2026
Last updated:
LicensingUser ReviewsMystery Shopping CallsOur goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Columbia 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.
80Reviewed
51Curated
8Top Picks
Learn about our selection process.
= Featured ProviderMingus Law Office is a law firm based in Columbia that provides legal representation to clients facing criminal charges in Boone County and throughout the state. The firm focuses on defending clients who are accused of crimes against property, assault charges, drug charges, DWI or other serious driving violations, fraud, and juvenile offenses like minor in possession (MIP) charges. Founding attorney Thomas Mingus has 25 years of experience in the legal field.
Faber Law Firm advocates for the rights of accused individuals in Columbia. Ben Faber, its criminal defense lawyer, represents clients in various criminal charges, including DWI, drug trafficking, homicide, domestic assault, traffic tickets, and white-collar crimes. He aims to protect clients' freedom, clears their criminal records, and informs them of their legal options, striving to obtain the best possible case resolutions. Moreover, he deals with pre-arrest and habeas corpus matters and handles appeals, if necessary.
For more than 20 years, Holder, Susan, Slusher LLC, a firm of criminal defense attorneys in Columbia, has advised and defended clients accused of crimes throughout Missouri. The attorneys have experience in a wide range of criminal law cases, such as crimes of violence, including those that involve weapons and sexual motivations, crimes involving drugs, such as possession and distribution, and crimes involving theft, including burglary and damage to property.
The Law Office of Chris Miller is a law firm based in Columbia that defends clients with criminal charges throughout Central Missouri. The firm handles cases related to the three classifications of crimes under Missouri Law which are felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions. In particular, the firm divides the criminal defense cases into five main categories which are assault, drug, gun, theft, and traffic. Founding attorney Chris Miller represents clients in each category.
Jones Schneider And Stevens, LLC has been providing legal representation to clients facing criminal charges in Columbia and surrounding communities for more than 35 years. The firm defends clients who are accused of misdemeanors and felonies such as DWIs, traffic violations, property crimes, drug and alcohol offenses, assault and domestic assault, and orders of protection violations. The firm also handles cases such as juvenile offenses and minor in possession (MIP). The firm is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell.
Jefferson City Criminal Lawyers is a firm that has many years of experience representing clients under investigation, arrested, and charged with crimes throughout Missouri. The criminal lawyers near Columbia have experience in a wide range of complex cases, from animal abuse and embezzlement to resisting arrest, computer crime, and property damage. They also defend clients accused of DWI, domestic assault, and drug-related offenses, such as possession and distribution.
James Law Group, LLC represents individuals in Columbia in several legal areas such as criminal defense. The three-person firm provides counsel for clients that have been accused of low-level felonies and serious crimes. The criminal defense lawyers also protect the rights of clients with misdemeanor charges. Furthemore, the team handles cases concerning traffic offenses and DUI/DWI charges. Charlie James, one of the company's attorneys, is a member of the National Criminal Defense Association and the American Association for Justice.
The Law Office of Mike Hamilton is a criminal defense law firm that protects the rights of individuals facing various charges in Columbia. It represents clients involved in misdemeanor cases and felony charges. This covers, among others, possession of fake IDs, alcohol, controlled substances, domestic abuse, and peace disturbance. The firm provides legal assistance in DWI offenses and helps in the reinstatement of the client's driver's license. Mike Hamilton is a member of the Missouri Society for Criminal Justice.
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.
Use the number 573-442-6131 to call for non-emergencies.
Obtain copies of car accident reports personally at the police station, or request to have one mailed to you (with your address indicated on the report). The station is situated at 1 Justice Square (corner of Lincoln and Washington Streets), and the records unit can be reached at 803-545-3577.
Increasing the number of conviction types that qualify for expungement is one of the latest law changes that can be applied to cases in Columbia. A dramatic decrease in the waiting time before an offender can file for expungement was also included in the latest changes. Offenders who qualify with the recently expanded expungement law may be entitled by the court to have their criminal records sealed or destroyed.
The prosecutor will file charges after a person is arrested and charged with a crime in Columbia. When charges are filed, the defendant has the option to challenge the charges through trial and have the case dismissed if it is won. In the event the case is not won, the defendant has the option to take a plea agreement to maybe obtain a lesser sentence.
If you are accused of a state crime and you can't afford counsel, a public defender can represent you. Indigent juvenile delinquents can also be represented by a public defender. A lawyer from the Public Defender District 13 Office is responsible for criminal cases in Columbia. The office is located at 601 E. Walnut in the metro. Additionally, public defenders cannot handle cases such as municipal charges, child custody, and deportation.
There will be a person in charge who will verify the community service hours rendered for a conviction in Columbia. This happens in most, if not, all cases. It is important to record your hours and indicate the name and phone number or email of the responsible person who can verify your hours. Additionally, some courts have their own specific form that they prefer to use. It is important to note that falsifying records may cause additional charges against you.
The first offense of driving with a revoked license in Columbia is considered a misdemeanor. Repeated offenses could result in jail time. Careless and impudent driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, and speeding over the limit are also considered misdemeanors. Texting while driving is at present illegal only to drivers under 21 years old.
This article explains illegally obtained evidence, its impact on trials, and what criminal defense attorneys can do to defend...
(57)