Chicago Criminal Defense Criminal Defense Lawyers

The 10 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Chicago (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 10 firms · Illinois law

The best criminal defense lawyers in Chicago in 2026 include David L. Freidberg, Mitch Furman and Steven R. Hunter for general state and federal defense, former prosecutors Andrew M. Weisberg, Purav Bhatt and Hal M. Garfinkel, David S. Olshansky for bond hearings and a wide charge list, and Beau B. Brindley and Glozman Law for federal and white collar cases.

The list at a glance

Firm	Office	Focus	Best for
1. Law Offices of David L. Freidberg	The Loop	State and federal charges	Cases in Cook and DuPage counties
2. Law Offices of Mitch Furman	The Loop	Felonies, drug charges and DUI	People trying to understand a specific charge
3. Law Office of Steven R. Hunter	The Loop	State and federal criminal defense	Clients who want a criminal-only lawyer
4. Law Offices of Andrew M. Weisberg	North Side	Felony defense and sex crimes	North Side and Skokie cases
5. Law Office of Purav Bhatt	Near West Side & Pilsen	DUI, drug and gun charges	Gun and drug cases in the city
6. The Law Offices of David S. Olshansky & Associates	West Loop	Felonies and early custody hearings	A loved one who is in custody now
7. Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel	The Loop	State charges and federal fraud	Federal fraud and state drug or gun charges
8. Law Office of Steven Fine	The Loop	Felonies and juvenile cases	Parents of a charged teenager
9. Law Offices of Beau B. Brindley	The Loop	Federal trials and criminal appeals	Federal charges, or an appeal after conviction
10. Glozman Law	The Loop	White collar and investigations	People under investigation who haven't been charged

Criminal defense in Chicago is mostly a small-firm business, and the lawyer you hire is usually the lawyer who appears in court. Felony cases in Cook County are generally heard at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 26th and California, with suburban cases in the municipal district courthouses, so ask how often a lawyer appears in the building where your case is set.

Arrested for drunk driving? Your license is on a separate, faster clock. See the FAQ below. If federal agents have contacted you, call a lawyer before you respond.

1. Law Offices of David L. Freidberg — The Loop

Broad state and federal defense, with Loop, Skokie and Oakbrook Terrace offices.

Focus State and federal chargesBest for Cases in Cook and DuPage counties

The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg covers violent crimes, weapons, white collar, domestic violence, drug and sex charges, along with federal crimes, DUI, probation violations and expungement. It has offices listed in the Loop, Skokie and Oakbrook Terrace, which helps with suburban courthouses.

Good to know: Ask for the fee in writing, including what happens if the case goes to trial.

70 W Madison St, Suite 1450, Chicago, IL 60602

Firm profile 312-560-7100 Website Google Maps

2. Law Offices of Mitch Furman — The Loop

Defense practice with detailed explanations of each felony class.

Focus Felonies, drug charges and DUIBest for People trying to understand a specific charge

The Law Offices of Mitch Furman cites more than 20 years of experience and has a site that breaks charges down by class, from Class 4 to Class X felonies and misdemeanors. It's useful reading if you've just been handed a charging document and don't know what it means.

Good to know: Bring your charging paperwork and next court date to the first call.

77 W Wacker Dr, Suite 4500, Chicago, IL 60601

Firm profile 312-236-7078 Website Google Maps

3. Law Office of Steven R. Hunter — The Loop

A practice that says it does only criminal defense.

Focus State and federal criminal defenseBest for Clients who want a criminal-only lawyer

The Law Office of Steven R. Hunter says it focuses exclusively on state and federal criminal defense. It handles sex offenses, DUI, drug charges, weapons violations, domestic violence and financial crimes, from an office on South Dearborn Street.

Good to know: Ask how many cases the lawyer currently has set for trial.

140 S Dearborn St, Suite 1610, Chicago, IL 60603

Firm profile 312-466-9466 Website Google Maps

4. Law Offices of Andrew M. Weisberg — North Side

A former Cook County felony prosecutor on the North Side.

Focus Felony defense and sex crimesBest for North Side and Skokie cases

Andrew M. Weisberg says he is a former Cook County felony prosecutor. His practice covers sex crimes, retail theft, aggravated battery, drug crimes, DUI and white collar charges, from an office in Lincoln Park and a second in Skokie, near the Second Municipal District courthouse.

Good to know: The firm says it is available day or night, which matters on the night of an arrest.

2502 N Clark St, Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60614

Firm profile 773-908-9811 Website Google Maps

5. Law Office of Purav Bhatt — Near West Side & Pilsen

A former Cook County prosecutor based in Pilsen.

Focus DUI, drug and gun chargesBest for Gun and drug cases in the city

Purav Bhatt says he is a former Cook County prosecutor and handles DUI, drug, gun, sexual assault, domestic violence, felony and federal cases from Blue Island Avenue. A smaller practice like this can be a good fit if you want to deal with the same lawyer throughout.

Good to know: Gun cases can affect your FOID card. Ask about it specifically.

1655 S Blue Island Ave, Suite 312, Chicago, IL 60608

Firm profile 773-912-0268 Website Google Maps

6. The Law Offices of David S. Olshansky & Associates — West Loop

Long charge-by-charge list, plus DUI and traffic defense.

Focus Felonies and early custody hearingsBest for A loved one who is in custody now

The Law Offices of David S. Olshansky & Associates has a long list of specific charges, from armed robbery and burglary to drug offenses, and it also handles DUI and traffic defense from an office near Union Station. Its site has a page on bond hearings, but Illinois ended cash bail in 2023, so ask how the firm handles today's pretrial detention hearings.

Good to know: If someone is in custody, have their full name and date of birth ready when you call.

216 S Jefferson St, Suite 101, Chicago, IL 60661

Firm profile 312-902-3344 Website Google Maps

7. Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel — The Loop

A former prosecutor with federal white collar experience.

Focus State charges and federal fraudBest for Federal fraud and state drug or gun charges

Hal M. Garfinkel says he previously served as a prosecutor. The practice handles DUI, drug, gun and sex crimes, and also federal white collar charges such as mortgage fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering.

Good to know: If you learn of an investigation, the firm's advice is to call before charges are filed.

134 N LaSalle St, Suite 860, Chicago, IL 60602

Firm profile 312-629-0669 Website Google Maps

8. Law Office of Steven Fine — The Loop

Covers juvenile cases as well as adult felonies and misdemeanors.

Focus Felonies and juvenile casesBest for Parents of a charged teenager

The Law Office of Steven Fine handles drug crimes, felonies, juvenile cases, internet sex crimes, violent crimes, weapons charges, DUI and white collar charges. Few general practices list juvenile cases this prominently, which makes it worth a call for parents.

Good to know: It advertises free consultations. Its office is on West Jackson, close to the federal building.

53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1550, Chicago, IL 60604

Firm profile 312-922-0855 Website Google Maps

9. Law Offices of Beau B. Brindley — The Loop

Federal and state trials and appeals.

Focus Federal trials and criminal appealsBest for Federal charges, or an appeal after conviction

The Law Offices of Beau B. Brindley handles federal and state criminal charges, trials and appeals. Appeals are a separate skill from trial work, so this is a relevant option if a conviction has already happened or the case is likely to go that far.

Good to know: Appeal deadlines are short. Call right after sentencing.

53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 750, Chicago, IL 60604

Firm profile 312-765-8878 Website Google Maps

10. Glozman Law — The Loop

White collar defense, including work before charges.

Focus White collar and investigationsBest for People under investigation who haven't been charged

Glozman Law emphasizes white collar defense, investigations and strategic planning, along with general criminal defense. If agents have contacted you or you've received a subpoena, this kind of practice handles the stage before any charge is filed.

Good to know: Don't talk to agents or delete anything before speaking with a lawyer.

53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60604

Firm profile 312-726-9015 Website Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I'm arrested in Chicago?

Stay polite, give your identifying details, and say that you want a lawyer and won't answer questions without one. Don't explain your side to police, even if you think it will help. Call a lawyer or have a family member call one as soon as possible.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Chicago?

Many charge a flat fee based on the charge and stage of the case, and fees for felonies and trials are higher. Ask exactly what the fee covers, including motions, trial and appeal. If you can't afford a lawyer and you're charged with a crime that could mean jail, you can ask the court to appoint a public defender.

Can I clear a criminal record in Illinois?

Many arrests and some convictions can be expunged or sealed, depending on the charge and outcome. Several firms on this list handle expungement and sealing, and Illinois Legal Aid Online has a free tool to help you check.

Should I hire a former prosecutor?

It can help, because a former prosecutor knows how charging decisions are made in that office. It isn't a guarantee of anything. Ask about the lawyer's recent trials and experience with your specific charge.

Before you hire a lawyer in Chicago

Check the license. The Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) shows whether a lawyer is licensed in Illinois and authorized to practice, along with any public disciplinary history and whether they report carrying malpractice insurance. It is free and takes a minute.

Need a referral?

Chicago Bar Association lawyer referral: the city bar's service for finding a lawyer by legal issue.
Illinois State Bar Association lawyer finder: the statewide bar's referral service.

Can't afford a lawyer?

CARPLS legal hotline: free legal advice for Chicago-area residents by phone at 312-738-9200.
Illinois Legal Aid Online: free plain-language guides, forms and referrals for all of Illinois.

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