Criminal defence attorneys represent people accused of crimes — from misdemeanours such as theft, assault and drug possession to felony charges carrying years in prison. They also handle bail hearings, pre-charge investigations, probation violations, expungements and post-conviction relief.
Most of the work happens before trial: challenging how evidence was gathered, testing the strength of the state's case, and negotiating charges down where the evidence is strong. Very few criminal cases reach a jury, but the ones that resolve well usually do so because the defence was prepared to try them.
Before you hire
- Move quickly. Decisions made in the first days — whether to speak to police, whether to consent to a search — shape everything that follows.
- Ask whether the attorney regularly appears in the specific court handling your case. Local practice, prosecutors' charging habits and diversion programmes vary from county to county.
- Fees are usually flat and quoted by stage: pre-trial, trial, appeal. Get in writing what the quoted figure includes.
- If you cannot afford counsel, a public defender will be appointed. That is a right, not a fallback of last resort.
The listings below cover private defence practices. Filter by city to find attorneys who work in your courthouse.