Top Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal defense lawyers in Phoenix handle more DUI and drug charges than anything else. The rest spans assault, domestic violence, theft, weapons offenses, white-collar crime, and federal indictments. Once a case opens, the attorney reads the police report, tests how the evidence was gathered, and negotiates with the prosecutor. The aim is a dismissal, a reduced charge, or a sentence that avoids prison. Most Phoenix defense firms will look at a case for free.

Our team evaluates Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers on credentials, track record, and client reviews to help you find a good fit.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Aggregate satisfaction signals from independent sources

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Leading Phoenix Criminal Attorneys for Felony, DUI & Federal Charges

Screenshot of the The Law Offices Of Alcock & Associates P.C. Website

The Law Offices of Alcock & Associates is a criminal defense firm in Phoenix that also handles DUI, immigration, personal injury, and family law. The team brings more than 150 years of combined experience.

Several of its attorneys are former Maricopa County deputy attorneys. That prosecution background shapes how they read a case and prepare for trial. The firm reports winning well over 1,400 cases across Arizona.

Alcock is AV-rated and offers a free consultation, with payment plans available on criminal matters.

Screenshot of the VS Criminal Defense Attorneys Website
1845 S Dobson Rd UNIT 202, Mesa, AZ 85202, USA

Few Arizona firms build an entire practice around sex crime allegations. Villanueva Skura does, and lead attorney Michelle Skura has been named a Top 40 Under 40 criminal defense lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers.

The Mesa office serves Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Queen Creek, with a second Phoenix location. Published results include a Maricopa County Superior Court case in which a 140-year offer was reduced to about 1 year.

Staff answers the phone around the clock, and payment terms are flexible.

Screenshot of the CIMA Law Group Website
350 E Virginia Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

Founded in 2013, CIMA Law Group has handled more than 2,300 cases for clients across Arizona. The practice covers immigration, criminal defense, and personal injury.

Ayensa Millan and Mario Gonzalez lead the team. Staff work in English and Spanish, so families can follow a case in the language they use at home. A separate government relations group lobbies on behalf of clients and the community.

People facing an arrest alongside an immigration issue can have both matters handled under one roof. That overlap sets these Phoenix criminal defense attorneys apart from general practices.

Screenshot of the Gaxiola & Litwak Law Group Website
2 N Central Ave 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

Richard Gaxiola has spent more than 20 years trying serious felony cases in Arizona courtrooms. His work on Hells Angels prosecutions and other high-profile matters has drawn coverage from the Phoenix New Times and The New York Times.

Gaxiola & Litwak Law Group takes cases in all 15 Arizona counties from its central Phoenix tower. Charges range from aggravated assault and homicide to drug trafficking and white-collar crime.

The office answers calls 24 hours a day and reviews new cases at no cost.

Screenshot of the Lerner & Rowe Law Group Website
2701 E Camelback Rd STE 185, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA

Separate teams, not shared ones. Lerner and Rowe Law Group runs one group devoted entirely to criminal defense, another to DUI, and a third to bankruptcy.

Glen Lerner and Kevin Rowe founded the practice, which is not a personal injury firm. Sean Forrester manages the criminal side, and veteran defense attorney Bruce Blumberg is on the roster.

Intake runs every day of the year, and payment plans spread the cost of representation.

Screenshot of the Belen Law Firm, PLLC Website

Belen Law Firm, PLLC is a Phoenix practice that takes criminal cases only. Managing attorney Maria Belen Olmedo Guerra has handled hundreds of felony matters, including homicides, violent crimes, child abuse, and sex offenses.

Three associates and an appeals counsel round out the team. The firm describes what it offers as big-firm representation in a small-firm setting, and it makes a point of welcoming LGBTQIA+ clients.

Attorneys are reachable 24 hours a day, and case evaluations cost nothing.

Screenshot of the Doran Justice, PLLC Website
3550 N Central Ave Suite 1006, Phoenix, AZ 85012, USA

Criminal defense is one of three lanes at Doran Justice, PLLC, alongside post-conviction relief and personal injury. Chris Doran takes cases across Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties.

The firm posts trial outcomes, case results, and protective order rulings on its own site, which is unusually open for a small practice. Doran also writes a blog and hosts a podcast on Arizona charges.

Screenshot of the The Weingart Firm Website
4500 S Lakeshore Dr, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA

From an office in Tempe, The Weingart Firm covers DUI and criminal charges across the Phoenix metro. Mark Weingart is a former criminal court judge, AV-rated, with decades of DUI work behind him.

Adam Weingart practices alongside him. The phones stay open on weekends and overnight.

Screenshot of the Orent Law Offices, PLC Website
11811 N Tatum Blvd unit 3031 15b, Phoenix, AZ 85028, United States

Craig Orent has defended Arizona criminal cases since 1994 and is a certified criminal law specialist under the State Bar. He is also a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a society limited to a small fraction of American trial lawyers.

Orent Law Offices takes matters ranging from criminal traffic tickets to capital first-degree murder in Maricopa County. City, state, and federal courts are all in range.

Screenshot of the Robert J. Campos & Associates, P.L.C. Website

Robert J. Campos & Associates has served Arizona clients since 1996. Campos spent seven years as a Maricopa County prosecutor and two more in La Paz County, including five years on sex crimes.

He later sat as a pro tem judge in the Scottsdale and Glendale city courts. Certified as a criminal law specialist in 1995, he also takes appeals.

Screenshot of the Long & Simmons Law Website
2999 N 44th St Suite 516, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA

Matthew Long and Jefferson Simmons put more than 50 years of combined work behind their Phoenix practice. Both are board-certified specialists and former major felony prosecutors.

Long & Simmons Law defends sex crime, DUI, and vehicular manslaughter charges. The firm also takes serious injury and wrongful death claims.

Screenshot of the Blumberg & Associates Website
3600 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015, USA

Founded in 1988, Blumberg & Associates has spent more than three decades in Phoenix courtrooms. Bruce Blumberg is one of the few Arizona attorneys board-certified as a criminal law specialist.

Roughly 100 jury trials sit on his record, several of them death penalty matters. The practice also handles divorce, paternity, and orders of protection.

Screenshot of the Your Arizona Lawyer Website

Tucson and Scottsdale offices give Your Arizona Lawyer reach across southern and central Arizona. The practice defends criminal charges statewide and keeps legal staff available at all hours.

An Avvo Clients' Choice award and a BBB A+ rating back up its record.

Screenshot of the DuMond Law Firm, PLLC Website
340 E Palm Ln Suite A100, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

DuMond Law Firm, PLLC pairs criminal defense with probate, estate planning, and family law. Samantha DuMond leads a small Phoenix team that also takes post-conviction relief, including ineffective assistance claims and new evidence petitions.

Cases run across four Arizona counties.

Screenshot of the Ballecer & Segal Website
1095 E Indian School Rd #600, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA

Crimmigration is the specialty here. Ballecer & Segal, LLP handles criminal charges and their immigration consequences together, which matters when a plea can trigger removal.

Danilo Ballecer and Natalee Segal have each practiced in Phoenix for about three decades.

Screenshot of the Garcia Law Firm, PLC Website
827 N 5th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003, USA

Bernardo Garcia has practiced Arizona criminal law since 1991 and concentrates on defendants living with mental illness or substance dependence. He speaks Spanish, offers fee discounts to veterans, and visits clients in jail.

Garcia Law Firm, PLC is based in downtown Phoenix.

Screenshot of the AZ Defenders Website
67 E Weldon Ave # 317, Phoenix, AZ 85012, USA

Two of Arizona's five certified DUI law specialists work at AZ Defenders, alongside three board-certified criminal law specialists. Founder Craig Rosenstein is a past president of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

The firm covers Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Scottsdale.

Screenshot of the Suzuki Law Offices LLC Website

Richard J. Suzuki prosecuted felonies for Maricopa County, then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. He now leads Suzuki Law Offices in Phoenix, where the attorneys all came from the prosecution side.

Criminal charges, DUI, and injury claims make up the caseload.

Screenshot of the Law Offices Michael E. Ziton P.C. Website
16427 N Scottsdale Rd Suite 410, Scottsdale, AZ 85254, USA

Law Offices Michael E. Ziton P.C. has defended Arizona charges since Ziton joined the bar in 1992. A former City of Phoenix prosecutor, he has tried more than 80 jury trials and handles drug offenses, domestic violence, and DUI from Scottsdale.

Screenshot of the Ted Law | DUI & Criminal Defense Lawyer in Phoenix Website

Tempe is home base for Ted Law, with a second office up in Prescott. Theodore Agnick has been licensed in Arizona since 1993 and takes criminal, DUI, and injury matters. Payment terms are worked out case by case.

Screenshot of the Steven George Law Website
645 N 4th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003, USA

Steven Scharboneau splits his time between courtrooms and the Arizona Capitol, where he lobbies on criminal justice reform. Steven George Law works at Anthem and Phoenix, defending drunk-driving and criminal charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a criminal defense lawyer in Phoenix cost?

Usually a flat fee. Most Phoenix defense attorneys quote one price per stage of the case, not an hourly rate. A misdemeanor costs far less than a felony headed for trial. Many firms offer payment plans, and the first consultation is often free.

How long does a criminal case take in Maricopa County?

A few months to over a year. Misdemeanors in city courts often resolve in three to six months. Felony cases in Maricopa County Superior Court usually run longer, especially with forensic testing involved. A case that goes to a jury can take well past a year.

How long does Arizona have to file charges against me?

Seven years for most felonies. A.R.S. 13-107 gives prosecutors seven years to charge class 2 through class 6 felonies. Misdemeanors carry a one-year limit, and petty offenses six months. Homicide and violent sexual assault have no deadline at all, and the clock pauses if you leave the state.

What happens at a first appearance after an arrest?

A judge sets release conditions. This hearing takes place within 24 hours of booking and decides whether you go home or stay in custody. The judge may impose bond, no-contact orders, or travel limits. A lawyer at this stage can argue for lower conditions before they are locked in.

Can a conviction be cleared from my record in Arizona?

Rarely erased, sometimes set aside. Arizona does not offer general expungement the way many states do. Instead, a court may set aside a conviction, which removes most of its penalties. Certain marijuana offenses can be expunged under Proposition 207.

Do I need a private lawyer if a public defender is available?

Not always, but it changes the workload. Public defenders in Maricopa County are experienced and carry heavy caseloads. A private attorney takes fewer cases and can spend more time on investigation and negotiation. The right answer depends on the charge and what you can afford.

What does a certified criminal law specialist mean in Arizona?

A rare State Bar credential. The State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in criminal law after review of their trial work and peer standing. Only a small share of Arizona lawyers hold it. A separate certification exists for DUI law, and very few attorneys carry that one.

Types of Criminal Cases Phoenix Attorneys Handle

DUI and Extreme DUI. Arizona treats a first offense seriously, with mandatory jail, fines, and an ignition interlock device. Extreme and Super Extreme charges apply at higher blood alcohol levels. Defense often turns on the stop, the testing, and the officer's paperwork.

Drug Offenses. Charges run from simple possession to trafficking and manufacturing. Phoenix sits on major interstate corridors, so possession-for-sale and transport cases are common here. Search-and-seizure issues drive many of these defenses.

Violent Crime. Assault, aggravated assault, robbery, and homicide carry Arizona's toughest sentencing rules. Some carry mandatory prison with no probation option. Self-defense and identification disputes are frequent issues.

Domestic Violence. In Arizona this is a designation attached to another offense, not a standalone crime. It can apply to assault, criminal damage, harassment, or disorderly conduct. A conviction affects gun rights and family court matters.

Sex Offenses. These cases often start before charges are filed, during a police investigation. Convictions can require lifetime registration. Many Phoenix firms take these on with forensic and computer experts.

Theft and White Collar Crime. Shoplifting, auto theft, forgery, embezzlement, and fraud fall here. The dollar amount usually decides whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony. Records and accounting review often shape the defense.

Federal Charges. Cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona follow different rules and sentencing guidelines. Drug conspiracy, weapons, and immigration-related prosecutions are common. Not every state-court lawyer practices in federal court.

Probation Violations. The state only has to prove a violation by a preponderance of the evidence. A judge can add terms, extend probation, or send you to prison. These hearings move quickly.

How to Choose a Criminal Lawyer in Phoenix

Ask how many cases they take to trial. Plea negotiation matters most days, but prosecutors treat a trial lawyer differently. Ask for recent jury trial numbers, not career totals.

Check for board certification. A certified criminal law specialist has been vetted by the State Bar of Arizona. It is not the only marker of skill, but it is a verified one.

Match the lawyer to the court. A Phoenix Municipal Court misdemeanor is not a Maricopa County Superior Court felony. Federal indictments need a lawyer admitted to practice in federal court.

Ask who actually handles your file. Some firms assign the case to an associate after the consultation. Find out before you sign who will stand next to you.

Get the fee in writing. Confirm what the quoted price covers and what happens if the case goes to trial. Ask whether expert witnesses and investigators cost extra.

What Affects the Outcome of a Phoenix Criminal Case

Outcomes vary widely, and no lawyer can promise one. The charge class, your prior record, and Arizona's mandatory sentencing rules set the range before anything else happens. Evidence problems matter next: a bad stop, a flawed search, or a weak witness can move a case toward dismissal or a lesser charge.

Many Phoenix cases end in a plea rather than a verdict. Diversion programs may be available for some first-time drug and theft charges. An attorney can review the file and give a realistic picture of what the state can actually prove.

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