Built in the Courtroom. Not Behind a Desk.
The Hartley Law Firm was founded on a simple idea: the people facing the most serious charges deserve the most prepared attorney in the room.
How We Got Here
Alec Hartley didn't start The Hartley Law Firm because he wanted to run a business. He started it because he spent years inside the system — as a Public Defender in the Kansas City Trial Office — and saw firsthand what happens when people facing serious charges don't have an attorney who is truly prepared to fight for them.
As a Public Defender, Alec handled hundreds of cases: assaults, drug offenses, weapons charges, robberies, and more. He tried cases in front of juries, argued suppression motions, negotiated plea deals, and stood next to people on the worst days of their lives. That experience built something that can't be taught in a classroom — courtroom instincts, trial readiness, and an understanding of how the system actually works from the inside.
In December 2023, Alec took everything he'd built and founded The Hartley Law Firm. The goal was straightforward: bring that same level of preparation, fight, and personal attention to every client — but without the overwhelming caseloads that make it impossible for public defenders to give each case the time it deserves.
What We Believe
We believe the attorney who walks into the courtroom should be the most prepared person in the room. Not the most expensive. Not the flashiest. The most prepared.
We believe that preparation — real preparation, not surface-level familiarity with your case — is what separates good outcomes from bad ones. Prosecutors can tell when a defense attorney is ready for trial. Judges can tell. And when they know you're prepared to take a case the distance, the entire dynamic changes: plea offers improve, motions carry more weight, and the State has to earn every inch.
"The difference between preparing a case and preparing to win a case is everything. Prosecutors know when you're ready for trial — and when they know you're willing to fight, the entire negotiation changes."
We also believe that every client deserves to be treated like a person — not a case number. When you call The Hartley Law Firm, you talk to Alec. When you go to court, Alec is standing next to you. There are no hand-offs to junior associates, no paralegals handling your case behind the scenes, and no surprises about who shows up on your court date.
How We're Different
Most criminal defense firms in Kansas City fall into one of two categories: large firms that churn through high volumes of cases with minimal individual attention, or solo practitioners who lack the courtroom experience to handle serious charges effectively.
The Hartley Law Firm is neither. We combine the deep courtroom experience of a former Public Defender — someone who has handled hundreds of cases across the full spectrum of criminal charges — with the personalized, one-on-one attention that only a boutique firm can provide.
We're also one of the few criminal defense firms in the KC metro licensed in both Missouri and Kansas. That means clients on either side of the state line get direct representation from the same attorney — no co-counsel fees, no temporary admissions, no delays.
What Sets The Hartley Law Firm Apart
Trial-Ready on Every Case
We prepare every case as if it's going to trial. That mindset produces better plea offers, stronger motions, and more favorable outcomes — whether the case settles or goes the distance.
You Get Your Attorney
When you hire Alec Hartley, you get Alec Hartley — in every meeting, on every call, and in the courtroom on your court date. No hand-offs. No surprises.
Licensed in MO & KS
We're one of the few KC-area defense firms licensed on both sides of the state line. Whether your case is in Jackson County or Johnson County, you get direct representation from the same attorney.
Public Defender Roots
Alec built his skills handling hundreds of cases as a Public Defender — from misdemeanors to serious felonies. That volume of courtroom experience at a young age is rare in private practice.
Responsive Communication
We return calls and emails the same day. Your case is stressful enough — wondering whether your attorney got your message shouldn't add to it.
5.0 Google Rating
Our clients don't just hire us — they vouch for us. A perfect 5.0 rating across 40+ Google reviews reflects the experience we deliver, case after case.
What We Handle
The Hartley Law Firm focuses exclusively on criminal defense. We don't practice family law, personal injury, or civil litigation. Criminal defense is all we do — and that singular focus means our clients get an attorney whose entire practice is built around defending people facing charges.
Ready to Talk About Your Case?
Every case starts with a conversation. Call Alec directly or book a free consultation online — no obligation, no pressure.
Book Your Free Consultation Or call now — 816-451-0909