Laura Schook
Laura is a former law enforcement officer, her decorated career cut short after she exposed police corruption. She is a graduate of Indiana University and completed an internship with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy before joining the Louisville Metro Public Defender as a Criminal Defense Investigator assigned to the Capital Trial Division. She is a member of the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and the National Association of Public Defenders.
Laura remains active with her alma mater serving on the School of Social Science Advisory Board. 2021 marks the launch of her own company, Ethical Investigations LLC. Laura is dually licensed in Kentucky and Indiana and offers clients criminal defense investigation services with a specialization in capital cases. When she is not zealously advocating for clients she enjoys being with her family, reading, traveling, cooking, working out, and spending time with the three family dogs Ronin, Fedor, and Gideon.
What People Are Saying
"Her willingness to go that extra mile, find that elusive witness, dig out that ages old important document, cannot begin to describe to you who she really is and what she can do to help save the lives of and/or prove the innocence of the client.".
—Robin J. Rawlins,
Division Chief of Louisville Metro Public Defender Corp.
"I have worked in jurisdictions around the country as a criminal defense lawyer for over twenty years and can say confidently Laura is among the very best criminal defense investigators in the country."
—Angela S. Elleman, J. D.,
Indianapolis Federal Public Defender Chief of Unit 2255
"Laura would be an asset to any defense team.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her and her efforts have benefitted every client we’ve had."
—Jennifer L. Porter, J. D.,
Deputy Division Chief
Louisville Metro Public Defender
Capital Trial Division
"Integrity, independence, perseverance, energy, and thoroughness are all qualities Laura brings to the table. She has an uncanny ability to ask the right questions, provide a comfortable environment for witness to disclose the truth, and utilize available resources to obtain information that is requested."
—Kevin J. Coleman, J.D.,
Louisville Metro Public Defender
Capital Trial Division
"I strongly recommend Laura’s services if you need investigation services on any criminal case, even more so for advanced felonies and capital litigation."
—Andrew daMota, J. D.,
Criminal Defense Attorney
"Laura is a top-notch investigator. She finds witnesses that can’t be found and takes absolute ownership of her case. She doggedly seeks the truth and finds facts that you didn’t know you were looking for."
—Cara Venning J.D.,
Venning & Associates LLC.
Mitigation Specialist
DIVO Consultant
In the News