Barry Sallinger

I was born in 1956 in New Orleans, Louisiana. I went to junior college at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, MS for two years. I went to Loyola University in New Orleans in where I graduated in 1978 and received my law degree from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 1981. I was admitted to the Mississippi and Louisiana State Bars in the spring of 1981.

I practiced law in New Orleans for my first two years and moved to Lafayette in 1983.

I decided to focus on drug and alcohol arrests because the area is both technical and challenging and it gives me a chance to help people.  To me that is what I believe that the essence of the practice of law is. It is about helping people. Too many lawyers either never understood this concept or simply ignore it.

There are two legal associations that are considered the preeminent organizations for the top criminal lawyers nationwide: the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the National College of DWI Defense (NCDD).  I am a lifetime member of NACDL and a regular member of NCDD.

Lawyers have to stay current with their education.  We have to attend a certain amount of continuing education (CLE) every year.  I do all of the required education through NACDL and NCDD and go to their specialized seminars designed exclusively for alcohol and drug defense attorneys.

I have certification in the type of tests normally administered for drinking drivers, Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)  and have completed the first phase of Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certification.

I am also a member of the Louisiana Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and Louisiana Association for Justice.

I am admitted to all State and Federal Courts in Louisiana.  I am also admitted in the state of Mississippi.