A criminal charge in El Paso starts a clock, and the lawyer you call first often shapes every hearing after it. Among the criminal defense lawyers below, Google review counts run from 134 up to 906 and ratings sit between 4.6 and 5.0, so the useful question is less who is good and more who handles your kind of case.
Short answer: Law Offices of Ruben Ortiz, PLLC has the biggest review base on this page (906 Google reviews at 4.6 stars), and David Nevarez Attorney at Law follows at 4.8 across 484. On rating alone, Valenzuela Law Firm sits at 5.0 across 134 reviews, with The Matthew James, Attorney at Law and West Texas Trial Lawyers both at 4.9. Fees depend on the charge and the court, so ask for a written fee agreement before you sign.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Law Offices of Ruben Ortiz, PLLC
4.6★★★★★906 Google reviews
Law Offices of Ruben Ortiz, PLLC is a downtown El Paso firm on E Rio Grande Ave that practices criminal defense alongside personal injury, and its website says it serves clients in Texas and New Mexico. The site says Ruben Ortiz has been practicing law since 1998. Google files the office as a criminal justice attorney and a personal injury attorney, so expect a firm that splits its attention between the two.
What people praise
- Reviewers describe cases that ended in dismissal, including one that never required a court appearance
- Clients say the attorney and staff explained each step and set realistic expectations
- Named staff members come up for returning calls and keeping clients informed
- Large pool of reviews, with most ratings at five stars
Worth knowing
- Also handles personal injury, so ask who will work your criminal matter
- A small share of ratings are one star, so read the recent ones yourself
Reputation scorecardrank in El Paso
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown88% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Its 906 reviews are the deepest history on this page, and that volume is why it ranks first even though its 4.6 is the lowest star rating here. A sensible first call if you want a firm with a long public record.
📍1141 E Rio Grande Ave, El Paso, TX 79902
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews
David Nevarez Attorney at Law
4.8★★★★★484 Google reviews
David Nevarez Attorney at Law is a solo practice in the PNC Bank Building on N Stanton St, open weekdays 9 to 5. Its website leads with traffic tickets, warrants and license defense, plus citations from the sheriff, constable and city police, and it also lists wills, probate, powers of attorney and residential real estate. Google types it as a criminal justice attorney and an estate planning attorney.
What people praise
- Reviewers describe tickets and cases dismissed, some without leaving work for court
- A reviewer who lives abroad says a ticket from a visit to El Paso was dismissed without trouble
- Long-term clients mention coming back for years and sending family
- Staff are described as friendly and willing to answer small questions
Worth knowing
- Reviews focus on tickets and citations, so ask directly about felony or serious charges
- Weekday office hours only
Reputation scorecardrank in El Paso
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown93% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Strong ratings (4.8 across 484 reviews) for traffic and citation work. If your charge is more serious than a ticket, confirm the firm takes that kind of case before booking.
📍PNC Bank Building, 416 N Stanton St Ste 600N, 600P, El Paso, TX 79901
#3🕑 Open 7 days
The Matthew James, Attorney at Law
4.9★★★★★181 Google reviews
The Matthew James, Attorney at Law is a downtown office on N Mesa St that practices criminal defense and immigration law side by side. Its website says it handles state and federal criminal charges in El Paso and New Mexico as well as deportation defense. The firm also says it has obtained permanent residency for hundreds of clients.
What people praise
- Reviewers describe an attorney who kept fighting through multiple hearings until a dismissal
- A legal assistant is named repeatedly for keeping families calm and informed
- A separate reviewer reports a green card approved in under two months
- Rating of 4.9 across 181 reviews
Worth knowing
- Newest review activity is older than at several other firms on this page
- Splits time between criminal and immigration matters
Reputation scorecardrank in El Paso
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown96% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A good match when a case might touch both criminal and immigration law. Its review base is smaller than the top two names, so the 4.9 rests on less history.
📍310 N Mesa St Ste 810, El Paso, TX 79901
#4🕑 Open 7 days
West Texas Trial Lawyers
4.9★★★★★151 Google reviews
West Texas Trial Lawyers runs a criminal defense practice from N Mesa St in El Paso, and its website describes a Texas-wide firm of former prosecutors handling state and federal cases. The site says the lawyers have handled more than 7,000 criminal cases, that calls are answered 24/7, that the first consultation is free, and that payment plans and Spanish-speaking staff are available. The site also points to a San Antonio presence.
What people praise
- Reviewers say the attorney explained everything clearly and kept them informed
- Clients describe dismissals, and one says probation was later terminated
- A reviewer says the firm took a complex case other lawyers turned away
- Rating of 4.9 across 151 reviews
Worth knowing
- Statewide marketing, so confirm which lawyer will actually handle your El Paso case
- Review totals are modest compared with the largest firms here
Reputation scorecardrank in El Paso
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Its site leans hard on the former-prosecutor angle, which is the firm's own claim rather than something we verified. The reviews are consistently strong, and the 24/7 line is useful after an arrest.
📍1005 N Mesa St, El Paso, TX 79902
#5🕑 Open 7 days
Valenzuela Law Firm
5.0★★★★★134 Google reviews
Valenzuela Law Firm is a criminal defense office on Magoffin Ave in downtown El Paso, typed by Google as a criminal justice attorney and trial attorney. We could not read usable text from its website, so this description rests on its Google profile and what clients write. Reviews name several attorneys at the firm.
What people praise
- Reviewers describe serious allegations dismissed for lack of evidence
- Clients praise courtroom preparation and calm under pressure
- Attorneys are described as responsive and clear about options
- A 5.0 rating, the highest on this page
Worth knowing
- The smallest review base here at 134, so the perfect rating rests on less history
Reputation scorecardrank in El Paso
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown99% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: The top rating on the page, but it ranks last on volume. Worth a call if the reviews about preparation and communication match what you are looking for.
📍701 Magoffin Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
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Claim this spot › What the scorecard measures
Each firm’s rating is its live Google star average. Review volume shows how many clients have rated it, compared with the other firms in El Paso we looked at. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.6 from hundreds of people carries more weight than a 5.0 from a few dozen. Recency shows how recently clients are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.
What does a criminal defense lawyer cost in El Paso? (2026)
Fees depend on the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, the court, and how long the case runs. Some firms bill a flat fee, some hourly, and some offer payment plans. We don’t publish figures here because none of these firms list prices we could verify, so ask for the fee structure in writing at the first consultation.
Where these offices sit in El Paso
The offices on this page cluster in and around downtown El Paso, on N Mesa St, N Stanton St, Magoffin Ave and E Rio Grande Ave, within a short drive of each other. Several of the firms also say they take cases in New Mexico. Looking for a criminal defense lawyer near me after an arrest? Each listing shows a phone number so you can call the closest office directly.
Questions to ask a defense lawyer before you hire
- Have you handled my specific charge in El Paso courts, and who will appear at hearings?
- Is your fee flat, hourly or a payment plan, and what does it include?
- Will I speak with you directly, or mostly with staff?
- Do you also take federal cases or cases across the New Mexico line, if mine needs it?
- What happens to my fee if the case is dismissed early?
Frequently asked questions
Do El Paso criminal defense lawyers handle federal cases?
Some do. The Matthew James, Attorney at Law and West Texas Trial Lawyers both say on their websites that they work in federal court as well as state court. Confirm this for your own situation on the first call.
Does a first consultation cost anything?
It varies by firm. West Texas Trial Lawyers says on its site that the first consultation is free, and the Ruben Ortiz firm advertises free consultations for personal injury cases. Ask each office before you book.
Where to start
For a long public record, start with Law Offices of Ruben Ortiz, PLLC. For a ticket or citation, David Nevarez Attorney at Law is the obvious call, and for a case that may also involve immigration status, The Matthew James, Attorney at Law. Whoever you call, get the fee terms in writing.
