Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - September 2024

Faisal Akhter

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Redmond - Washington

5600 148th Ave NE, Washington, 98052-5104
  • Criminal Defense and Military Law
  • Redmond, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (425) 704-4611

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Redmond - Washington

5600 148th Ave NE, Washington, 98052-5104
Free Consultation (425) 704-4611

Leland Hulbert

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Louisville - Kentucky

Leland Hulbert Law PLLC,, Kentucky, 40202
  • Criminal Defense, Appeals and Appellate, Drug Crime, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Law, Internet, Sex Crime, Violent Crime, ...
  • Louisville, Kentucky Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Louisville - Kentucky

Leland Hulbert Law PLLC,, Kentucky, 40202
Free Consultation

Mark William Rogers

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Shreveport - Louisiana

400 Travis Street, Suite 322, Louisiana, 71101
  • Criminal Defense, Appeals and Appellate, Drug Crime, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Law, Internet, Sex Crime, Violent Crime ...
  • Shreveport, Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (318) 655-2247

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Shreveport - Louisiana

400 Travis Street, Suite 322, Louisiana, 71101
Free Consultation (318) 655-2247

William Vance Ferro

Personal Injury Lawyer Serving at New York - New York

Liga de Justicia Abogados New York Bronx NY, 321 Broadway Suite 400, New York, 10007
  • Personal Injury, Animal and Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction and Development, Motorcycle Accident, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, ...
  • New York, New York Personal Injury Lawyer
Free Consultation (646) 786-6515

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at New York - New York

Liga de Justicia Abogados New York Bronx NY, 321 Broadway Suite 400, New York, 10007
Free Consultation (646) 786-6515

Steven Marc Raiser

Personal Injury Lawyer Serving at New York - New York

87 Walker Street, 2nd Floor, New York,
  • Personal Injury, Criminal Defense and Military Law
  • New York, New York Personal Injury Lawyer with 21 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at New York - New York

87 Walker Street, 2nd Floor, New York,

Barry Gordon Irwin

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Athens - Georgia

PO Box 1861, Georgia, 30603-1861
  • Criminal Defense
  • Athens, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 43 years of experience
Free Consultation (706) 548-9500

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Athens - Georgia

PO Box 1861, Georgia, 30603-1861
Free Consultation (706) 548-9500

Allison Elizabeth Mccarthy

Cannabis Law Lawyer Serving at Athens - Georgia

1055 Prince Avenue Unit 2, Georgia, 30606
  • Cannabis Law and Criminal Defense
  • Athens, Georgia Cannabis Law Lawyer with 23 years of experience
Free Consultation (678) 637-3201

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Athens - Georgia

1055 Prince Avenue Unit 2, Georgia, 30606
Free Consultation (678) 637-3201

Jason Banks Moon

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Valdosta - Georgia

119 W. North Street, Georgia, 31603-0866
  • Criminal Defense and Family
  • Valdosta, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 20 years of experience
Free Consultation (229) 247-0715

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Valdosta - Georgia

119 W. North Street, Georgia, 31603-0866
Free Consultation (229) 247-0715

Snehal Patel

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Savannah - Georgia

219 W York St, Georgia, 31401-3636
  • Criminal Defense
  • Savannah, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer with 18 years of experience
Free Consultation (912) 656-5996

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Savannah - Georgia

219 W York St, Georgia, 31401-3636
Free Consultation (912) 656-5996

Mark Edward Zaleski

Bankruptcy and debt Lawyer Serving at Rockford - Illinois

IL Dept of Children and Family Services 200 South Wyman Suite 201, Illinois , 61101
  • Bankruptcy and debt, Criminal Defense, DUI and DWI, Divorce and Separation and Speeding and Traffic Ticket
  • Rockford, Illinois Bankruptcy and debt Lawyer with 31 years of experience
Free Consultation (815) 222-2014

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Rockford - Illinois

IL Dept of Children and Family Services 200 South Wyman Suite 201, Illinois , 61101
Free Consultation (815) 222-2014

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.