Criminal Defense Lawyers

DUI, felony, misdemeanor, and white-collar defense.

About Criminal Defense attorneys

Criminal defense lawyers represent anyone charged with a crime — misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile offenses, drug charges, theft, assault, and white-collar matters. They protect constitutional rights from the first police contact through trial and appeal.

Defense counsel evaluates the evidence, challenges illegal searches and confessions, negotiates with prosecutors, and tries cases to a jury when needed. The goal is dismissal, reduction of charges, diversion, or the lightest sentence the facts allow.

When to call: Hire a lawyer before speaking with police or prosecutors. Anything you say can be used against you, and early intervention often shapes whether charges are even filed.

Browse Criminal Defense attorneys by city

Every supported metro for criminal defense — linked directly so attorneys, search engines, and AI crawlers can reach each page in one click.

Birmingham, AL Cullman, AL Decatur, AL Florence, AL Gadsden, AL Huntsville, AL Madison, AL Mobile, AL Montgomery, AL Prattville, AL Tuscaloosa, AL Vestavia Hills, AL Anchorage, AK Fairbanks, AK Juneau, AK Avondale, AZ Chandler, AZ Gilbert, AZ Glendale, AZ Goodyear, AZ Maricopa, AZ Mesa, AZ Peoria, AZ Phoenix, AZ Queen Creek, AZ San Tan Valley, AZ Scottsdale, AZ Tempe, AZ Tucson, AZ Bentonville, AR Bryant, AR Fayetteville, AR Fort Smith, AR Little Rock, AR Rogers, AR Springdale, AR Aliso Viejo, CA Anaheim, CA Artesia, CA Azusa, CA Bakersfield, CA Bellflower, CA Benicia, CA Beverly Hills, CA Brea, CA Burbank, CA Burlingame, CA Campbell, CA Carlsbad, CA Cerritos, CA Chico, CA Chula Vista, CA Corona, CA Costa Mesa, CA Downey, CA El Cajon, CA Encino, CA Escondido, CA Fairfield, CA Folsom, CA Forestville, CA Fountain Valley, CA Fresno, CA Fullerton, CA Glendale, CA Glendora, CA Huntington Beach, CA Indian Wells, CA Irvine, CA La Crescenta-Montrose, CA La Mesa, CA Lafayette, CA Laguna Beach, CA Laguna Hills, CA Laguna Niguel, CA Lakewood, CA Livermore, CA Lodi, CA Los Angeles, CA Manhattan Beach, CA Millbrae, CA Mission Viejo, CA Montrose, CA Murrieta, CA Newport Beach, CA Norwalk, CA Novato, CA Oakland, CA Ontario, CA Orange, CA Oxnard, CA Palm Springs, CA Pasadena, CA Petaluma, CA Placentia, CA Pleasant Hill, CA Pleasanton, CA Poway, CA Rancho Cucamonga, CA Redding, CA Redlands, CA Redwood City, CA Riverside, CA Rocklin, CA Roseville, CA Sacramento, CA Sacremento, CA San Clemente, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA San Marcos, CA San Mateo, CA San Rafael, CA San Ramon, CA Santa Ana, CA Santa Monica, CA Santa Rosa, CA Santee, CA Shasta Lake, CA Sherman Oaks, CA Spring Valley, CA Temecula, CA Torrance, CA Truckee, CA Tustin, CA Upland, CA Valencia, CA Van Nuys, CA Vista, CA Walnut Creek, CA Westlake Village, CA Whittier, CA Woodland Hills, CA Yucaipa, CA Arvada, CO Aurora, CO Boulder, CO Broomfield, CO Centennial, CO Colorado Springs, CO Denver, CO Englewood, CO Fort Collins, CO Golden, CO Grand Junction, CO Greenwood Village, CO Lafayette, CO Littleton, CO Parker, CO Thornton, CO Ansonia, CT Avon, CT Bridgeport, CT Cheshire, CT Danbury, CT Darien, CT East Hartford, CT East Haven, CT Ellington, CT Fairfield, CT Glastonbury, CT Hamden, CT Hartford, CT Litchfield, CT Manchester, CT Meriden, CT Middletown, CT Milford, CT Monroe, CT New Haven, CT New London, CT North Haven, CT Norwalk, CT Old Saybrook, CT Orange, CT Shelton, CT SIMSBURY, CT South Windsor, CT Southington, CT Stamford, CT Stratford, CT Wallingford, CT Watertown, CT West Hartford, CT WESTPORT, CT Windsor, CT Wolcott, CT Woodbury, CT Dover, DE Greenville, DE Hockessin, DE Lewes, DE Newark, DE Odessa, DE Wilmington, DE Washington, DC 320 NW 3rd Ave., Ocala, FL Alachua, FL Altamonte Springs, FL Apollo Beach, FL Apopka, FL Aventura, FL BOCA RATON, FL Boynton Beach, FL Bradenton, FL Brandon, FL Brandon, Florida 33511, FL Brooksville, FL Cape Coral, FL Chiefland, FL Clearwater, FL Clermont, FL Coconut Creek, FL Coconut Grove, FL Coral Gables, FL Coral Springs, FL Dade City, FL Davie, FL Daytona Beach, FL Deerfield Beach, FL Delray Beach, FL Destin, FL Doral, FL El Portal, FL Englewood, FL FORT LAUDERDALE, FL Fort Lauderdale, Florida, FL Fort Myers, FL Ft Lauderdale, FL Ft. Myers, FL Gainesville, FL Gainsville, FL Hialeah, FL Hollywood, FL Homestead, FL Jacksonville, FL JUNO BEACH, FL Jupiter, FL Kissimmee, FL Lake Mary, FL Lake Worth, FL Lakeland, FL Lakewood Ranch, FL Land O Lakes, FL Largo, FL Lauderdale Lakes, FL Lauderhill, FL Lighthouse Point, FL Lithia, FL, FL Longwood, FL Lutz, FL Maitland, FL Melbourne, FL Miami, FL Miami Beach, FL Miami Lakes, FL Miramar, FL Naples, FL New Port Richey, FL Newberry, FL North Miami, FL Oakland, FL Ocala, FL Odessa, FL Oldsmar, FL Orange Park, FL Orlando, FL Ormond Beach, FL Oviedo, FL PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL Palm Harbor, FL Palmetto Bay, FL Parkland, FL Pembroke Pines, FL Pensacola, FL Plantation, FL Ponte Vedra, FL Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Port Charlotte, FL Port Richey, FL Port Saint Lucie, FL Port St. Lucie, FL Riverview, FL Safety Harbor, FL Saint Petersburg, FL SARASOTA, FL Satellite Beach, FL Seminole, FL SPRING HILL, FL St Augustine, FL St. Petersburg, FL Stuart, FL Tallahassee, FL Tampa, FL West Palm Beach, FL Atlanta, GA Augusta, GA Columbus, GA Savannah, GA Hilo, HI Honolulu, HI Boise, ID Meridian, ID Aurora, IL Chicago, IL Naperville, IL Springfield, IL Evansville, IN Fort Wayne, IN Indianapolis, IN Cedar Rapids, IA Des Moines, IA Overland Park, KS Wichita, KS Lexington, KY Louisville, KY Baton Rouge, LA New Orleans, LA Bangor, ME Ellsworth, ME Portland, ME Presque Isle, ME Annapolis, MD Baltimore, MD Boston, MA Quincy, MA S. Easton, MA Salem, MA Springfield, MA Worcester, MA Ann Arbor, MI Detroit, MI Grand Rapids, MI Duluth, MN Minneapolis, MN Saint Paul, MN Gulfport, MS Jackson, MS Kansas City, MO St. Louis, MO Billings, MT Missoula, MT Lincoln, NE Omaha, NE Las Vegas, NV Reno, NV Manchester, NH Nashua, NH Jersey City, NJ Newark, NJ Roseland, NJ Albuquerque, NM Santa Fe, NM Albany, NY Buffalo, NY Melville, NY New York City, NY Poughkeepsie, NY Queens, NY Queensbury, NY Rochester, NY Burlington, NC Charlotte, NC Greensboro, NC Raleigh, NC Bismarck, ND Fargo, ND Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Oklahoma City, OK Tulsa, OK Eugene, OR Hillsboro, OR Portland, OR Philadelphia, PA Pittsburgh, PA Providence, RI Charleston, SC Columbia, SC Sioux Falls, SD Knoxville, TN Memphis, TN Nashville, TN Austin, TX Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Houston, TX San Antonio, TX Salt Lake City, UT West Valley City, UT Burlington, VT Arlington, VA Richmond, VA Virginia Beach, VA Bellevue, WA Everett, WA Seattle, WA Spokane, WA Tacoma, WA Vancouver, WA Charleston, WV Huntington, WV Madison, WI Milwaukee, WI Casper, WY Cheyenne, WY Cody, WY Evanston, WY Laramie, WY Riverton, WY

Featured Criminal Defense attorneys & law firms

Complete index of every published criminal defense profile on Law Firm Central.

Law firms with sites built on Law Firm Central

Alatorre Law — Arizona

Related practice areas

Other legal specialties in the same category.

DWI Defense Drug Crimes Assault DUI / DWI Domestic Violence Defense White Collar Crime Federal Criminal Defense Sex Crimes Theft Robbery Murder & Homicide Juvenile Crimes Weapons Charges Probation Violations Criminal Appeals Expungements

Criminal Defense lawyer questions, answered

Common questions people ask before hiring a criminal defense attorney.

What does a criminal defense lawyer do?

How do criminal defense attorneys handle a case?

When should I contact a criminal defense attorney?

Hire a lawyer before speaking with police or prosecutors. Anything you say can be used against you, and early intervention often shapes whether charges are even filed.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost?

Fees vary by matter and market. Criminal Defense attorneys commonly work on a contingency fee, a flat fee, or an hourly rate, and many offer a free initial consultation. Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you hire anyone.

How do I choose the right criminal defense lawyer near me?

Compare attorneys who focus specifically on criminal defense matters in your state, check their reviews and disciplinary record, confirm who will actually handle your file day to day, and ask how they communicate about case progress. You can browse verified criminal defense attorneys by state and city on Law Firm Central.

Do criminal defense attorneys offer free consultations?

Many do. A free consultation is a short call or meeting where the attorney evaluates whether you have a viable matter, explains the likely process and timeline, and quotes their fee. It does not create an attorney-client relationship until you both agree to it.