Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - November 2024

Charles C. Murphy Murphy

Antitrust and Trade Law Lawyer Serving at Atlanta - Georgia

690 S Ponce Court NE, Georgia, 30307-1667
  • Antitrust and Trade Law and Criminal Defense
  • Atlanta, Georgia Antitrust and Trade Law Lawyer with 49 years of experience
Free Consultation (404) 667-0714

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Atlanta - Georgia

690 S Ponce Court NE, Georgia, 30307-1667
Free Consultation (404) 667-0714

Geoffrey K. Rettig

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Midland - Michigan

220 W Ellsworth St, Michigan, 48640-5180
  • Criminal Defense
  • Midland, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (989) 832-6722

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Midland - Michigan

220 W Ellsworth St, Michigan, 48640-5180
Free Consultation (989) 832-6722

Sean A. Blume

Adoption Lawyer Serving at Sterling Heights - Michigan

12900 Hall Rd Ste 403, Michigan, 48313-1152
  • Wayne State University Law School
  • Adoption, Criminal Defense, Divorce and Separation, Domestic Violence, Driver’s License Restoration, Family, General Practice, Guardianship, Juvenile, ...
  • Sterling Heights, Michigan Adoption Lawyer
Free Consultation (855) 588-4352

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Sterling Heights - Michigan

12900 Hall Rd Ste 403, Michigan, 48313-1152
Free Consultation (855) 588-4352

Chad Owen Bull

Administrative and Public Lawyer Serving at Kerrville - Texas

317 Sidney Baker St S Ste 400, Texas, 78028-6150
  • Administrative and Public, Criminal Defense, Government, Wills and Living Wills and Appeals and Appellate
  • Kerrville, Texas Administrative and Public Lawyer with 28 years of experience
Free Consultation 830-285-1132

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Kerrville - Texas

317 Sidney Baker St S Ste 400, Texas, 78028-6150
Free Consultation 830-285-1132

Joe H. Nagy

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Seminole - Texas

603 SW 14th St, Texas, 79360-4623
  • Criminal Defense and Juvenile
  • Seminole, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 35 years of experience
Free Consultation 432-758-4001

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seminole - Texas

603 SW 14th St, Texas, 79360-4623
Free Consultation 432-758-4001

David Korach Chapman

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Karnes City - Texas

PO Box 427, Texas, 78118-0427
  • Criminal Defense and Appeals and Appellate
  • Karnes City, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 52 years of experience
Free Consultation 817-903-4816

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Karnes City - Texas

PO Box 427, Texas, 78118-0427
Free Consultation 817-903-4816

Robert Lee Murphy

Business Lawyer Serving at Kingsville - Texas

PO Box 1538, Texas, 78364-1538
  • Business, Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Wills and Living Wills and Contracts and Agreements
  • Kingsville, Texas Business Lawyer with 21 years of experience
Free Consultation 361-592-9361

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Kingsville - Texas

PO Box 1538, Texas, 78364-1538
Free Consultation 361-592-9361

Huei Ching Krantz

Administrative Law Lawyer Serving at Normandy Park - Washington

20505 7th Ave SW, Washington, 98166-4103
  • Administrative Law, Government, Criminal Defense, Admiralty and Maritime, State, Local And Municipal Law and Workers Compensation Law
  • Normandy Park, Washington Administrative Law Lawyer with 23 years of experience
Free Consultation (206) 618-0135

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Normandy Park - Washington

20505 7th Ave SW, Washington, 98166-4103
Free Consultation (206) 618-0135

Timothy McGuinness

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1752 NW Market St. #131, Washington, 98107
  • Criminal Defense, Government and Juvenile
  • Seattle, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (206) 733-0300

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1752 NW Market St. #131, Washington, 98107
Free Consultation (206) 733-0300

Ivar Gunderson

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Puyallup - Washington

PO Box 160, Washington, 98371-0016
  • Criminal Defense and Government
  • Puyallup, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Puyallup - Washington

PO Box 160, Washington, 98371-0016

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.