Simone Lonas is a criminal defense attorney at Phillips Law who represents people facing misdemeanor and felony charges in the New Orleans area. A former public defender with experience handling cases from initial investigation through trial, she brings focused preparation, strong courtroom advocacy, and a deep commitment to protecting the rights of every client.

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Before joining Phillips Law, Simone worked at the Orleans Public Defenders office, where she represented clients facing charges ranging from misdemeanors to complex felonies. She handled both bench and jury trials and secured not-guilty verdicts for her clients.

Simone’s commitment to criminal defense began during law school at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City, which she attended on a full-tuition scholarship as a Nathaniel Gates Scholar. She was selected as an inaugural student in the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice’s Freedom Clinic, where she worked on wrongful conviction cases and helped pursue the release of people who had been wrongfully convicted.

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While at Cardozo, Simone also served as president of the Black Law Students Association. Her leadership and public service earned her the Champion of Change Award, presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated leadership and made a meaningful contribution to public service. She also received the Archie A. Gorfinkel Award, which recognizes a promising and accomplished graduate entering the field of criminal law.

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Simone approaches criminal defense with the understanding that every case involves a real person whose freedom, future, and reputation may be at stake. She works closely with her clients, carefully investigates the allegations against them, and prepares each case with the possibility of trial in mind.