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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Erie, PA

Our Recommended Top 8

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

79Reviewed

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8Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

333 State Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (20)

Why choose this provider?

Damon C. Hopkins is a criminal defense attorney in Erie. He provides legal representation to individuals facing criminal charges including DUI and DWI, drug offenses, juvenile charges, traffic violations, serious felonies, and violent crimes. He provides consultation and case evaluation services. Specializing in criminal law since 1995, he defends clients' rights in cases of ungraded misdemeanors. He also assists first-time offenders in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program, which dismisses criminal charges against an individual.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Damon Hopkins - PrincipalActive29 yrs

2525 West 26th Street, Erie, PA 16506

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (105)
Yelp
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Purchase, George, & Murphey PC is a team of personal injury and criminal justice attorneys in Erie. The firm supports its clients throughout the criminal justice process, including the initial arrest, the indictment, and the trial. Its team has experience with cases involving drug possession and trafficking, sexual assault, theft, drunk driving, and homicide. It also handles record expungement for qualified clients. Partner Eric Purchase is a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Eric Purchase - PartnerActive33 yrs

3702 Volkman Road, Erie, PA 16506

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Ambrose Law Firm offers criminal defense to individuals in Erie who have been arrested on suspicion of committing a crime. It handles a wide variety of cases, including theft, manslaughter, and murder. The firm also represents clients charged with drug crimes, tax offenses, extortion, and securities fraud. Leonard G. Ambrose, the firm's trial lawyer, has defended different types of clients, from alleged murderers and drug dealers to politicians, doctors, and Fortune 500 companies. Ambrose was named a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers in 1991.

  • Drug Crimes
  • Federal Crime
  • Juvenile Crimes

4402 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (34)
Avvo
5.0 (10)
Facebook
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Attorney Tina Fryling, Esq., is a general litigation lawyer serving the people of Erie and the nearby areas. The attorney's primary areas of practice include criminal defense, and she offers legal representation to those accused of drug-related crimes, theft, and drunk driving. Additionally, she advocates for her clients during post-trial appeals in an attempt to overturn their convictions. Fryling has been practicing law for over 25 years, and she also takes cases involving family and bankruptcy law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Tina Fryling - Owner/AttorneyActive29 yrs

1001 State Street, Erie, PA 16501

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (74)
Avvo
4.9 (15)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Panighetti Law is a criminal defense law firm serving the community of Erie and the nearby areas. The firm's founding attorney has been practicing law for over a decade, and his team handles criminal cases in which the defendant has been accused of drug-related offenses, theft, assault and battery, and homicide. It also helps clients clear and seal their criminal records. Additionally, the firm provides representation to juveniles and children who committed serious crimes.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Justin Panighetti - PrincipalActive15 yrs

114 High Street, Waterford, PA 16441

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (24)
Facebook
4.2 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Herman & Herman Attorneys and Counselors at Law represents clients across the Erie community and the neighboring areas. It caters to individuals seeking legal assistance to defend their rights and resolve their criminal cases. It also caters to clients who wish to handle their tax issues and liquor licensing matters. The law firm brings more than 40 years of experience in the legal field. One of its attorneys, Jeff Herman, also practices personal injury, real estate, business, and bankruptcy laws.

  • DWI/DUI

100 State Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (237)

Why choose this provider?

The criminal defense lawyers at The Travis Law Firm serve clients in Erie. The firm handles various criminal cases including employment-related accusations, assault charges, domestic violence, computer crimes, underage drinking, and juvenile defense. It also provides legal representation in federal criminal cases, drug cases, weapons charges, sexual assault, and theft cases. It offers consultation, evaluation, and case review services. The firm holds more than 25 years of legal experience. It also handles DUI defense cases and personal injury cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Grant Travis - PrincipalActive29 yrs

254 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

The law offices of Carney & Good is a general litigation law firm that has been serving Erie for over 50 years. The firm has experience with litigation involving criminal cases. Its team has defended its clients from allegations of domestic assault, sexual violence, drug possession and distribution, and drunk driving. It also works with teenagers who have been accused of juvenile delinquency. Additional practice areas include family, bankruptcy, and real estate law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Bradley Enterline - PartnerActive40 yrs
Kari Froess - PartnerActive20 yrs
Mary Jarvie - PartnerActive32 yrs
Jay Stranahan - PartnerActive20 yrs
Brian Arrowsmith - PartnerActive14 yrs

Compare our Top Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Damon C. Hopkins, Attorney and Counselor at Law
333 State Street, Erie, PA 16507
Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C.
2525 West 26th Street, Erie, PA 16506
Ambrose Law Firm
3702 Volkman Road, Erie, PA 16506
Attorney Tina Fryling, Esq.
4402 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509
Panighetti Law
1001 State Street, Erie, PA 16501
Herman & Herman Attorneys and Counselors at Law
114 High Street, Waterford, PA 16441
The Travis Law Firm
100 State Street, Erie, PA 16507
Law Offices of Carney & Good
254 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16507

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 Erie, Pennsylvania?

    The Erie City Police Department can be reached at (814) 870-1125.

  • Are you legally required to reply to police interrogations after getting arrested in Erie?

    Not at all. There is absolutely no need for you to provide any statements, other than confirming if you're the person they're looking for. Law enforcement will read you your Miranda rights where it will be stated that you have the right to remain silent and that everything you say can and will be used against you.

  • How much is it going to cost to hire a criminal defense attorney in Erie?

    It depends on many factors. The most common you hear about is the lawyer's skill and experience in handling cases like yours—the better they are, the higher they charge. Lawyers in Erie also have to consider the complexity of your case and the amount of time it may take to see it to the end.

  • Are you still going to need an attorney in Erie if you're planning to plead guilty anyway?

    Yes. Perhaps, it would be good to remember that the prosecution does not have your best interests in mind. This means that if you plead guilty, you can almost expect that you will receive the harshest penalties possible in accordance with your charges. Having an attorney representing you in Erie will give you a fighting chance to reduce your sentences.

  • Is it always advantageous to accept a plea bargain in Erie?

    Not all the time. To completely understand how accepting a plea bargain is going to impact your future, listen to what your attorney tells you. Sometimes, the prosecution puts this on the table because they know they don't have a strong case. Your Erie attorney can evaluate their case and see if they can't negotiate to your advantage, such as pushing to drop the case entirely.

  • Do you need an attorney if you are innocent of the crimes they are accusing you of doing in Erie?

    The paramount reason why an innocent person in Erie would need a lawyer is to keep them from being punished for a crime they didn't commit. Unfortunately, there is a chance that you face a prosecution that is determined to establish your guilt and some pieces of evidence can work against you. When your future and your life are on the line, it will be very worth it to have an attorney by your side.