Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia

Yeargan & Kert, LLC is a criminal defense law firm in Atlanta built around DUI work. Jim Yeargan and his partners prosecuted these cases before they started defending them, and the team has over 50 years of combined experience.

Yeargan trained at the Georgia Police Academy in field sobriety testing and now teaches that course to officers. That background shapes how the firm attacks breath tests and traffic stops.

The firm charges a flat fee that covers motions, the license hearing, and trial. Georgia gives you 30 days to request that hearing before your license is suspended, and the office files the request for you.

David Schnipper worked for two district attorney offices before opening his own practice. He now defends people facing drug charges, domestic violence allegations, white-collar counts, and probation violations.

His main office sits inside the Perimeter in DeKalb County, with a second location in Buckhead. Clients get a free one-hour case review and speak directly with the attorney handling their file.

Schnipper holds a 10.0 Avvo rating and is ranked in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He suits anyone who wants one Atlanta criminal defense attorney on the case from first hearing through verdict.

Few Atlanta practices split their work evenly between injury claims and criminal charges. Issa and Castro LLC does, with more than 50 years of combined experience behind its Buckhead office.

The partners have won acquittals in murder trials and take DUI, drug, and assault cases in courts across the metro area. Staff answers the phone in Spanish and English.

Anyone looking for a bilingual criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta with real trial mileage will find one here. Georgia Super Lawyers has recognized the firm.

Traffic citations are the entire practice at Georgia Traffic Lawyers, the Dunwoody office of attorney Scott Fortas. The team fights speeding and Super Speeder tickets, red-light violations, reckless-driving counts, and commercial-license charges statewide.

Missed court dates and suspended-license cases come through the door, too. Free ticket reviews are available 24/7.

Marietta is home base for David West & Associates, though the firm takes cases across Georgia. David S. West has practiced criminal law since 1994 and has handled matters that drew coverage from CNN and Fox.

The work spans drug charges, felony defense, sex crimes, homicide, and criminal appeals. The office also handles pardons and paroles, which many defense practices skip.

Phones are answered around the clock and the first consultation costs nothing.

Matt Hirsch has spent more than two decades in Georgia criminal courts, working DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett cases from a Brookhaven office. Super Lawyers has listed him every year since 2021.

He represents adults and juveniles on misdemeanor and felony charges, and the firm arranges flexible payment plans.

Downtown clients walk into W. Scott Smith, P.C., facing anything from a first DUI to serious felony counts. The firm represents people in misdemeanor and felony matters throughout metro Georgia, including drug and domestic violence charges.

Case evaluations are free and can be booked online.

Michael D. Barber Jr. designed and taught a DUI class at the Atlanta Police Department Training Center and has instructed officers at the state public safety academy. He served as an assistant solicitor for the City of Atlanta before returning to defense work.

His Dunwoody firm concentrates on DUI, drug, and traffic charges around the metro area. Payment plans are available.

A deliberately small caseload is the pitch at the Law Office of Matthew T. McNally. Before opening the practice, McNally served as an assistant district attorney in the Coweta and Cobb circuits. He has since tried more than 70 jury cases.

He takes criminal work only, from an office in the Old Fourth Ward. Financing is available for clients who need it.

More than 3,000 criminal cases have gone through The Abt Law Firm, including 18 wins in its last 20 murder trials. The practice takes nothing but criminal work, from shoplifting counts to federal fraud and racketeering charges.

E. Jay Abt and his attorneys have appeared on CNN and Fox to discuss high-profile cases. Consultations are free and the phone line runs 24/7.

Howard Weintraub prosecuted federal cases for the Justice Department in Washington, then spent seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Georgia. He has defended the accused since 1985.

Weintraub & Alper Legal is based in Midtown and brings over 55 years of combined experience in state and federal charges.

Over 3,000 criminal cases have moved through the Law Office of Judy Kim's Buckhead office. Recent results include an aggravated assault charge reduced to disorderly conduct and a felony firearm count knocked down to a misdemeanor.

Her team serves Spanish-speaking clients and keeps fees within reach for defendants who cannot post a large retainer.

Three generations of the Maloof family have practiced in Decatur since 1975, which shows in the firm's standing with DeKalb County courts. This boutique office handles felony and misdemeanor defense, drug charges, juvenile cases, and challenges to illegal searches.

AV ratings and Super Lawyers recognition back up the record.

Downtown Decatur, a few miles east of Atlanta, is where Conoscienti & Ledbetter runs its criminal and civil practice. Joseph Conoscienti has spent 37 years in Georgia criminal courts on felonies, DUI, drug, and assault charges.

Spanish-speaking staff and 24-hour availability round out the service.

Erin Gerstenzang and Juanita Kimble run EHG Law Firm out of Ponce City Market. The pair focus on DUI, traffic violations, and drug or alcohol offenses, including probation violations that put clients back in front of a judge.

From Sandy Springs, Thomas C. Nagel defends misdemeanor and felony charges, DUI arrests, and juvenile matters. He has argued in Georgia courtrooms for more than 25 years and holds an AV rating from his peers. Calls are answered day and night.

Alex Arca tries cases rather than pushing quick pleas, and his Marietta firm covers Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb counties. DUI, drug, and theft charges make up much of the docket. First meetings cost nothing and can be held in Spanish.

Criminal defense and entertainment law share the docket at Joe S. Habachy, PC. Habachy chairs the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Foundation and teaches as an adjunct law professor.

His Atlanta practice covers both state and federal courts and offers a 24-hour answering service and Spanish-speaking staff.

Hill Duvernay and Associates works out of Fayetteville, south of Atlanta, on criminal and traffic defense. The firm also handles expungement and record sealing, which it offers as part of its restorative justice services.

Assault, theft, fraud, and drug charges fill the criminal side of the Law Offices of Brandon A. Thomas, based near Perimeter Center. Thomas also takes employment and injury matters, and the firm handles intake in Spanish.