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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Raleigh, NC

Our Recommended Top 18

We did the research for you!

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

301Reviewed

187Curated

18Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

19 W Hargett St Ste 508, Raleigh, NC 27601
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.7 (38)
Google
5.0 (3)
Yelp
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Chetson Firm is a full-service criminal defense law firm that has been taking cases on behalf of the residents of Raleigh for over a decade. The firm represents defendants in criminal cases involving sexual assault, drug possession and distribution, child abuse, and white-collar crimes. Its attorneys defend clients in court to determine their innocence and maintain their records. From 2015 to 2019, founding attorney Damon Chetson was honored by Thomson Reuters as a Super Lawyers Rising Star.

  • Drug Crimes
  • Violent Crimes
  • Domestic Violence
  • Sexual Assault
  • Federal Crimes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Damon Chetson - Principal/OwnerActive15 yrs

Raleigh, NC

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Criminal Defense Attorney in Raleigh? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

127 W Hargett St Ste 600, Raleigh, NC 27601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (51)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Dewey P. Brinkley is a criminal defense law firm that provides the community of Raleigh with legal representation. Founding attorney Dewey Brinkley has been practicing law for over 15 years, and he takes cases on behalf of clients accused of domestic violence, sexual assault, and drug possession. He litigates in court to prove clients' innocence and prevent jail time. Dewey was a member of the Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Dewey Brinkley - PrincipalActive22 yrs

2609 Atlantic Ave Ste 207, Raleigh, NC 27604

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (144)
Facebook
4.8 (38)
Yelp
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2005, Fay, Grafton, Nunez PLLC is a criminal defense and immigration law firm serving the community of Raleigh that has another office in Asheville. The firm works with clients who have been accused of crimes, such as domestic violence, drug possession, and larceny. It also assists clients with license restoration and expungements of arrest and conviction records. In 2019, Rebekah Grafton was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star by Thomson Reuters.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ana Nuñez - PartnerActive10 yrs
William Fay - PartnerActive19 yrs
Rebekah Grafton - PartnerActive10 yrs

827-B N Bloodworth St, Raleigh, NC 27604

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (4)
Facebook
4.3 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Scharff Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm providing the people of Raleigh with legal representation and litigation services. Attorney Amily McCool has over a decade of experience in the legal field, and she represents clients who are being charged with crimes, including drug possession and manufacturing, domestic violence, theft, and driving while intoxicated. She defends her clients in court to protect their records and prevent jail time, fines, and license suspension.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Amily McCool - Managing PartnerActive16 yrs

530 Hillsborough St Ste 200, Raleigh, NC 27603

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (36)
Facebook
4.8 (8)
Yelp
1.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Dysart, Willis, PLLC is a criminal defense law firm serving the communities of Raleigh and the surrounding areas. The firm takes cases on behalf of residents who are being charged with serious crimes, such as drug possession and distribution, sexual assault, and driving while intoxicated. Its attorneys provide clients with guidance and litigation services throughout the legal process to protect their records and prevent repercussions, such as jail time and license suspension.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Christian Dysart - Founding PartnerActive17 yrs
Christian Dysart - Founding PartnerActive17 yrs
Joseph Houchin - Equity PartnerActive13 yrs
Geoffrey Willis - Founding PartnerActive20 yrs
Meredith Hubbard - Equity PartnerActive16 yrs

121 S. Third Street, Smithfield, NC 27577

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Reece & Reece focuses on advocating for the rights of criminal defendants in and around Raleigh. Since 2010, the law firm has been providing sound legal counsel in various criminal matters, such as drug possession, felony, DUI and DWI, probation violations, and misdemeanors. It also helps clients expound on several convictions, including prostitution offenses, toxic vapor dismissal under age 22, and pardon of innocence. Its team of attorneys has over 27 years of collective experience in representing criminal cases before appellate, county, and superior courts.

  • Expungement
  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence

800 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon, NC 27597

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.9 (86)
Yelp
1.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Turner Law Office provides its services to clients in the Raleigh metro and the surrounding communities. It advises and represents individuals who have been charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses in both district and superior court. It also assists those who are facing DWI and traffic charges and helps with license restoration matters. E. Lee Turner, Jr., the attorney, served as a patrol officer for the Raleigh Police Department for around 10 years prior to pursuing a legal career.

  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence
  • DWI/DUI

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Everette lee Turner - PrincipalActive33 yrs

120 E Parrish St STE 200, Durham, NC 27701

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (19)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Edward J. Falcone and H. Wood Vann is a Durham-based firm helping individuals in Raleigh. For more than four decades, it has been practicing criminal defense and advocating for those charged with misdemeanors or felonies. The firm negotiates and litigates DUIs, traffic violations, juvenile delinquencies, and white-collar and violent crimes to protect the future prospects of defendants. Two of its three attorneys are members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

  • Juvenile Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

100 E. Parrish Street Suite 450, Durham, NC 27701

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (14)

Why choose this provider?

Motta & Muñoz, PLLC offers its legal services to clients in Raleigh and its surrounding communities. Its team handles criminal defense, family law, estate planning, business litigation, and personal injury cases. The firm has experience in providing legal solutions for criminal defense matters such as misdemeanors, felonies, DWIs, speeding, and driving without a license. Its team addresses client concerns in English and Spanish. The firm has been representing and assisting clients for more than 10 years.

  • DWI/DUI

728 S Main St, Lillington, NC 27546

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (86)
Facebook
5.0 (3)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Buzzard Law Firm provides criminal defense representation for clients in and around Raleigh. Its founding attorney, Robert A. "Tony" Buzzard, has been handling criminal cases for more than three decades. He is a trial lawyer who has helped acquit clients in first-degree murder cases. In addition to criminal defense, he and his team offer a variety of legal services, including civil litigation and family law representation. Robert is the son of Lynn R. Buzzard, a constitutional law professor.

  • DWI/DUI

421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1101, Raleigh, NC 27601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3277)
Facebook
5.0 (663)
Avvo
5.0 (342)

Why choose this provider?

Cotten Law Firm, PLLC, assists individuals in Raleigh who have been accused of criminal charges, including carrying a concealed weapon, communicating threats, resisting a police officer, and possessing marijuana. It also represents clients charged with assault, city code and restraining order violations, DUI, and sexual battery. Jeremy Cotten, the attorney, has been in practice since 2012. Before establishing his private practice, he had worked in the banking and wealth management industry for three years and earned the Certified Financial Planner designation.

  • DWI/DUI

1027 U.S. Hwy 70 West, Suite 203, Garner, NC 27529

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (16)

Why choose this provider?

Tim Fowler Law Firm, P.A., provides legal assistance to people throughout the Raleigh metro and the surrounding communities of Wake, Johnston, and Harnett. It deals with criminal law proceedings, including traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felony charges. The firm's namesake principal lawyer, Tim, has been practicing for over 20 years. He utilizes his background in psychology to aggressively defend each case while also taking time to personally know them and deliver services that consider their financial capacity.

  • Theft & Burglary
  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Timothy Fowler - PrincipalActive25 yrs

401 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.6 (10)
Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Minick Law advocates for the individual rights of Raleigh residents charged with crimes. It handles criminal defense proceedings for drug possession, underage drinking, assault, and theft. Its legal team conducts investigations, develops goal-oriented plans, and counsels defendants in each process step. The team also assists clients in expungement proceedings. One of the team members, Gintaras Kazys Krulikas, has been practicing law for over six years and is trained in NHTSA's DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing course.

  • Expungement
  • Drug Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

421 Fayetteville St. Ste. 1100, Raleigh, NC 27601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (28)
Facebook
4.9 (28)
Avvo
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Pruden Feldmann Law, PLLC is a team of criminal defense attorneys serving the Raleigh community. Among its practice areas are asset forfiture, white collar defense, administrative law, assault on a female, felonies, personal injury, civil rights, misdemeanors, and federal criminal defense. The team thoroughly analyzes every detail to give a straightforward solution for every client's problems, properly protect them, and alleviate damages that they might receive. The law office prioritizes kindness and compassion in its practice, but remains firm when fighting for its clients.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
William Pruden - PrincipalActive7 yrs
William Pruden - PrincipalActive7 yrs

555 Fayetteville St, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (59)
Avvo
5.0 (19)
Facebook
4.6 (11)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Christopher R. Detwiler, PLLC, provides criminal defense to clients in the Raleigh metro and the surrounding areas. The firm handles misdemeanor, traffic and DWI cases; and serious offenses such as possession of controlled substances, assault with a deadly weapon, and obtaining property by false pretenses. It reviews all potential outcomes and employs a results-oriented approach to every case. Detwiler established his own legal practice in 2012. He draws from previous experience as an intern for a federal district court judge.

  • DWI/DUI

5 W Hargett St #904, Raleigh, NC 27601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (69)
Google
5.0 (30)
Facebook
4.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Hiltzheimer Law Office is a criminal defense law firm that helps clients throughout the Durham metropolitan area. The firm has been operating for more than 13 years and is experienced at handling a broad range of cases, including those where the defendant has been charged with larceny, drug trafficking, or sex crimes. It also provides representation to clients who've been accused of driving while intoxicated or who are facing other traffic offenses.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Benjamin Hiltzheimer - Owner/Managing PartnerActive13 yrs

127 West Hargett Street, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (114)
Facebook
5.0 (19)
Avvo
4.9 (18)

Why choose this provider?

The Matheson & Associates PLLC caters to Raleigh metro residents. Its attorneys work to take urgent actions to secure the freedom of innocent individuals who have been falsely arrested for crimes. These cases include DWI or DUI, drug possession, and traffic infraction. To find the appropriate legal course of action, the team reviews the evidence and relevant case law and statutes. Managing partner Moseley Matheson has been rated one of the Top 10 Best in Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys.

  • Expungement
  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence

Compare our Top Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
The Chetson Firm
19 W Hargett St Ste 508, Raleigh, NC 27601From $4500 | Free consultation
Law Office of Dewey P. Brinkley
127 W Hargett St Ste 600, Raleigh, NC 27601
Fay Grafton Nunez, PLLC
2609 Atlantic Ave Ste 207, Raleigh, NC 27604
Scharff Law Firm
827-B N Bloodworth St, Raleigh, NC 27604
Dysart Willis, PLLC
530 Hillsborough St Ste 200, Raleigh, NC 27603
Reece & Reece
121 S. Third Street, Smithfield, NC 27577
Turner Law Office
800 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon, NC 27597
The Law Offices of Edward J. Falcone and H. Wood Vann
120 E Parrish St STE 200, Durham, NC 27701
Motta & Muñoz, PLLC
100 E. Parrish Street Suite 450, Durham, NC 27701
Buzzard Law Firm
728 S Main St, Lillington, NC 27546
Cotten Law Firm, PLLC
421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1101, Raleigh, NC 27601
Tim Fowler Law Firm, P.A.
1027 U.S. Hwy 70 West, Suite 203, Garner, NC 27529
Minick Law
401 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701
Pruden Feldmann Law, PLLC
421 Fayetteville St. Ste. 1100, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Law Office of Christopher R. Detwiler, PLLC
555 Fayetteville St, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27601
Hiltzheimer Law Office, PLLC
5 W Hargett St #904, Raleigh, NC 27601
Matheson & Associates PLLC
127 West Hargett Street, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27601

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 Raleigh, North Carolina?

    919-831-6311 is the non-emergency contact number of the local police station in Raleigh.

  • Why is it important to hire a criminal defense attorney in Raleigh if you have been charged with a crime?

    Being convicted of a crime can negatively impact your life in many ways, including limiting your job opportunities and affecting your ability to obtain housing and custody of your children. Hiring a Raleigh criminal defense attorney can help you navigate the legal system and potentially secure a better outcome for your case.

  • What types of crimes do criminal lawyers usually defend clients against in Raleigh?

    Raleigh criminal lawyers typically defend clients against various felony and misdemeanor crimes, including property crimes, violent crimes, white-collar crimes, sex crimes, drug crimes, DWI or DUI, and traffic violations. These lawyers also assist clients with the legal process, such as negotiating plea bargains, providing legal advice, and representing clients in court proceedings.

  • What is the punishment for a simple assault charge in Raleigh?

    If convicted of simple assault in Raleigh, a person may face a range of penalties, including fines, probation, community service, or any combination thereof, and a possible jail sentence of no more than 60 days. The severity of punishment will depend on several factors, such as the extent of the victim's injuries, the use of a weapon, and the defendant's criminal record history.

  • What should you do if you are arrested in Raleigh?

    If you're arrested in Raleigh, it's important to know your rights. Remain respectful and calm, do not resist arrest, and do not provide a statement to the police beyond the basic information needed for booking. Ask for a lawyer immediately and take mental notes of everything that happens. Contact an experienced North Carolina criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to negotiate on your behalf and get the legal advice you need.

  • What is the process for expunging a criminal record in Raleigh?

    The process to expunge a criminal record in Raleigh involves getting an affidavit notarized, completing an expungement petition, serving it to the district attorney, filing the petition with a fee, and waiting for a verdict that can take up to six months. North Carolina's recent changes to the expungement law make it easier for nonviolent misdemeanor and felony offenders to clear their records after five or ten years. However, some convictions, such as assault, sex offenses, and drug possession, are not eligible for expungement.