Christopher A. Buckley

Chris is the newest Partner here at Gordon Etzler & Associates, LLP, and has been with the Firm since 2010. He is a Northwest Indiana native, and has called Valparaiso his home since 2002. After graduating from Chesterton High School in 1998, Chris enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Chris has been stationed throughout the world, and served his country filling billets as a non-commissioned officer in a variety of infantry and support roles in his primary duty station of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and served abroad in such places as Okinawa, Japan, Po Hang and Seoul, Korea, Iwo Jima, the Philippines, East Timor, and Queensland, Australia. He was discharged honorably after receiving several medals and awards, including The Navy/Marine Corps Medal (of Heroism), The Navy Achievement Medal, The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, The National Defense Medal, A Medal of Good Conduct, Letters of Commendation, Meritorious Masts, and several regular promotions. He retired as a Marine Corps Sergeant (E-5) after four (4) years of active, honorable service. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Valparaiso University in 2006 with the Cum Laude distinction in Political Science and Public Administration. Chris also attended law school at Valparaiso University. He received his degree of Juris Doctor in May of 2009.

While in law school, Chris gained a variety of valuable experience. He served on several student organization boards and organized and participated in regular community and charity events in the Valparaiso Hilltop Community as well as throughout Porter County. In addition, he gained valuable experience while still a full time law student.

Chris is a well-rounded and seasoned young Indiana attorney. Chris began in the legal profession serving a general business practice in Crown Point, Indiana in various areas of the law including municipal law, land use regulations, ordinance construction, contracts, tort litigation, real estate, and estate planning. While there he conducted legal research, and drafted legal documents, memoranda, briefs, pleadings, various pre-trial motions, and prepared miscellaneous client correspondence.

Chris then left his position to accompany Jon Costas in his campaign for Indiana Attorney General in 2008. Chris was able to expand his love of politics by traveling and advising Jon, and received the opportunity to visit nearly every county and municipality throughout the Hoosier State. Chris continues to serve his community through non-profit boards and various charity events.

Chris was then selected as the judicial law clerk to assist Judge David Chidester in the Porter Superior Court #4 in Valparaiso, Indiana. There Chris was able to refine his legal skills and observe countless hours in the courtroom. He was able to observe some of the finest and most skilled attorneys in the region while gaining a valuable insight into the internal operation of a Superior Court. Chris was also selected to participate in an externship program with the City of South Bend, Indiana where he assisted deputy city attorneys in the practice of law relating to the operation of a Second Class City and greatly expanded his understanding of municipal law.

After passing the Indiana bar and becoming an attorney, Chris ventured out to Merrillville, Indiana to start his own practice. He was a solo practitioner who shared an office with three (3) other attorneys in a general law practice. Chris had a particular emphasis on family law, criminal defense, personal injury, and contracts.

From there, in June 2010, Chris decided to return home to Porter County, Indiana to serve as a general practitioner with Gordon Etzler and Associates, LLP in Valparaiso. He is interested in refining his experience, but with an emphasis in criminal defense, family law, veterans’ law, business law, municipal law, and real estate law. Chris serves as legal counsel for the Porter County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, and has gained countless hours of experience in the area of property tax assessment, administrative law, and Indiana property tax law.

Chris also shares an affinity for his fellow veterans, and seeks to give back to those who have served. Chris is a certified by the Veterans’ Administration as a Veterans’ Claims Attorney and continues to serve veterans in their many needs and legal issues, and regularly assists veterans regardless of their ability to pay.

At Gordon A. Etzler and Associates, Attorney Buckley’s practice primarily focuses in the area of Criminal Defense, Divorce, Child Support, and Civil Litigation, but he has a wide array of experience and is eager to solve your legal problems. You can e-mail Chris directly at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @buckleyca.