Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - September 2024

Irby Allen Meadors

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Atlanta - Georgia

260 Peachtree Street NW Suite 1201, Georgia, 30303
  • Criminal Defense and Fiduciary Law
  • Atlanta, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 46 years of experience
Free Consultation (404) 273-3391

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Atlanta - Georgia

260 Peachtree Street NW Suite 1201, Georgia, 30303
Free Consultation (404) 273-3391

John Thomas Morgan Iii

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Decatur - Georgia

PO Box 1324, Georgia, 30031
  • Criminal Defense and General Practice
  • Decatur, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 44 years of experience
Free Consultation (404) 687-1002

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Decatur - Georgia

PO Box 1324, Georgia, 30031
Free Consultation (404) 687-1002

Marc Albert Pilgrim

Child Abuse Lawyer Serving at East Point - Georgia

3645 Marketplace Blvd Suite 130-312, Georgia, 30344-5747
  • Child Abuse, Criminal Defense and Elder Law
  • East Point, Georgia Child Abuse Lawyer with 29 years of experience
Free Consultation (678) 281-5505

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at East Point - Georgia

3645 Marketplace Blvd Suite 130-312, Georgia, 30344-5747
Free Consultation (678) 281-5505

Sam L. Angell

Agriculture Law Lawyer Serving at Idaho Falls - Idaho

1075 S. Utah Avenue, Ste. 150, Idaho, 83402
  • Agriculture Law, Business, Constitutional, Contracts and Agreements, Corporate and Incorporation, Criminal Defense, Debt Collection, Discrimination, Employment and Labor, ...
  • Idaho Falls, Idaho Agriculture Law Lawyer with 20 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Idaho Falls - Idaho

1075 S. Utah Avenue, Ste. 150, Idaho, 83402

John Wesley Wesley Anderson

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Bellville - Texas

645 W Main St, Texas, 77418-1358
  • Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation, Wills and Living Wills, Juvenile, Military Law and Appeals and Appellate
  • Bellville, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 8 years of experience
Free Consultation 979-270-5100

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Bellville - Texas

645 W Main St, Texas, 77418-1358
Free Consultation 979-270-5100

Marcus Andrew Andrew Wood

Lawsuits and Disputes Lawyer Serving at San Saba - Texas

1301 W WALLACE ST, Texas, 76877-4129
  • Lawsuits and Disputes, Business, Criminal Defense, Family, International Law and Wills and Living Wills
  • San Saba, Texas Lawsuits and Disputes Lawyer with 9 years of experience
Free Consultation 325-216-2016

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at San Saba - Texas

1301 W WALLACE ST, Texas, 76877-4129
Free Consultation 325-216-2016

Natalie Ann Ann Anderson

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Longview - Texas

606 E. Methvin Street, Texas, 75601
  • Criminal Defense and Appeals and Appellate
  • Longview, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 13 years of experience
Free Consultation 903-230-2600

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Longview - Texas

606 E. Methvin Street, Texas, 75601
Free Consultation 903-230-2600

Kurt C Yost

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Knoxville - Utah

803 Gratz St, Utah, 37917
  • Criminal Defense, Divorce and Separation, Juvenile, Child Custody and Family
  • Knoxville, Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer with 13 years of experience
Free Consultation (917) 439-3577

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Knoxville - Utah

803 Gratz St, Utah, 37917
Free Consultation (917) 439-3577

Meloni L Dizon

Collections Lawyer Serving at Kent - Washington

420 W Harrison St Ste 201, Washington, 98032-4491
  • Collections, Criminal Defense, Guardianship, Juvenile and Legal Writing
  • Kent, Washington Collections Lawyer with 21 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Kent - Washington

420 W Harrison St Ste 201, Washington, 98032-4491

Dennis Paul Carroll

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1601 5th Ave Ste 700, Washington, 98101-1642
  • Criminal Defense
  • Seattle, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 30 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1601 5th Ave Ste 700, Washington, 98101-1642

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.