Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - September 2024

Dustin M Tischler

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Miami - Florida

Law Office of Dustin Tischler, P.A.14 NE 1st Ave Ste 400m, Miami, FL , Florida,
  • Criminal Defense and Family
  • Miami, Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer with 0 years of experience
Free Consultation (305) 859-3341

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Miami - Florida

Law Office of Dustin Tischler, P.A.14 NE 1st Ave Ste 400m, Miami, FL , Florida,
Free Consultation (305) 859-3341

Peter B. Bickerman

Appeals and Appellate Lawyer Serving at Readfield - Maine

PO Box 30 80 Thundercastle Road, Maine, 04355
  • New York University
  • Appeals and Appellate, Criminal Defense, Employment and Labor, Family and Insurance
  • Readfield, Maine Appeals and Appellate Lawyer with 47 years of experience
Free Consultation (207) 446-2484

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Readfield - Maine

PO Box 30 80 Thundercastle Road, Maine, 04355
Free Consultation (207) 446-2484

Michael H. Fortner

Car Accidents Lawyer Serving at Southfield - Michigan

24100 Southfield Rd Ste 203, Michigan, 48075-2851
  • Car Accidents and Criminal Defense
  • Southfield, Michigan Car Accidents Lawyer
Free Consultation (248) 432-7436

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Southfield - Michigan

24100 Southfield Rd Ste 203, Michigan, 48075-2851
Free Consultation (248) 432-7436

Michael J. Boyle

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Birmingham - Michigan

280 N Old Woodward Ave Ste 200, Michigan, 48009-5326
  • Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence, Driver’s License Restoration, Federal Regulation, Medicaid and Medicare and Speeding and Traffic Ticket
  • Birmingham, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (248) 594-4554

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Birmingham - Michigan

280 N Old Woodward Ave Ste 200, Michigan, 48009-5326
Free Consultation (248) 594-4554

Michelle L. Shannon

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Flint - Michigan

630 S Saginaw St Ste 5, Michigan, 48502-1525
  • Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law Sch
  • Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence, Family and Juvenile
  • Flint, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (810) 257-3357

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Flint - Michigan

630 S Saginaw St Ste 5, Michigan, 48502-1525
Free Consultation (810) 257-3357

Johnson R. Franso

Car Accidents Lawyer Serving at Sterling Heights - Michigan

33200 Dequindre Rd Ste 202, Michigan, 48310-5967
  • Car Accidents, Contracts and Agreements, Criminal Defense, Debt and Lending Agreements, General Practice, Immigration, Landlord and Tenant, Negligence Law, Personal Injury, ...
  • Sterling Heights, Michigan Car Accidents Lawyer
Free Consultation (248) 494-8100

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Sterling Heights - Michigan

33200 Dequindre Rd Ste 202, Michigan, 48310-5967
Free Consultation (248) 494-8100

Ryan Philip Mcphee

Business Lawyer Serving at Las Vegas - Nevada

11700 W Charleston Blvd, Suite 170-722, Nevada, 89135
  • University of Nevada - Las Vegas
  • Business, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Bankruptcy and debt, Consumer Protection, Contracts and Agreements, Criminal Defense, General Practice, Land Use and Zoning, ...
  • Las Vegas, Nevada Business Lawyer with 3 years of experience
Free Consultation (702) 350-2105

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Las Vegas - Nevada

11700 W Charleston Blvd, Suite 170-722, Nevada, 89135
Free Consultation (702) 350-2105

Chad Wayne Etheridge

Business Lawyer Serving at Liberty - Texas

1919 Trinity St Ste A, Texas, 77575-4829
  • Business, Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation and Juvenile
  • Liberty, Texas Business Lawyer with 20 years of experience
Free Consultation 936-334-8300

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Liberty - Texas

1919 Trinity St Ste A, Texas, 77575-4829
Free Consultation 936-334-8300

Phillip Lawson Baker

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Alpine - Texas

205 N 7th St, Texas, 79830-4615
  • Criminal Defense and Appeals and Appellate
  • Alpine, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 29 years of experience
Free Consultation 432-837-4120

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Alpine - Texas

205 N 7th St, Texas, 79830-4615
Free Consultation 432-837-4120

Allison Ann Ann Biggs

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Henderson - Texas

1501 Old Nacogdoches Rd, Texas, 75654-4613
  • Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation and Wills and Living Wills
  • Henderson, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 21 years of experience
Free Consultation 903-657-8195

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Henderson - Texas

1501 Old Nacogdoches Rd, Texas, 75654-4613
Free Consultation 903-657-8195

Introduction to Criminal Defense Law

Being an expert in criminal defense law involves representing individuals accused of committing crimes ranging from minor offenses to serious felonies. Attorneys in this field strive to ensure a fair trial for the accused, challenging evidence and advocating for their clients' legal rights.

Common Areas Handled by Criminal Defense Attorneys

  • Felony Cases – Defending clients charged with serious crimes, including violent offenses, drug trafficking, and major thefts.
  • Misdemeanor Offenses – Representing individuals accused of lesser crimes, such as petty theft, simple assault, and DUI.
  • White-Collar Crime Defense – Specializing in non-violent financial crimes like fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.
  • Juvenile Delinquency Cases – Advocating for minors facing criminal charges, focusing on rehabilitation and protecting their future.
  • Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief – Handling appeals and seeking post-conviction remedies for clients who have been wrongfully convicted or excessively sentenced.

Keys Considerations When Selecting a Criminal Defense Lawyer

  • Expertise in Criminal Law – Choosing attorneys with extensive knowledge and experience in this specific field of law can help you ensure they can handle your specific type of case.
  • Experience in Local Courts – Looking for lawyers familiar with the local court system and its procedures can be advantageous in navigating your case.
  • Reputation and Track Record – When selecting a criminal defense lawyer, you should look at their history in defending criminal cases, focusing on their ability to secure favorable outcomes.
  • Client Reviews – Feedback from previous clients can help you understand their effectiveness and service quality in criminal defense by providing insights into their reliability and approach.

Choosing a Criminal Defense Attorney

  • Initial Research – Legal.com offers a selection of professionals with diverse expertise, which you can use to find seasoned criminal defense lawyers.
  • Credentials Verification – Ensure the attorney’s proper licensing and reputation by confirming their qualifications and standing in the legal community.
  • Consultation – Understand their strategy and how they plan to defend you by discussing these aspects during a case evaluation,
  • Assessing Knowledge and Commitment – You should ultimately choose a lawyer who combines their legal expertise with a commitment to defending your rights and interests.
  • Initial Research – Legal.com offers a selection of professionals with diverse expertise, which you can use to find seasoned criminal defense lawyers.
  • Credentials Verification – Ensure the attorney’s proper licensing and reputation by confirming their qualifications and standing in the legal community.
  • Consultation – Understand their strategy and how they plan to defend you by discussing these aspects during a case evaluation, 
  • Assessing Knowledge and Commitment – You should ultimately choose a lawyer who combines their legal expertise with a commitment to defending your rights and interests.

The Criminal Defense Process

  • Initial Consultation – Essential for outlining your legal situation and the attorney's defense strategy, offering a clear view of what to expect.
  • Case Preparation – Building the actual defense, including evidence gathering, witness interviews, and strategy development.
  • Plea Negotiations – Handling plea bargain discussions, aiming for reduced charges or lesser penalties when appropriate.
  • Trial Representation – Providing skilled legal representation in court, presenting your defense, and challenging the prosecution's case.
  • Post-Trial Actions – Managing appeals or seeking other post-conviction remedies, if necessary, to protect your rights and interests.

Types of Cases That Defense Lawyers Typically Handle

  • Drug Offenses – Defending against charges related to drug possession, distribution, and manufacturing.
  • Assault and Battery – Representing clients accused of assaultive crimes, ensuring a fair trial and challenging the evidence against them.
  • Theft and Burglary – Advocating for individuals charged with theft, burglary, or related property crimes.
  • Sexual Offenses – Defending clients accused of sexual crimes by handling sensitive cases with discretion and rigor.
  • DUI and Traffic Violations – Representing clients in DUI cases and serious traffic offenses, focusing on minimizing penalties and preserving driving privileges.

Common Challenges in Criminal Defense

  • Navigating Legal Complexities – Managing the intricate legal aspects of criminal law and ensuring a thorough understanding of clients' rights.
  • Dealing With Prosecution Tactics – Handling aggressive prosecution strategies and ensuring clients receive a fair trial.
  • Evidence Analysis – Critically examining and challenging evidence presented by the prosecution, which is a key aspect of building a strong defense.
  • Maintaining Client Confidentiality – Ensuring all communications and strategies remain confidential, protecting clients' rights throughout the legal process.

Criminal Defense Lawyers FAQs

When searching for a defense attorney, consider their expertise in criminal law, experience with similar cases, and their approach to client communication.
Criminal defense attorneys offer a variety of services between initial consultation and case resolution. These include case preparation, plea negotiations, trial representation, post-trial actions, and more.
You should hire a lawyer who is knowledgeable and dedicated to your defense. To estimate this, consider their specialization in criminal law, case success rate, client testimonials, and overall approach to defending criminal cases.
There are criminal defense lawyers who offer free initial consultations to discuss your case and explain their defense strategies. Considering this is not an industry standard, it's important to confirm the consultation fee structure of a lawyer you plan to hire beforehand.
Our list of the best criminal defense lawyers is updated monthly to ensure we provide access to the latest and most accurate information.
To make sure we only provide the best of the best, the lawyers featured in our directory are chosen based on their professional achievements, peer and client reviews, and our own independent research.
Legal.com is an independent platform, unaffiliated with any criminal defense law firm. We are committed to maintaining our role as a trustworthy resource for legal support, even if we do accept sponsorships going forward.