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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Oakland

Our Recommended Top 19

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Oakland Criminal Defense Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

310Reviewed

193Curated

19Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

160 Franklin St Ste 210, Oakland, CA 94607

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (115)
Yelp
4.5 (46)
Facebook
4.8 (25)

Why choose this provider?

Located in two offices in Oakland, The Nieves Law Firm APC practices criminal defense, defending the accused throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, and San Francisco counties. In 2019, Law Firm 500 named it one of the fastest-growing law firms in the United States. Its lawyers are licensed to practice in all of California's state courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California. Typical cases handled include assault, drug charges, expungement, and domestic violence.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jo-anna Nieves - Founding AttorneyActive13 yrs

505 14th St Ste 900, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (146)
Avvo
4.9 (68)
Yelp
5.0 (66)

Why choose this provider?

Lamano Law is a criminal defense and DUI law firm, owned and operated by women who take a holistic approach, influenced by restorative justice, to defending individuals. Founded in 2012, the firm has offices in Oakland, Alameda, and Contra Costa, representing people accused or under investigation in the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area. The firm's attorneys have extensive experience advocating in cases involving violence, prostitution, lewd conduct, gun charges, and white-collar crime.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Givelle Lamano - FounderActive13 yrs

1604 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94707

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.5 (19)
Yelp
4.0 (14)
Google
4.3 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Seth P. Chazin practices criminal defense law from its location in Albany, representing clients accused of felonies and misdemeanors throughout the Oakland metro area. Attorney Seth Chazin is certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the California State Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Chazin has over 30 years of experience defending clients in federal and state courts. Practice areas include federal and white-collar crimes, pre-file and post-conviction representation, and crimes involving drugs and violence.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Seth Chazin - PrincipalActive36 yrs

2831 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (19)

Why choose this provider?

Based in Oakland, the Law Office of Jeffrey Kaloustian serves the Bay, Truckee, and Tahoe Areas. The firm's areas of practice include criminal defense, DUI/DUID defense, personal injury, and DMV hearings. Attorney Jeffrey Kaloustian graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2009 and is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. The attorney has experience handling criminal defense cases involving drugs, white-collar crime, grand theft, larceny, and crimes of violence.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jeffrey Kaloustian - FounderActive14 yrs

1305 Franklin Street #404, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (60)
Avvo
4.7 (39)
Yelp
4.5 (27)

Why choose this provider?

Law Office of Nabiel C. Ahmed serves the legal needs of clients in Oakland. The company focuses on criminal defense, providing legal counsel to people who are being investigated, accused, or convicted of a crime. Ahmed, the firm's sole practitioner, represents clients accused in a variety of criminal lawsuits, including domestic violence, DUI, civil harassment, prostitution, felonies, and misdemeanors. In 2015, Ahmed was named one of The Top Lawyers in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine.

  • DWI/DUI

1611 Telegraph Ave Ste 1030, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (10)
Facebook
5.0 (6)
Yelp
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of E. Michael Linscheid is a multi-practice law firm with extensive experience advocating in criminal defense cases. Founded in Oakland in 2002, the firm defends those accused of felonies and misdemeanors in trial and appellate courts throughout Northern California in state and federal proceedings. Attorney Michael Linscheid accepts all criminal offense cases and has particular experience in property crimes, firearms offenses, fish/game violations, white-collar crime, and crimes of violence, such as homicide and domestic assault.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Linscheid - AttorneyActive22 yrs

317 Washington St Ste 108, Oakland, CA 94607

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.8 (24)
Google
4.3 (6)
Avvo
4.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Castillo Law Office is dedicated to the practice of criminal defense. representing the accused and those under investigation in Oakland and the surrounding areas. Founded in 2002 by Attorney Ernie Castillo after 15 years with a large criminal defense law firm, it advocates for clients in a wide range of practice areas. The firm handles cases of gang crime, homicide, and the use of firearms. It also represents people accused of white-collar crime, such as fraud and embezzlement.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Hugo Castillo - PrincipalActive22 yrs

420 3rd St Ste 200, Oakland, CA 94607

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (32)
Google
5.0 (3)
Yelp
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2005, The Law Office of Robbi Abrams Cook is a criminal defense, DUI, and Juvenile lawyer based in Oakland. Attorney Robbi Abrams Cook graduated from the Boston School of Law and moved to California, in 1997, opening her law office in 2005. The firm defends adults and juveniles accused of a wide range of crimes, including offenses involving violence, firearms, internet use, kidnapping, and drugs. The firm also represents clients with the expungement of criminal records.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Robbi Cook - PrincipalActive24 yrs

201 N Civic Dr Ste 225, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (69)
Yelp
5.0 (16)
Avvo
4.7 (14)

Why choose this provider?

Located in Walnut Creek, the Law Office of Thomas F. McKenna has over 30 years of experience representing clients in criminal defense cases throughout the East Bay area. Attorney Thomas McKenna defends adults and juveniles under investigation or charged with felonies and misdemeanors. Mr. McKenna has extensive experience advocating for crimes involving theft and property, the possession and sale of drugs, and crimes of violence, such as homicide, battery, and domestic assault.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Thomas McKenna - Principal / FounderActive39 yrs

1 Kaiser Plz Ste 2300, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (90)
Yelp
3.0 (36)
Avvo
3.8 (11)

Why choose this provider?

The Beles & Beles Law Offices are located in Oakland, Hayward, Fremont, Pleasanton, San Jose, and Walnut Creek. Serving the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area since 1980, the firm focuses on criminal defense and appeals in state and federal courts as well as on immigration law. They are one of the only firms in California to have certified specialist attorneys in criminal law, appellate law and immigration law. Attorneys Anne and Robert Beles are State Certified Criminal Law Specialists who defend clients accused of serious felonies such as sexual accusations, murder, homicide, domestic violence, white collar crimes, theft, embezzlement, tax fraud, and insider trading.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Robert Beles - FounderActive56 yrs

1901 Harrison St Ste 1100, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (112)
Yelp
5.0 (76)

Why choose this provider?

Silveira Law is a criminal defense law firm based in Oakland, San Francisco, and Redwood City, serving clients throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. Founded in 2009, the law practice focuses solely on DUI, traffic tickets, DMV representation, and sentencing alternatives. The firm has experience handling DUI cases when the accused is under 21, has caused injury to another person, or whose driving was impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Silveira - PrincipalActive15 yrs

1970 Broadway #1145, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (93)
Yelp
4.5 (18)
Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Located in Oakland and seven additional offices in Central California, Summit Defense Criminal Attorneys focuses exclusively on defending clients in state and federal courts. Founded in 2006, the firm represents people under investigation or charged with a felony or misdemeanor. It advocates for those accused of crimes involving violence towards people or animals, sex offenses, such as prostitution and rape, embezzlement, and crimes involving drugs, firearms, and grand theft, including shoplifting.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Tennille Duffy - Associate AttorneyActive10 yrs
Tennille Duffy - AssociateActive10 yrs
Ross Pytlik - Senior AssociateActive19 yrs
Rabin Nabizadeh - OwnerActive19 yrs
James Reilly - Senior AttorneyActive49 yrs

713 Main Street Martinez Ca 94553 Usa, Oakland, CA 94553

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (43)
Google
5.0 (37)
Yelp
4.0 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2001, Tully & Weiss Attorneys at Law practice criminal defense from offices in Oakland, Redding, and Martinez. The award-winning firm defends those under investigation or charged with felonies throughout the state. Attorney Joseph Tully has over 20 years of experience practicing criminal defense law, designated a California Criminal Defense Specialist by the State Bar. The firm accepts cases of alleged crimes involving the internet, drugs, violence, firearms, and murder.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Joseph Daugherty - AssociateActive3 yrs
Ashley Bargenquast - AssociateActive9 yrs
Joseph Tully - Founding PartnerActive25 yrs
Jon Renge - Senior AssociateActive27 yrs
Alan Kagawa - AssociateActive6 yrs

2950 Buskirk Ave Ste 300, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (27)
Facebook
5.0 (15)

Why choose this provider?

Thomas Daly Law is a Walnut Creek law firm that focuses solely on criminal defense. Founded in 2014 by Attorney Thomas Daly, a member of the American Bar Association and State Bar of California, the practice defends individuals under investigation or charged with crimes in the Oakland metro area. Mr. Daly represents clients in felony cases, such as arson, armed robbery, and fraud, as well as misdemeanors. The firm also works for clients looking to expunge their historical criminal records.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Thomas Daly - PrincipalActive11 yrs

1423 Broadway, Suite 1025, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Huff Legal provides criminal defense for clients in state and federal courts around Oakland. Using his background as a former patrol supervisor and police officer, founding attorney Michel René Huff offers insight into the legal procedures behind various crimes for his client's case. His experience in criminal law matters includes knowledge of illegal arrests, search warrants, and entrapment operations. Huff, who is affiliated with the Alameda County Bar Association, also worked as a judicial law clerk for a United States District Court's chief judge.

  • Drug Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

483 9th St Ste 200, Oakland, CA 94607

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (20)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2006, Jayne Law Group PC is a boutique criminal defense firm representing individuals and small businesses in cases of white-collar crime, complex criminal defense, and trial work. Located in Oakland and San Francisco, the firm is contactable 24/7 and advocates in state and federal courts throughout the Bay Area. The firm typically defends clients in cases involving drugs and firearms, acts of violence and theft, and petitions for factual innocence, including expungements.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Julia Jayne - FounderActive25 yrs
Julia Jayne - FounderActive25 yrs

420 3rd Street, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94607

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (24)
Google
5.0 (5)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Benjamin Zicherman represents individuals in Oakland who have been charged with criminal offenses. The practice handles cases involving gang violence, firearms violations, and illegal substances and narcotics. The office takes advantage of alternative sentencing processes and drug diversion programs. It also caters to juvenile suspects. Counsel Benjamin Zicherman hails from a communications and sociology background and clerked for the Queens County District Attorney, where he worked on matters ranging in severity from petty theft to murder.

  • DWI/DUI

1300 Clay Street, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (9)
Yelp
5.0 (3)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Monroe Firm assists its clients in Oakland with their legal concerns. Marlon A. Monroe, the firm's attorney, defends the constitutional rights of individuals charged with crimes such as DUI, drug offenses, weapon violations, white-collar crimes, and violent crimes. He handles both felonies and misdemeanors, looking into the details of each case to get the best outcome for the defendants. Marlon has been successful in getting his clients' charges dismissed. He also works on the legal aspects of trademarks and contracts and deals with civil litigation.

  • Drug Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

8393 Capwell Dr., Oakland, CA 94621

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.3 (16)
Yelp
4.5 (12)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Joseph Jung & Associates is a law firm that works with individuals and businesses in the Oakland metro and the surrounding locations. The firm represents clients facing criminal charges such as DUI, domestic violence, and theft. It also handles personal injury cases, including vehicular accidents. The firm's founder, Joseph Jung, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He formerly served as the vice president of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco.

  • Theft & Burglary
  • Domestic Violence
  • DWI/DUI

Compare our Top Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
The Nieves Law Firm, APC
160 Franklin St Ste 210, Oakland, CA 94607
Lamano Law
505 14th St Ste 900, Oakland, CA 94612
The Law Offices of Seth P. Chazin
1604 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94707
Law Office of Jeffrey Kaloustian
2831 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Law Office of Nabiel C. Ahmed
1305 Franklin Street #404, Oakland, CA 94612
Law Office of E. Michael Linscheid
1611 Telegraph Ave Ste 1030, Oakland, CA 94612
The Castillo Law Office
317 Washington St Ste 108, Oakland, CA 94607
The Law Office of Robbi Abrams Cook
420 3rd St Ste 200, Oakland, CA 94607
Law Office of Thomas F. McKenna
201 N Civic Dr Ste 225, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Beles & Beles Law Offices
1 Kaiser Plz Ste 2300, Oakland, CA 94612
Silveira Law
1901 Harrison St Ste 1100, Oakland, CA 94612
Summit Defense Criminal Attorneys
1970 Broadway #1145, Oakland, CA 94612
Tully & Weiss Attorneys at Law
713 Main Street Martinez Ca 94553 Usa, Oakland, CA 94553
Thomas Daly Law
2950 Buskirk Ave Ste 300, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Huff Legal
1423 Broadway, Suite 1025, Oakland, CA 94612
Jayne Law Group, P.C.
483 9th St Ste 200, Oakland, CA 94607
The Law Offices of Benjamin Zicherman
420 3rd Street, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94607
Monroe Firm
1300 Clay Street, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612
Joseph Jung & Associates
8393 Capwell Dr., Oakland, CA 94621

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Oakland, California?

    The non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Oakland is (510) 777-3333.

  • Can you be charged with a crime in Oakland if you are under 18?

    Yes, but if you are charged with a crime in Oakland while under the age of 18, you will go through the juvenile justice system. The difference between the juvenile justice system and the adult court system is that no jury is present. Furthermore, you are not eligible for bail. However, the prosecution may charge you directly in adult court for crimes in a specific offense class.

  • What happens next after being arrested on a criminal charge in Oakland?

    You will be taken to jail after being arrested on a criminal charge in Oakland and placed in a holding cell where you will be booked and fingerprinted. Once your bail has been set, you will have the opportunity to contact a bail bondsman. If you do not post bail, you will be taken to court for an initial appearance. It is important to note that when you are in custody, the district attorney has only two to three days to file charges against you.

  • What are the penalties for drug charges in Oakland?

    Anyone found in possession of a controlled substance may be sentenced to up to one year in county jail and fined under California Health and Safety Code §11350. This includes both illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine and prescription narcotics obtained without a valid prescription. Repeat offenders face harsher punishments as well.

  • Will you get charged for carrying a concealed weapon in public in Oakland?

    You may only carry a concealed firearm in public if you have a valid Carry Concealed Weapon license. CCW permits obtained outside of the state are not honored in Oakland. You can get charged for owning an unregistered assault weapon, using a firearm in restricted areas such as schools and airports, and possessing a firearm without a permit.

  • How to get your criminal charge dismissed in Oakland?

    When you are arrested for a criminal offense in Oakland, your attorney may use a variety of defenses to have your charges dismissed. Your charges may be dropped if there is insufficient evidence, a violation of your constitutional rights, or an act of self-defense. Furthermore, if you are found to be under medication that impairs your judgment, resulting in a crime, your charges may be dismissed.