Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - September 2024

Jack William Range

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Port Townsend - Washington

624 Polk St, Washington, 98368-6532
  • Criminal Defense
  • Port Townsend, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 9 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Port Townsend - Washington

624 Polk St, Washington, 98368-6532

Joseph Bennett Wolfley

Real Estate Lawyer Serving at Port Angeles - Washington

713 E 1st St, Washington, 98362-3604
  • Real Estate, Criminal Defense, Debt and Lending Agreements, Government, Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury and Land Use and Zoning
  • Port Angeles, Washington Real Estate Lawyer with 12 years of experience
Free Consultation (360) 457-2794

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Port Angeles - Washington

713 E 1st St, Washington, 98362-3604
Free Consultation (360) 457-2794

Mimi Soame Buescher

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Coupeville - Washington

PO Box 727, Washington, 98239-0727
  • Criminal Defense, Family, Juvenile and Litigation
  • Coupeville, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 37 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Coupeville - Washington

PO Box 727, Washington, 98239-0727

Gary D. Glouner Jr

Business Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

4111 E Madison St #42, Washington, 98112-3241
  • Business, Commercial, Civil Rights, Contracts and Agreements, Corporate and Incorporation, Criminal Defense, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills and Living Wills, ...
  • Seattle, Washington Business Lawyer with 13 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

4111 E Madison St #42, Washington, 98112-3241

Justin C Harleman

Administrative Law Lawyer Serving at Arlington - Washington

23130 115th Ave NE, Washington, 98223-9590
  • Administrative Law, Government, Criminal Defense, Health Care and Litigation
  • Arlington, Washington Administrative Law Lawyer with 13 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Arlington - Washington

23130 115th Ave NE, Washington, 98223-9590

Stephen Bilkis

Family Lawyer Serving at New York - New York

Stephen Bilkis & Associates, 100 Park Ave 16th Floor, New York, 10017
  • Family, Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Guardianship, Marriage and Prenuptials, Domestic Violence, LGBT+ Law, ...
  • New York, New York Family Lawyer
Free Consultation

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at New York - New York

Stephen Bilkis & Associates, 100 Park Ave 16th Floor, New York, 10017
Free Consultation

Tsion Abate Chudnovsky

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Los Angeles - California

Chudnovsky Law - Criminal & DUI Lawyers, 1933 S Broadway #1100, California, 90007
  • Criminal Defense, Appeals and Appellate, Drug Crime, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Law, Internet, Sex Crime, Violent Crime, ...
  • Los Angeles, California Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (213) 212-5002

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Los Angeles - California

Chudnovsky Law - Criminal & DUI Lawyers, 1933 S Broadway #1100, California, 90007
Free Consultation (213) 212-5002

Owen Paul Lynch

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Decatur - Georgia

235 E Ponce de Leon Avenue Suite 210, Georgia, 30030
  • Criminal Defense
  • Decatur, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 8 years of experience
Free Consultation (404) 797-8922

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Decatur - Georgia

235 E Ponce de Leon Avenue Suite 210, Georgia, 30030
Free Consultation (404) 797-8922

Adam Henry Miller Ii

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Marietta - Georgia

191 Roswell Street, Georgia, 30060
  • Criminal Defense
  • Marietta, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 10 years of experience
Free Consultation (404) 369-0048

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Marietta - Georgia

191 Roswell Street, Georgia, 30060
Free Consultation (404) 369-0048

Ariel Omar Valdes

Bankruptcy and debt Lawyer Serving at Chicago - Illinois

Greater Chicago Legal Clinic Inc. 17 N State Street 1710, Illinois , 60602
  • Bankruptcy and debt, Criminal Defense, Estate Planning, Family and Real Estate
  • Chicago, Illinois Bankruptcy and debt Lawyer with 33 years of experience
Free Consultation (312) 726-2838

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Chicago - Illinois

Greater Chicago Legal Clinic Inc. 17 N State Street 1710, Illinois , 60602
Free Consultation (312) 726-2838

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.