizations.
