Committed trial attorneys with over 240+ years of combined legal experience. Fighting for our clients’ rights since 1965.
Berry Law, established in 1965 by John Stevens Berry,
Sr., has evolved from its roots in criminal defense to become a comprehensive
legal service provider. With a team of attorneys who collectively have over 240
years of experience, the firm offers specific skills across a wide range of
legal areas. While originally focused on criminal defense, Berry Law has
expanded its practice to include personal injury law, serving clients in both
federal cases nationwide and state cases in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, and
Illinois.
A significant part of Berry Law's practice is dedicated to Military Law,
representing veterans across all 50 states. The firm’s commitment to serving
the needs of veterans is evident in their robust Veterans Disability practice,
which is integral to their mission of supporting the nation’s servicemembers.
Berry Law remains a trusted legal resource in Lincoln and Omaha, providing
personalized attention to individual needs.
This award is granted to attorneys who have received at least 10 client reviews, and have an average review score of 4.5 or higher.
AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Avvo Client's Choice
This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com.
About Awards
Client Champion Awards
Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity
and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service.
Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.
At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.
At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.
At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.
Berry Law got this award in 2021
Martindale Peer Awards
A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Berry Law got this award in 2021
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Avvo Awards
Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A,
publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.
Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.
Working with Stephanie Costello and Berry Law has had to be one of the best decisions I have made thus far. I am in Houston and Stephanie and her team were able to help me anyway. I found Berry law by accident to be honest. She was able to take me from 30% to 80% in about 6 months, thats not including my current open appeals. She is very professional and me and my family will be forever grateful. After being denied for my anxiety for years she was able to appeal and win. I can't explain how much this means to my family, but we just want to say thank you Berry Law and a special thanks to Stephanie. You changed my life!
I hired Berry Law after the VA kept denying my claims, even though I submitted plenty of evidence. Once Stephanie Costello took over, things finally started moving. The VA actually started referencing my documents, and within less than a year, most of my denied claims were approved. Huge relief. The only downside was the communication. I didn’t get any updates when decisions were made. I had to check the VA site myself. I even had to tell them my claims were approved because they hadn’t seen it yet. I was never updated on those decisions. That was frustrating. Stephanie was great when I reached out, and I know she worked hard. I just wish the firm had a better system for keeping clients updated. Overall, I’m thankful for the outcome and would recommend Berry Law.
I would recommend any Veterans to Berry Law! They have helped with my process through the whole thing, I would like to thank Debra especially she has been there since day one when I first contacted Berry Law.
Veterans Benefits
Posted by Tabitha
March 04, 2026
Hired Law Firm
I ultimately reached 100% Permanent & Total, and I appreciate the assistance that helped finalize my VA claim. However, I want to share something extremely important for other veterans to understand before signing a contingency agreement with any VA disability law firm. The fee structure in my case was explained using language like the following: “Our fees are all inclusive in the percentage of the Fee Agreement… 33 percent of any backpay award or supplemental awards based off of our work.” Based on wording like “based off of our work,” many veterans (including myself) will reasonably interpret that to mean the fee applies to the backpay generated during the time the firm is actively working on the claim. However, what I ultimately learned after having to research VA disability law myself—because the explanation in both the conversation and email was ambiguous to me—is that contingency fees in VA disability cases can apply to the entire retroactive payment created by the rating
It took quite a while but they did help me reach my goal and a bit beyond that. I thank the Berry Law Firm for hanging in there. All veterans should talk to them if they need help The VA can be a hard system to deal with.
Stephanie was so helpful and I appreciate all she did to assist with my VA case. I would highly recommend her.
Military Law
Posted by anonymous
September 24, 2010
Hired Law Firm
Veterans Benefits
Posted by Kaye
March 06, 2023
Hired Law Firm
Thank you Berry Law. Sean Shepherd is amazing. I could not have closed this long, painful chapter of my life without you. Thank you so much!
Response from Berry Law
March 06, 2023
We appreciate you leaving a great review for Sean!
Veterans Benefits
Posted by anonymous
November 08, 2023
Hired Law Firm
Berry Law has had my VA appeal for 6 years now and I am still no closer to getting it completed. Communication is horrible there is no explanation as to why it is taking so long....I received the response that is just the VA...unacceptable. VA has acknowledged that many of my issues are service connected but they only give 0% rating or they refuse to increase my rating. When I questioned my attorney about this I received the response... There’s really nothing I can do except keep checking...I submit the appeals and draft the appeals. It’s on the VA to make a decision on your claims.
Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.
The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.
Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page
Martindale Peer Reviews
Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.
What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*
• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.
Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.
Ratings and reviews are feedback from people who have either consulted an attorney about an issue (but may not have hired the attorney) or people who hired an attorney as a current or former client and provided their feedback to our sister site, Avvo.com.