Allen F. Bareford

Practice areas: Criminal Defense in all courts; Family Law

The reason I became a lawyer was to try to help people. My first lawyer job as a military prosecutor did not give me a sense that I was helping people. Later, I had a chance to do defense work and I immediately knew that I had found my calling. I have done defense work ever since. Being a Defender has made me a better person because I look for the best in people to highlight in court. I know that an accused person is not defined by their worst mistake and I work hard to make sure that the best things about an accused person are discovered and revealed.

I devoted much of my legal career to public service. For 31 years I was the Chief Public Defender for Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George with overall responsibility for criminal defense services for defendants who are poor. I oversaw the growth of the Public Defender office from three full time attorneys in 1990 to twenty attorneys and numerous support staff in 2021. When I retired from state service in 2021, I joined Spencer, Meyer & Koch, PLC because they also want to help people. If you need assistance with a legal matter then I offer my vast experience and excellent trial skills for your consideration.

During my career I have represented numerous high-profile clients for every type of crime in the Commonwealth. When Virginia still had the death penalty, I was lead-counsel qualified for death penalty eligible cases. I succeeded in five capital murder cases to avoid the ultimate sanction for my clients. While not all cases have stakes as high as life or death, I recognize that your case may be the most important and stressful thing happening in your life until it is concluded. You can be certain that I give your case my full attention.

I am a respected leader in the local and state bar. I have served as the President of the Fredericksburg Area Bar Association and the chair of the Rappahannock Regional Community Criminal Justice Board on which I served 26 years. I serve on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and hold membership in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2020, I was elected by fellow lawyers in this region to be their representative on the Virginia State Bar Council for a three-year term.

My desire to help people also leads me to serve in our community as a board member of Be Well Rappahannock and the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. I also chair the Outreach commission of my church where we operate a food pantry serving one hundred families twice each month.

Finally, I also love our country. During law school, I enlisted in the Virginia National Guard and served two years in a field artillery unit. Following law school, I served on active duty as a Judge Advocate in the Army for five years. I spent another 24 years serving in the Army Reserve. My service took me to numerous countries including Egypt, Panama, Japan and several countries in Europe. I retired from the Army Reserve in 2011 at the rank of Colonel.

I would love to use all my life and legal experience and skills to help you when you need it. Feel free to contact me at the office or on my cell number (540) 845-1888 to discuss your situation.

To read more about Mr. Bareford’s career click here.