Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - September 2024

David W. W. Hammit

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Madisonville - Texas

107 S Madison St, Texas, 77864-1902
  • Criminal Defense, Family, Insurance, Litigation, Oil and Gas and Wills and Living Wills
  • Madisonville, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 22 years of experience
Free Consultation 936-349-0500

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Madisonville - Texas

107 S Madison St, Texas, 77864-1902
Free Consultation 936-349-0500

Verner Wayne Wayne Hayhurst

Administrative and Public Lawyer Serving at Archer City - Texas

PO Box 1683, Texas, 76351-1683
  • Administrative and Public, Debt and Lending Agreements, Criminal Defense, Environmental and Natural Resources, Family, Government, Employment and Labor, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, ...
  • Archer City, Texas Administrative and Public Lawyer with 17 years of experience
Free Consultation 940-636-8974

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Archer City - Texas

PO Box 1683, Texas, 76351-1683
Free Consultation 940-636-8974

Patrick Dale Howard

Business Lawyer Serving at Bangs - Texas

PO BOX 74, Texas, 76823-0074
  • Business, Consumer Protection, Debt and Lending Agreements, Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Tax, ...
  • Bangs, Texas Business Lawyer with 20 years of experience
Free Consultation 325-752-7321

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Bangs - Texas

PO BOX 74, Texas, 76823-0074
Free Consultation 325-752-7321

Eric Matthew Matthew Bayne

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Del Rio - Texas

307 E 10th St, Texas, 78840-3913
  • Criminal Defense, Government and Juvenile
  • Del Rio, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 29 years of experience
Free Consultation 830-775-0505

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Del Rio - Texas

307 E 10th St, Texas, 78840-3913
Free Consultation 830-775-0505

Donald W. Dowd

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Linden - Texas

410 Barker St. Highway 8 North, Texas,
  • Criminal Defense, Family and Juvenile
  • Linden, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 50 years of experience
Free Consultation 903-756-7514

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Linden - Texas

410 Barker St. Highway 8 North, Texas,
Free Consultation 903-756-7514

Kris R. Jensen

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

PO Box 46654, Washington, 98146-0654
  • Criminal Defense, Patent Application, Trademark Application and Copyright Application
  • Seattle, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 35 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

PO Box 46654, Washington, 98146-0654

Ronald Jeffrey Friedman

Administrative Law Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

701 5th Ave Ste 3300, Washington, 98104-7055
  • Administrative Law, Government, Criminal Defense, Health Care and Securities Offerings
  • Seattle, Washington Administrative Law Lawyer with 15 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

701 5th Ave Ste 3300, Washington, 98104-7055

Benjamin Joshua Brown

Animal and Dog Bites Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1455 NW Leary Way Ste 400, Washington, 98107-5138
  • Animal and Dog Bites, Cannabis Law, Civil Rights, Contracts and Agreements, Criminal Defense, Disability, Education, Elder Law, Employment and Labor, ...
  • Seattle, Washington Animal and Dog Bites Lawyer with 2 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1455 NW Leary Way Ste 400, Washington, 98107-5138

Andrew Thomas Pollom

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

901 5th Ave Ste 3500, Washington, 98164-2059
  • Criminal Defense, Environmental and Natural Resources, Native Peoples Law and State, Local And Municipal Law
  • Seattle, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 9 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

901 5th Ave Ste 3500, Washington, 98164-2059

Imran Sultan

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

710 2nd Ave Ste 1000, Washington, 98104-1744
  • Criminal Defense
  • Seattle, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (206) 477-8790

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

710 2nd Ave Ste 1000, Washington, 98104-1744
Free Consultation (206) 477-8790

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.