Best Criminal Defense Attorneys - November 2024

Steven G. Tyner

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Port Orchard - Washington

819 Cline Ave, Washington, 98366-4301
  • Criminal Defense
  • Port Orchard, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 32 years of experience
Free Consultation (360) 613-9974

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Port Orchard - Washington

819 Cline Ave, Washington, 98366-4301
Free Consultation (360) 613-9974

James Everett David

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Vancouver - Washington

PO Box 126, Washington, 98666-0126
  • Criminal Defense, Elder Law, Employment and Labor, Government and Human Rights
  • Vancouver, Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer with 41 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Vancouver - Washington

PO Box 126, Washington, 98666-0126

Eugene A Burrus

Antitrust and Trade Law Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1521 2nd Ave Apt 1702, Washington, 98101-4510
  • Antitrust and Trade Law, Consumer Protection, Criminal Defense and Intellectual Property
  • Seattle, Washington Antitrust and Trade Law Lawyer with 10 years of experience

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

1521 2nd Ave Apt 1702, Washington, 98101-4510

Andrew Slone Pomerantz

Aviation Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

506 2nd Ave Ste 1400, Washington, 98104-2329
  • Aviation, Bankruptcy and debt, Collections, Criminal Defense, Environmental and Natural Resources, Foreclosure, Landlord and Tenant, Legal Writing, Litigation, ...
  • Seattle, Washington Aviation Lawyer with 10 years of experience
Free Consultation (800) 539-3960

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Seattle - Washington

506 2nd Ave Ste 1400, Washington, 98104-2329
Free Consultation (800) 539-3960

Eric Marcus Neshanian

Appeals and Appellate Lawyer Serving at Irvine - California

Inc., 20 Corporate Park Ste 110, California, 92606-3109
  • Appeals and Appellate, Business, Contracts and Agreements, Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation, Personal Injury and Real Estate
  • Irvine, California Appeals and Appellate Lawyer
Free Consultation (714) 973-2600

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Irvine - California

Inc., 20 Corporate Park Ste 110, California, 92606-3109
Free Consultation (714) 973-2600

Tiffany Theresa Shelton

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Lansing - Michigan

313 W Kalamazoo St, Michigan, 48933-2046
  • Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law Sch
  • Criminal Defense
  • Lansing, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (517) 483-6504

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Lansing - Michigan

313 W Kalamazoo St, Michigan, 48933-2046
Free Consultation (517) 483-6504

Hon. Julie A. O'Neill

Civil Rights Lawyer Serving at Charlotte - Michigan

1045 Independence Blvd, Michigan, 48813-1033
  • Civil Rights, Criminal Defense, Divorce and Separation, Driver’s License Restoration, Family, General Practice, Juvenile, Medicaid and Medicare and Speeding and Traffic Ticket
  • Charlotte, Michigan Civil Rights Lawyer
Free Consultation (517) 543-4030

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Charlotte - Michigan

1045 Independence Blvd, Michigan, 48813-1033
Free Consultation (517) 543-4030

Bert Whitehead, IV

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Birmingham - Michigan

114 S Old Woodward Ave Ste 2, Michigan, 48009-6107
  • Criminal Defense, Debt and Lending Agreements, Family, Guardianship, Landlord and Tenant, Public Finance and Tax Exempt Finance, Probate, Speeding and Traffic Ticket and Wills and Living Wills
  • Birmingham, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free Consultation (855) 437-3704

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Birmingham - Michigan

114 S Old Woodward Ave Ste 2, Michigan, 48009-6107
Free Consultation (855) 437-3704

Yan Carlo Carlo Villa

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Presidio - Texas

202 east Rosedale street P.O. Box 1159, Texas, 79845
  • Criminal Defense and Family
  • Presidio, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 4 years of experience
Free Consultation

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Presidio - Texas

202 east Rosedale street P.O. Box 1159, Texas, 79845
Free Consultation

Ashley Leigh Mitchell Mitchell Anderson

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving at Rockwall - Texas

519 E. Interstate 30, #130, Texas, 75087
  • Criminal Defense
  • Rockwall, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with 18 years of experience
Free Consultation 214-668-4670

0 reviews

Lawyer Serving at Rockwall - Texas

519 E. Interstate 30, #130, Texas, 75087
Free Consultation 214-668-4670

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.