Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia County, PA

Lawyer Legion connects people with attorneys who are best-suited to solve their legal problems. We have curated a list of over 100 Criminal Defense lawyers currently practicing in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. We scored each lawyer based on purely objective criteria such as: specialty certifications, distinguished fellowships, professional involvement, community leadership, speaking engagements, and other merit-based criteria.

If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a crime, consider using Lawyer Legion to discover and connect with criminal defense lawyers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who are ready to help.

Directory of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia County, PA

Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Philadelphia
Search Directory for Criminal Defense Lawyers
Criminal Defense Lawyers by Cities in Philadelphia County, PA
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Counties Near Philadelphia County
Criminal Defense Lawyers by Practice Area
Criminal Defense Lawyers by Specialty
Philadelphia County, PA Legal Resources
Criminal Defense Bar Associations and Legal Organizations
Specialty Certifications in Criminal Defense
Philadelphia County Government and Court Resources

Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Philadelphia

Lawyer Legion Top Picks for 2026

Lawyer Legion created this list of the top picks in 2026 for the best criminal defense attorneys in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. To rank the top Criminal Defense attorneys, and other lawyers in Philadelphia County we used both objective and subjective criteria.

The top criminal defense attorneys were selected based on their career accomplishments, professional involvement, community leadership, and board certification.

This list represents some of the most highly accomplished Criminal Defense lawyers currently practicing in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. When reviewing this list, please be aware of each of the following:

Lawyers cannot pay to be included in this list.
Only lawyers who are active on Lawyer Legion were selected.
No online directory can accurately determine a countywide list of attorneys who are actually “the best" at practicing criminal law (but our list comes close).

Showing attorneys 1–12 out of 145

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Criminal Defense Lawyers by Cities in Philadelphia County, PA

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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Counties Near Philadelphia County

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Philadelphia County, PA Criminal Defense Legal Resources

Criminal Defense Bar Associations and Legal Organizations
Specialty Certifications in Criminal Defense
Philadelphia County Government and Court Resources

Criminal Defense Bar Associations and Legal Organizations

Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) - The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) was established in 1988. The PACDL is a member organization open to Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys who are actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases in both state and federal court. The organization also accepts law students who are enrolled in law school. The PACDL is active engaged in ensuring equal justice is found under the law.

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) - Founded in 1958, NACDL is the largest organization for criminal defense lawyers fighting to preserve fairness within America's criminal justice system. The organization has more than 10,000 direct members including criminal defense attorneys in private practice, public defenders in state or federal court, U.S. military defense counsel, law professors and judges.

Specialty Certifications in Criminal Defense

Criminal Trial Law - The specialty area of Criminal Trial Law is offered by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) to lawyers. To earn NBTA board certification, the criminal defense attorney must show substantial involvement in at least 45 days of trial, must have served as lead counsel in jury cases through verdict; conducted direct examinations and cross-examinations, and conducted a specified number of voir dire, opening statements and closing arguments.

DUI Defense Law - The National College for DUI Defense, Inc. (NCDD) is an organization that grants specialty or board certification for DUI Defense Law. The ABA has recognized the NCDD as an organization that is accredited to award certification in this specialty area of the law. The purpose of granting board certification in DUI Defense Law is to recognize DUI and DWI lawyers who focus their practice on representing men and women accused of drunk and impaired driving offenses. In order to qualify for board certification in "DUI Defense Law," the attorney must meet specific qualifications and apply for board certification with NCDD.

Philadelphia County Government and Court Resources

Defender Association of Philadelphia
Philadelphia District Attorney's Office
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Courts)
City of Philadelphia Government
Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania
Federal Courts in Philadelphia County, PA

Defender Association of Philadelphia

Defender Association of Philadelphia - The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a non-profit organization founded in 1934 to provide high-quality legal services to indigent criminal defendants. Their mission includes offering client-centered legal representation, social services, and reentry support for adults and juveniles. The association plays a key role in protecting constitutional rights and advocating for a fair and equitable justice system. Defender attorneys handle a wide range of cases, including adult and juvenile representation, mental health hearings, and child advocacy. They emphasize holistic, collaborative advocacy and systemic change.

Defender Association of Philadelphia
1441 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-568-3190

Philadelphia District Attorney's Office

Philadelphia District Attorney's Office - The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is the largest prosecutors office in Pennsylvania and the third largest in the nation, with over 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. Its mission is to protect the inalienable rights of all Philadelphians while ensuring justice through evidence-based practices. The office emphasizes reform, aiming to end mass incarceration and overly punitive policies that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. It focuses on addressing underlying issues contributing to crime and seeks to create a fairer justice system.

Philadelphia District Attorney's Office
3 S Penn Square
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-686-8000

First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Courts)

First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Courts) - The Philadelphia Courts, officially known as the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, serve as the judicial system for the city and county of Philadelphia. They are responsible for providing fair and efficient justice to all individuals, handling cases ranging from criminal to civil matters. The system comprises several courts, including the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court, each with specific duties and jurisdictions. Their mission emphasizes justice, impartiality, and the rule of law. The courts aim to be accessible, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the community.

First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Courts)
1400 John F Kennedy Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-686-7000

City of Philadelphia Government

City of Philadelphia Government - The City of Philadelphia Government website serves as the central portal for information and services related to city governance and operations. It provides resources for residents, businesses, and visitors, including information on city departments, public safety, and community services. The website allows users to pay bills, apply for permits, access city council information, and find employment opportunities. It also offers updates on city news, events, and initiatives. The site is designed to make interacting with city government straightforward and accessible.

Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania

Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania - The Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (PDAP) is a non-profit corporation that provides free legal representation to indigent adults and juveniles accused of crimes in the state's courts of common pleas and appellate courts. Established in 1971, the PDAP employs about 600 defenders in 67 offices. The office's mission is to provide effective representation to ensure the protection of due process rights for its clients at all stages of a criminal proceeding.

Federal Courts in Philadelphia County, PA

U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania - Created in 1818, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania serves the eastern portion of the state with federal courthouses located in Philadelphia, Allentown, Easton, and Reading. The court deals with complex federal cases involving civil rights, corporate litigation, healthcare fraud, and constitutional law. Philadelphia's status as a major urban and legal center makes this court one of the busiest and most influential in the Third Circuit.

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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Directory of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia County, PA

Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Philadelphia

Lauren A Wimmer

Zak Taylor Goldstein

David Scott Nenner

Marc Neff

Hope C Lefeber

Derek Steenson

Mark Copoulos

Brian Zeiger

Greg Richard Weyer

Michael Harris Fienman

Brian M. Fishman

Michael F. Niznik Jr