5 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Atlanta (2026)

Ranked by real Google ratings and review volume · How we chose

By Lorian Hartfield, Real Estate and Financial Expert · ✓ Updated October 2026 · 8 min read

We compared 20 criminal defense lawyers in Atlanta on Google Maps · 5 listed · How we rank

An arrest in Atlanta starts a clock: arraignments, license deadlines and bond hearings do not wait while you shop around. Among the criminal defense lawyers in Atlanta below, Law Office of Kevin R. Fisher and Bixon Law each hold a 4.9 on fewer than 180 reviews, while Robert James Trial Attorneys sits at 4.6 on 373, so the star rating and the size of the review base tell different stories.

Short answer: George C Creal Jr., PC, Trial Lawyers leads with a 4.9 across 357 Google reviews and a website built around DUI defense. Law Office of Kevin R. Fisher (4.9, 177 reviews) and Bixon Law (4.9, 173 reviews) are the other firms at 4.9, while Robert James Trial Attorneys (4.6, 373 reviews) and W. Scott Smith (4.6, 201 reviews) carry larger review bases at a lower average. Legal fees depend on the charge and how far a case goes, so ask for the fee in writing.

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1. George C Creal Jr., PC…
2. Robert James Trial Att…
3. Law Office of Kevin R.…
4. Bixon Law
5. W. Scott Smith
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Atlanta Defense Firms, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	George C Creal Jr., PC, Trial Lawyers	4.9 ★	357	DUI and license problems	View ›
2	Robert James Trial Attorneys	4.6 ★	373	Injury and defense under one roof	View ›
3	Law Office of Kevin R. Fisher	4.9 ★	177	Traffic offenses to felonies	View ›
4	Bixon Law	4.9 ★	173	Payment plans and a fast response	View ›
5	W. Scott Smith	4.6 ★	201	Team coverage, Atlanta and Marietta	View ›

5 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Atlanta (2026)

The firms, one by one

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

George C Creal Jr., PC, Trial Lawyers

4.9357 Google reviews

George C Creal Jr., PC, Trial Lawyers works from an office on John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE in Atlanta. Google files it under criminal justice attorney, with personal injury also listed, but its website is almost entirely about DUI defense, from license suspension warnings to a free case evaluation, and the site calls the firm the best DUI practice in Metro Atlanta. Reviewers name attorneys Eric Bernstein and Claudia Creal.

What people praise

Reviewers describe a DUI reduced to reckless driving, with a first offender filing made as well
One client says Eric Bernstein worked with the prosecutor and got a record restricted
Clear explanations and quick replies come up again and again
Claudia Creal is described as strategic in the courtroom and patient when explaining things

Worth knowing

The website leads with DUI, so ask how much of the day-to-day work is felony or other non-DUI defense

Reputation scorecardrank in Atlanta

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume357 · 93rd

Confidencehigh

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown97% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong first call if the charge is a DUI, backed by a 4.9 on 357 reviews. For other charges, ask the firm directly what share of its caseload they make up.

Website +1404-333-0706 Directions

480 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE Unit 190, Atlanta, GA 30312

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Robert James Trial Attorneys

4.6373 Google reviews

Robert James Trial Attorneys has an office on Peachtree Rd NE in downtown Atlanta. Google lists it as a criminal justice attorney, but its own website headline reads "DeKalb County Personal Injury & Criminal Defense" and its page title and metadata talk about personal injury first, with criminal defense as a second practice area in the menu. That makes it a combined practice rather than a criminal specialist.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly praise a case contact named Da'Chanel for answering questions and keeping families informed
One client mentions flowers delivered on a hard day, a sign of the firm's attention to personal touches
Staff are described as respectful, professional and easy to reach by phone
One client facing a legal case says the team has stayed with them every step of the way

Worth knowing

The reviews we read are mostly about staff support, not courtroom results in criminal cases
Its 4.6 average includes 35 one-star ratings, a wider spread than the 4.9 firms

Reputation scorecardrank in Atlanta

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume373 · 98th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The 373 reviews give it the biggest review base on the page, but its Google category and its own site disagree on how much of the practice is criminal defense. Ask how many criminal cases the firm takes on before you hire it for one.

Website +1404-891-0977 Directions

233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 1200, Atlanta, GA 30303

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Law Office of Kevin R. Fisher

4.9177 Google reviews

Law Office of Kevin R. Fisher is a criminal defense practice on W Peachtree St NW. The website, written in the first person, says he has spent more than 20 years representing people charged with criminal and traffic offenses, across Georgia, and lists sex crimes, weapons charges, juvenile court, drug offenses, DUI, theft and fraud, and violent crimes among the matters he handles. Google lists the office as open every day.

What people praise

Clients describe cases dismissed or reduced, including traffic and misdemeanor matters
A commercial driver says a lane violation was reduced with no points
Regular updates and plain explanations of the process
A reviewer calls the pricing fair

Worth knowing

Many of the reviews we read involve traffic or misdemeanor cases, so ask about experience with your specific charge

Reputation scorecardrank in Atlanta

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume177 · 83rd

Confidencemoderate

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown98% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.9 across 177 reviews, with a clear focus on criminal and traffic work. A good fit for tickets and lesser charges, and worth a conversation about felony experience if that is your situation.

Website +1404-403-2665 Directions

1800 W Peachtree St NW #300, Atlanta, GA 30309

#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Bixon Law

4.9173 Google reviews

Bixon Law is a criminal defense firm on Peachtree St NW in downtown Atlanta, led by attorney Michael Bixon. Its website lists drug crimes, DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, pre-arrest representation, sex crimes, theft, violent crimes, weapons offenses and white collar crimes, and it promotes a 24-hour phone line, a free consultation and a payment plan application.

What people praise

Clients describe fast responses by call or text
One reviewer says the attorney gave free advice before they could afford to retain him
Several reviews mention cases dismissed or dropped
Staff are called kind and supportive

Worth knowing

A smaller review base than the largest firms on this page

Reputation scorecardrank in Atlanta

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume173 · 78th

Confidencemoderate

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The 4.9 is backed by 173 reviews that keep returning to responsiveness. If cost worries you, the payment plan and free consultation are worth asking about.

Website +1404-551-5684 Directions

260 Peachtree St NW Ste 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303

#5🕑 Open 7 days

W. Scott Smith

4.6201 Google reviews

W. Scott Smith, P.C., also known as Peach State Lawyer, is a criminal defense firm with offices in Atlanta and Marietta. Its website says it defends DUI, drug, family violence and other criminal charges in Metro Atlanta. The reviews describe a team of several attorneys rather than one lawyer.

What people praise

Clients describe charges reduced or dismissed and, in one case, a record sealed
Reviewers say the attorneys talked directly with the prosecutor
One client mentions help finding a translator
Updates are described as steady throughout

Worth knowing

Reviews name different attorneys, so ask who will handle your case
Its 4.6 includes 15 one-star ratings

Reputation scorecardrank in Atlanta

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume201 · 88th

Confidencemoderate

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown88% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A team-based practice with 201 reviews behind a 4.6. Ask who your lead attorney will be and whether the Atlanta or Marietta office handles your court.

Website +1404-581-0999 Directions

100 Peachtree St NW #2060, Atlanta, GA 30303

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How the scorecard works

Each number on the scorecard comes from public Google data on the date shown. Rating is the live Google star average. Review volume is how many people have rated the firm, compared against other criminal defense lawyers in the pool. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 built on hundreds of reviews carries more weight than the same score on a few dozen. Recency shows how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

What drives the cost of a criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta

Fees vary a great deal by charge, court and how far a case goes. A traffic ticket and a felony indictment are very different jobs. Some firms quote flat fees, others bill hourly or ask for a retainer, and some offer payment plans. We have no verified fee figures for these firms, so ask each one for a written fee agreement before you hire.

Courts and neighborhoods these firms serve

The firms on this page have Atlanta offices on Peachtree St NW, Peachtree Rd NE and John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE, with W. Scott Smith also listing an office in Marietta. Several describe handling cases across Metro Atlanta and, in Kevin R. Fisher’s case, around the state of Georgia. Searching for a criminal defense lawyer near me? Each listing shows a phone number and directions so you can reach the closest office.

Questions to ask before you hire a criminal defense attorney

How often do you handle my specific charge, and in which county court?
Who will actually appear in court for me, and who will I speak to day to day?
How is the fee structured, and what is and is not covered if the case goes to trial?
Is a payment plan available?
What are the next deadlines in my case, and what should I avoid doing in the meantime?

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose a DUI specialist or a general criminal defense lawyer?

It depends on the charge. A firm that concentrates on DUI, like George C Creal Jr., PC, Trial Lawyers, may suit a license and driving case. A broader practice may suit felonies or several charges at once. Ask each firm how often it handles your kind of case.

Does Robert James Trial Attorneys handle criminal cases?

Its website lists criminal defense as a practice area alongside personal injury, and Google files it as a criminal justice attorney. Its main website headline refers to both. Ask the firm how much of its work is criminal defense.

Where to start

For a DUI, George C Creal Jr., PC, Trial Lawyers is a sensible first call, and for a wider range of charges Law Office of Kevin R. Fisher and Bixon Law both pair a 4.9 with a clear criminal focus. Whoever you call, get the fee agreement in writing and ask who will appear in court.

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