About Justin L
Justin L Criner built his legal foundation at Virginia Commonwealth University, earning a B.A. in political science in 2010. He continued his studies at Appalachian School of Law and received his J.D. in 2013. Those years set a steady path into courtroom work and public service.
He began practicing in Kanawha County, taking a position as an assistant public defender in 2013. That role put him on the front lines of criminal defense early in his career. Two years later he moved to the prosecuting side, serving as an assistant prosecuting lawyer in Kanawha County. By shouldering roles on both sides of the aisle, he gained a practical view of how cases are built and how trial strategy evolves.
In 2017 Criner opened Criner Law Office, PLLC and took on the responsibilities of managing lawyer. He ran his own practice for a time before joining another firm as an associate in 2018. At Hairfield, Morton, Adams, Trexler, Horst he worked among a team of lawyers and broadened his courtroom and litigation experience. In 2021 he became a partner and shareholder at The Beale Law Office, PC, where he remains today.
Criner is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia and maintains memberships in several regional bar groups. He belongs to the Fairfax Bar Association, the Prince William County Bar Association and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Those affiliations reflect an ongoing engagement with trial practice and the professional communities in which he works.
His career traces a steady arc from public defender to prosecutor, then to private practice and firm leadership. That sequence shaped how he approaches cases. He has spent years handling pretrial investigation, evidence assessment and courtroom hearings. Colleagues and clients describe him as practical and direct in court, preferring clear argument over rhetoric.
Outside the courtroom he has managed small firm operations and the everyday tasks of running a practice. The administrative side of law — staffing, client intake, case management — has been part of his trajectory since he founded his own office. That experience informs how he allocates resources and prepares cases for trial.
Criner now practices as a partner at The Beale Law Office, PC. He represents clients in matters across Virginia and West Virginia and focuses his current practice on litigation and trial work in state courts.
