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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Augusta, GA: 2026 rankings

39 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest LFR Score in Augusta: Robert T. Homlar P.C., LFR Score 72/100; 4.9★ from 190 Google reviews; open 24/7.

  2. 2

    Open 24 hours (per Google): Law Office of Samuel Emas - DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 39.

  3. 20

    Most-reviewed: Claridge Law Firm, 233 Google reviews at 4.7★, the most of 39 ranked; ranked #20.

Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

39 Augusta criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 6 are open 24/7, 8 open Saturdays and 6 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.7★ across 39 rated law firms.

Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Augusta at a glance

Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.

Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Augusta at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1Robert T. Homlar P.C.724.9★ (190)Evans, 10 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Top score
2Law Office of Samuel Emas - DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney694.7★ (27)AugustaOpen 24 hrs (Google)Open 24 hours
3Lucy Jackson Bell684.9★ (75)AugustaSat—
4J Todd Mitchell Law Firm685.0★ (144)Augusta——
5Davis, Chapman, & Wilder, LLC684.8★ (143)Augusta——
6Connell Law Firm674.7★ (58)AugustaSat—
7Duncan Law Firm674.6★ (157)Augusta——
8The Nash Law Office LLC664.8★ (85)Augusta——
9J. Pete Theodocion, Attorney at Law664.7★ (72)Augusta——
10Keith B. Johnson Law, LLC.654.6★ (83)Augusta——

All 39 criminal defense lawyers in Augusta, in rank order

Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.

Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  1. Ranked #1 in Augusta

    Based in Evans, 10 mi away

    72/100LFR Score

    Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 190 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.9★ from 190 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    601 N Belair Square Ste 16, Evans, GA 30809
  2. Based in Augusta

    68/100LFR Score

    Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 75 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.9★ from 75 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat 8:30 AM–12 AM · Sun closed
    Address
    115 Nassau Pl, Thomson, GA 30824
  3. Based in Augusta

    68/100LFR Score

    Ranked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 144 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 144 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–3 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    580 James Brown Blvd Ste 100, Augusta, GA 30901
  4. Based in Augusta

    67/100LFR Score

    Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 58 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.7★ from 58 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon closed · Tue–Sat 9 AM–5 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    3540 Wheeler Rd Ste 616, Augusta, GA 30909
  5. Based in Augusta

    67/100LFR Score

    Ranked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 157 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.6★ from 157 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 8:30 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    415 4th St, Augusta, GA 30901
  6. Based in Augusta

    66/100LFR Score

    Ranked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 85 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.8★ from 85 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–12 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    2177 Central Ave, Augusta, GA 30904
  7. Based in Augusta

    65/100LFR Score

    Ranked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 46 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 46 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–12 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1450 Greene St Ste 130, Augusta, GA 30901
  8. Based in Augusta

    63/100LFR Score

    Ranked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 19 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.7★ from 19 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
  9. Based in North Augusta, 3 mi away

    59/100LFR Score

    Ranked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.0★ from 6 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1417 Georgia Ave, North Augusta, SC 29841
  10. Based in Augusta

    59/100LFR Score

    Ranked #20 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 233 Google reviews, the most in Augusta.

    • 4.7★ from 233 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:30 PM · Fri 8:30 AM–1 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    206 Pleasant Home Rd, Augusta, GA 30907
  11. Based in Aiken, 16 mi away

    57/100LFR Score

    Ranked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.5★ from 8 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–12 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    117 Pendleton St NW, Aiken, SC 29801

All 39 criminal defense lawyers

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #39, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.

criminal defense lawyers in Augusta, ranks 26 to 39
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingDistance
26Tisdale Middleton & Land554.6★ (113)10 mi
27Sussman Law554.7★ (38)In Augusta
28Ward & Spires, LLC544.5★ (42)In Augusta
29Babb & Masters Attorneys at Law, LLC545.0★ (20)In Augusta
30Matt Andrews Law534.9★ (41)10 mi
31Harrison & Medlin, P.C.524.3★ (50)10 mi
32J. Michael Spence, Attorney at Law524.6★ (22)7 mi
33PJ Campanaro Attorney at Law524.2★ (56)10 mi
34Lewis John MB523.7★ (3)In Augusta
35Crowder Stewart LLP515.0★ (6)In Augusta
36Plunkett, Hamilton, Manton & Graves LLP513.7★ (12)In Augusta
37Peace-Nichols Law Office505.0★ (4)In Augusta
38Hatcher Law Firm505.0★ (6)16 mi
39Margaret Tribert504.0★ (47)15 mi

Also serving Augusta

20 more criminal defense lawyers within 30 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a practice area we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.

Unranked criminal defense lawyers serving Augusta
BusinessGoogle ratingDistance
Barrios Virguez Attorneys: Accident & Injury Law4.9★ (206)In Augusta
Burnside Law Firm LLP4.9★ (153)In Augusta
Chris Hudson Law Group5.0★ (482)In Augusta
David Bell Law Firm4.7★ (159)In Augusta
Frails & Wilson Attorneys at Law4.2★ (125)In Augusta
George Bush Law4.9★ (119)In Augusta
George Sink Injury Lawyers4.9★ (498)In Augusta
Hawk Law Group4.9★ (223)In Augusta
Horst Shewmaker - Augusta, LLC5.0★ (114)In Augusta
Jackson R. Massey & Associates, P.C.4.6★ (121)In Augusta
Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys5.0★ (683)In Augusta
Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C.4.6★ (257)In Augusta
M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers4.9★ (421)In Augusta
Magruder Disability Law Group4.9★ (163)In Augusta
Malchow Johnson Injury Lawyers5.0★ (493)In Augusta
Morgan & Morgan4.8★ (341)In Augusta
Poulin | Willey Trial Lawyers4.9★ (126)In Augusta
The Hawk Firm Personal Injury Lawyers5.0★ (243)In Augusta
The Law Office of Tyrone J. Walls5.0★ (114)In Augusta
The Mike Hostilo Law Firm4.6★ (702)In Augusta

How we ranked Augusta criminal defense lawyers

We scored 39 Augusta criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

LFR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Augusta data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Bar status10%An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded)Not yet collected
Review volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the listMeasured
Recency10%Share of reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability5%Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7Measured
Practice focus15%How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity5%An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same)Measured
Law Firms Ranked reviews10%Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there areMeasured

How to choose a criminal defense lawyer

  1. Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
  2. Ask how many criminal defense matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
  3. Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
  4. Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
  5. Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
  6. Ask whether the lawyer regularly appears in the court where your case is filed.
  7. Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.

Questions to ask a criminal defense lawyer

  • How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
  • How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
  • Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
  • What does the flat fee cover, and what costs extra if the case goes to trial?
  • Who will appear with me at each hearing?
  • Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?

Terms explained

Contingency fee
A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
Retainer
Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
Flat fee
One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
Limited-scope representation
Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
Statute of limitations
The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
Good standing
A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
Law society
The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
Board certification
Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
Attorney–client privilege
The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
Conflict check
The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
Pro bono
Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Legal aid
Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.

Criminal defense lawyers in Augusta: frequently asked questions

Which criminal defense lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Augusta?

By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Augusta, GA is Robert T. Homlar P.C. with an LFR Score of 72/100. It has 4.9★ from 190 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Law Office of Samuel Emas - DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney (#2) and Lucy Jackson Bell (#3) follow. We ranked 39 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Augusta?

LawFirmsRanked ranks 39 criminal defense lawyers serving Augusta, GA. 24 of them are based in Augusta; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 30 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.

Which criminal defense lawyers in Augusta are open 24/7?

6 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Augusta post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Robert T. Homlar P.C. (#1), Law Office of Samuel Emas - DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney (#2) and Robert T. Homlar P.C. (#12). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.

Which criminal defense lawyers in Augusta work on weekends?

8 of 39 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 6 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Robert T. Homlar P.C. (#1), Law Office of Samuel Emas - DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney (#2) and Lucy Jackson Bell (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.

What Google rating do Augusta criminal defense lawyers have?

The median Google rating among 39 rated criminal defense lawyers in Augusta is 4.7★, with a median of 50 reviews. Claridge Law Firm has the most, 233 reviews, and ranks #20. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does LawFirmsRanked rank criminal defense lawyers?

Each criminal defense lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do criminal defense lawyers outside Augusta count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 30 mi of the Augusta city center, our service radius for criminal defense lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.

Can criminal defense lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?

No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.

How do criminal defense lawyers in Augusta, GA charge?

Criminal defense lawyers usually charge a flat fee per stage (for example, through a plea or through trial) or an hourly rate. Contingency fees are not allowed in criminal cases under ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $219 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.

What if I can’t afford a criminal defense lawyer?

If a charge can lead to jail, the court must appoint a lawyer for you if you cannot afford one (Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963; Argersinger v. Hamlin, 1972). Ask about a public defender at your first court appearance. This is general information, not legal advice.

How is this list of criminal defense lawyers in Augusta, GA ranked?

By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.

Does a lawyer need an office in Augusta?

No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.

Update log for Augusta

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 39 criminal defense lawyers serving Augusta.