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2024

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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Gainesville, FL

Our Recommended Top 14

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Gainesville 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.

96Reviewed

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14Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

703 N. Main St. Suite C, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Koon Legal offers customized solutions for criminal defense cases in Gainesville. The firm represents individuals charged with criminal acts, such as violent crimes, DUI, juvenile offenses, and probation violations. Travis Koon and his team create defense strategies in the discovery process and file motions to suppress and dismiss charges. Koon has been practicing law for more than 12 years and is admitted to practice in Georgia. To date, he has taken on over 1,500 criminal defense cases.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Drug Crimes
  • Probation Violation

4545 Northwest 8th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32605

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (6)
Avvo
4.3 (6)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Edwards & Jones is a law firm in Gainesville that exclusively focuses on criminal defense. It defends the rights of people charged with crimes, including driving with a suspended license, federal drug charges, racketeering, sex offenses, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct. The firm represents college students facing disciplinary hearings for violations of university policies. Co-founding attorney Thomas L. Edwards maintains active membership in the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Federal Bar Association.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Thomas Edwards - PartnerActive36 yrs
Christopher Jones - PartnerActive15 yrs
Thomas Edwards - PartnerActive36 yrs

2750 Northwest 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (15)
Facebook
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Hutson Law Firm defends the rights of those accused of criminal offenses by providing an experienced criminal justice attorney in Gainesville. In court, trial attorney Ben Hutson challenges the state's evidence presented against clients charged with theft, fraud, sexual offenses, drug crimes, and murder. The firm helps eligible individuals get their criminal records sealed or expunged when there is no convictions. Mr. Hutson also acts as an advisor for university students who are facing school disciplinary proceedings.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Bennett Hutson - PrincipalActive30 yrs

106 Northwest 2 Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Kinsell Law Firm Anchorage defends those facing charges in criminal cases in and around Gainesville. Its criminal defense practice focuses on defending and representing those accused of misdemeanors and felonies, especially DUIs, probation violations, assault and battery, federal crimes, theft, drug crimes, and white-collar crimes. Its legal team is members of the Florida Bar, the National Trial Lawyers, National Association of the Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Steven Kinsell - PrincipalActive24 yrs

18 NW 33rd Ct, Gainesville, FL 32607

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Bobi J. Frank, Attorney at Law, counsels individuals and businesses in and around Gainesville. Frank defends those arrested for drug trafficking offenses, whether the case involves cocaine, marijuana, heroin, or ecstasy. She also develops defense strategies for clients accused of stalking, forgery, kidnapping, and assault and battery. In addition, the lawyer, who was admitted to the bar in 2013, represents negligence and elder abuse victims. Frank is a member of the James C. Adkins Jr. Inn of Court.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence

719 N.E. First Street, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit handles federal and state criminal defense cases in Gainesville. Schaffnit is a solo practitioner who represents defendants arrested for or charged with computer and internet crimes, juvenile offenses, and drug possession. He counsels clients in navigating legal procedures for appeals, sealing and expungement, probation modification, and sex offender registry removal. He has been practicing criminal defense law for over 40 years. Schaffnit is also a NADCL member and an adjunct professor of UF Law.

  • Drug Crimes
  • Federal Crime
  • Juvenile Crimes

11 Southeast 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.9 (7)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Robert Rush Law is a law firm with a team of criminal defense attorneys in Gainesville who ensures that innocent people are not wrongfully convicted. Its attorneys have years of jury trial experience when handling criminal cases involving misdemeanors, felonies, murder, and other federal charges. For eligible clients, it offers to have criminal records expunged or sealed so they can only be seen by a court order. The firm's other areas of practice include personal injury and civil rights.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Marian Rush - PartnerActive41 yrs
Steven Frisco - PartnerActive17 yrs
Robert Rush - PartnerActive38 yrs

804 NW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (106)
Avvo
5.0 (26)
Facebook
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Glassman & Zissimopulos offers criminal defense representation to clients in and around Gainesville. The firm has over three decades of experience practicing criminal defense, personal injury, and civil law. The firm's partner, Nick G. Zissimopulos, is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on complex litigation. His criminal trial and litigation experience include handling misdemeanors to complex felonies, such as aggravated assault and battery, murder, domestic violence, and drug trafficking. He also handles cases involving medical malpractice and premise liability.

  • Drug Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

500 NE 8th Ave., Ocala, FL 34470

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (15)

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of David Mengers is a full-service criminal defense firm. Founder David Mengers has over 30 years of experience handling state and federal criminal charges, including drug, sex, theft, and trafficking crimes. Mengers develops solid plans of action to advocate for clients' rights and freedoms and works for reduced charges, acquittals, or alternative sentences. The firm helps clients after convictions with probation violations. Additional practice areas include divorce and family law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Mengers - PrincipalActive38 yrs

317 NE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (27)
Google
4.8 (25)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Galigani Law Firm is a Gainesville-based practice that represents clients across the local area. It works on criminal defense cases and deals with individuals accused of various crimes, including theft, domestic violence, insurance fraud, and identity theft. The firm has experience negotiating plea deals. It also takes on cases involving college disciplinary hearings and advocates for clients charged with crimes like assault. Dean Galigani, its owner and managing member, once served as an assistant public defender in Gainesville. He has over 30 years of legal experience.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes

5200 NW 43rd Street, Suite 102-273, Gainesville, FL 32606

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (50)
Facebook
5.0 (6)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Torres Law Firm PA provides legal assistance to clients across Gainesville and the neighboring cities. It defends the rights of individuals facing criminal charges involving probation violations, prescription drug offenses, burglary, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, and stalking. It also handles homicide, murder, and domestic violence cases. The law firm's team represents clients in plea negotiations and trials. In addition to criminal defense, the law firm handles immigration matters, such as green cards, citizenship, and student visas.

  • Drug Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

305 NE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.1 (14)
Facebook
3.7 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Florida Justice Group serves criminal defendants and injured individuals in and around the Gainesville area. Since 2017, the law firm has been assisting with legal matters involving arrests, criminal charges, criminal investigation, post-trial issues, appeals, and sentencing. It advocates for clients involved in personal injury, family, and business law cases. Founding partners Yves Pierre-Antoine and Crystal P. Talley put their combined industry experience of more than 20 years into representing clients and helping them navigate the legal process.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes

912 NW 56th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (34)
Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Richard Mercure, PA, counsels and represents clients in the Gainesville metro. It works on criminal defense cases, such as assault and battery, disorderly conduct, domestic violence, homicide, probation violation, and theft. Part of its work process is investigating the facts to help protect the client from overreaching police and prosecutors. The firm explores options to obtain a favorable outcome and have the charges reduced or dropped. It extends its services to the areas of Bradford, Clay, Lafayette, and Putnam.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes

106 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (15)

Why choose this provider?

The AP Law Group is a law firm with offices in Gainesville and Ocala. It renders legal guidance and representation to individuals who have been given criminal charges for felonies and misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, drug possession, retail theft, DUI manslaughter, resisting arrest, armed robbery, and drug trafficking. The firm handles cases on the municipal, state, and federal levels. Tania Alavi, a criminal defense attorney in Gainesville, is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida's College of Law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Tania Alavi - PartnerActive32 yrs

Compare our Top Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Koon Legal
703 N. Main St. Suite C, Gainesville, FL 32601
Law Offices of Edwards & Jones
4545 Northwest 8th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32605
Hutson Law Firm
2750 Northwest 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606
Kinsell Law Firm
106 Northwest 2 Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
Bobi J. Frank Attorney at Law
18 NW 33rd Ct, Gainesville, FL 32607
Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit
719 N.E. First Street, Gainesville, FL 32601
Robert Rush Law
11 Southeast 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
Glassman & Zissimopulos
804 NW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Law Offices of David Mengers
500 NE 8th Ave., Ocala, FL 34470
Galigani Law Firm
317 NE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601
Torres Law Firm PA
5200 NW 43rd Street, Suite 102-273, Gainesville, FL 32606
Florida Justice Group
305 NE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL 32601
Law Offices of Richard Mercure, PA
912 NW 56th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605
The AP Law Group
106 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

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 Gainesville, Florida?

    The non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Gainesville, Florida is 352-955-1818.

  • What penalties can you face if you are arrested for a drug crime in Gainesville?

    An individual arrested for a drug crime may face one-year jail time or life sentence, depending on the severity of charges. The state of Florida classifies consequences for drug crimes by “schedules” based on how addictive the controlled substance may be. For example, a person possessing schedule I drugs, such as heroin, is punished more severely than those carrying schedule V drugs, like medicines containing small amounts of narcotics.

  • Can a person accused of criminal offenses in Gainesville be charged under both state and federal laws?

    Yes, a person accused of criminal offenses in Gainesville may face charges under both Florida state and federal laws for the same or similar act, depending upon the nature and facts of the case. Crimes may be charged either as a state or federal offense, regardless of whether the actions took place within Gainesville or involved travel across Florida. Some offenses involving interstate commerce, such as internet crimes, always result in federal charges.

  • What should you do if you are placed under arrest in Gainesville?

    If you are placed under arrest in Gainesville, you should request to see a criminal defense lawyer or a public defender if you cannot afford the services of one. It is a person’s legal right to speak with an attorney before doing so with the police. You may not be coerced into signing anything or tell information, except your name and address.

  • What happens if you are issued a domestic violence injunction in Gainesville?

    If you are issued a domestic violence injunction, you may be barred from entering your home, ordered to participate in mandatory treatment classes, required to provide monetary support for your children, and will be restricted from visiting the alleged victim or your family. You could face a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison in case you violate provisions of your injunction.