Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - September 2024

Jessica Lynn Long

Child Abuse Lawyer Serving at Holly Springs - Georgia

PO Box 795, Georgia, 30142-0795
  • Child Abuse, Criminal Defense, Lawsuits and Disputes and Family
  • Holly Springs, Georgia Child Abuse Lawyer with 11 years of experience
Free Consultation (678) 879-5552

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Holly Springs - Georgia

PO Box 795, Georgia, 30142-0795
Free Consultation (678) 879-5552

Matthew Dillon Bowe

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Brunswick - Maine

Brunswick Business Center 18 Pleasant Street, Maine, 04011-2201
  • University of Maine
  • Criminal Defense and DUI and DWI
  • Brunswick, Maine Criminal Defense Lawyer with 19 years of experience
Free Consultation (207) 373-9314

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Brunswick - Maine

Brunswick Business Center 18 Pleasant Street, Maine, 04011-2201
Free Consultation (207) 373-9314

Armand Velardo

Car Accidents Lawyer Serving at Mount Clemens - Michigan

65 Southbound Gratiot Ave, Michigan, 48043-5545
  • Car Accidents, Business, Commercial, Criminal Defense, Divorce and Separation, General Practice, Guardianship, Landlord and Tenant, Negligence Law, ...
  • Mount Clemens, Michigan Car Accidents Lawyer
Free Consultation (586) 469-8660

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Mount Clemens - Michigan

65 Southbound Gratiot Ave, Michigan, 48043-5545
Free Consultation (586) 469-8660

Kurt G. Arras

Divorce and Separation Lawyer Serving at Tulsa - Oklahoma

9 E 4th St Apt 7, Oklahoma, 74103-5103
  • Divorce and Separation, Criminal Defense and Debt Collection
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma Divorce and Separation Lawyer
Free Consultation (918)587-1830

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Tulsa - Oklahoma

9 E 4th St Apt 7, Oklahoma, 74103-5103
Free Consultation (918)587-1830

Bernard Allen Cumbie

Business Lawyer Serving at Bay City - Texas

1514 7th St, Texas, 77414-4919
  • Business, Consumer Protection, Debt and Lending Agreements, Criminal Defense, Family, Government, Litigation, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, ...
  • Bay City, Texas Business Lawyer with 51 years of experience
Free Consultation 979-245-1623

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Bay City - Texas

1514 7th St, Texas, 77414-4919
Free Consultation 979-245-1623

Lance Cole Cole Collie

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Burnet - Texas

PO Box 579, Texas, 78611-0579
  • Criminal Defense, Insurance, Litigation, Oil and Gas, Real Estate and Wills and Living Wills
  • Burnet, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 9 years of experience
Free Consultation 512-790-3366

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Burnet - Texas

PO Box 579, Texas, 78611-0579
Free Consultation 512-790-3366

Jeffrey Dale Adams

Consumer Protection Lawyer Serving at Center - Texas

119 Logansport St, Texas, 75935-3849
  • Consumer Protection, Criminal Defense, Family and Litigation
  • Center, Texas Consumer Protection Lawyer with 26 years of experience
Free Consultation 936-598-4900

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Center - Texas

119 Logansport St, Texas, 75935-3849
Free Consultation 936-598-4900

Christopher Allen Allen Hartwell

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Canton - Texas

400 S Buffalo St, Texas, 75103-1318
  • Criminal Defense
  • Canton, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 3 years of experience
Free Consultation

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Canton - Texas

400 S Buffalo St, Texas, 75103-1318
Free Consultation

Michael L. Aaronson

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at El Paso - Texas

7362 Remcon Cir, Texas, 79912-1623
  • Criminal Defense
  • El Paso, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 50 years of experience
Free Consultation 915-533-0110

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at El Paso - Texas

7362 Remcon Cir, Texas, 79912-1623
Free Consultation 915-533-0110

William R. Pemberton

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Crockett - Texas

PO Box 1112, Texas, 75835-1112
  • Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Wills and Living Wills and Appeals and Appellate
  • Crockett, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 52 years of experience
Free Consultation 936-544-4111

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Crockett - Texas

PO Box 1112, Texas, 75835-1112
Free Consultation 936-544-4111

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.