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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD: 2026 rankings

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

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest LFR Score in Chesapeake Ranch Estates: Carey Law Office, LLC, LFR Score 67/100; 5.0★ from 121 Google reviews; open 24/7.

  2. 2

    Open 24 hours (per Google): FrizWoods LLC - Criminal Defense Law Firm, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 10.

  3. 3

    Most-reviewed: Kevin J. McDevitt, 334 Google reviews at 5.0★, the most of 10 ranked; ranked #3.

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

10 Chesapeake Ranch Estates criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 3 are open 24/7, 3 open Saturdays and 3 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 10 rated law firms.

Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1Carey Law Office, LLC675.0★ (121)Greater Upper Marlboro, 29 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Top score
2FrizWoods LLC - Criminal Defense Law Firm655.0★ (38)Rosaryville, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Open 24 hours
3Kevin J. McDevitt635.0★ (334)California, 12 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Most reviews
4Michelle Barnes Attorney At Law574.6★ (14)Cambridge, 24 mi away——
5Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C.564.7★ (174)Lexington Park, 5 mi away——
6Dugan, McKissick & Longmore, LLC554.6★ (90)Lexington Park, 6 mi away——
7WILLIAMS, MCCLERNAN, & STACK LLC534.8★ (50)California, 12 mi away——
8Shane Mattingly Law Offices514.9★ (20)California, 12 mi away——
9Sawyer & Myerberg PA503.7★ (12)Lexington Park, 6 mi away——
10Simmons & Dodd, LLP505.0★ (27)Cambridge, 24 mi away——

All 10 criminal defense lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates, 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates

    #1 Carey Law Office, LLC

    Based in Greater Upper Marlboro, 29 mi away

    67/100LFR Score

    Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 121 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 121 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    10425 Southern Maryland Blvd Ste 201, Dunkirk, MD 20754
    View profile for Carey Law Office, LLC(301) 464-2500

  3. #3 Kevin J. McDevitt

    Based in California, 12 mi away

    63/100LFR Score

    Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 334 Google reviews, the most in Chesapeake Ranch Estates.

    • 5.0★ from 334 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    22835 Washington St, Leonardtown, MD 20650
    View profile for Kevin J. McDevitt(301) 475-0093

  9. #9 Sawyer & Myerberg PA

    Based in Lexington Park, 6 mi away

    50/100LFR Score

    Ranked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 12 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.

    • 3.7★ from 12 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    21689 Great Mills Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653
    View profile for Sawyer & Myerberg PA(301) 863-9434

  10. #10 Simmons & Dodd, LLP

    Based in Cambridge, 24 mi away

    50/100LFR Score

    Ranked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 27 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 27 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    402 Academy St, Cambridge, MD 21613
    View profile for Simmons & Dodd, LLP(410) 228-2200

Also serving Chesapeake Ranch Estates

3 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates
BusinessGoogle ratingDistance
Chapman & Bowling, LLC5.0★ (1)6 mi
Harris & Capristo, LLC19 mi
Richard S. Phillips, Esq. - The Phillips Law Firm24 mi

How we ranked Chesapeake Ranch Estates criminal defense lawyers

We scored 10 Chesapeake Ranch Estates 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates: frequently asked questions

Which criminal defense lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Chesapeake Ranch Estates?

By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD is Carey Law Office, LLC with an LFR Score of 67/100. It has 5.0★ from 121 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. FrizWoods LLC - Criminal Defense Law Firm (#2) and Kevin J. McDevitt (#3) follow. We ranked 10 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Chesapeake Ranch Estates?

LawFirmsRanked ranks 10 criminal defense lawyers serving Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD. Another 3 within 30 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.

Which criminal defense lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates are open 24/7?

3 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Carey Law Office, LLC (#1), FrizWoods LLC - Criminal Defense Law Firm (#2) and Kevin J. McDevitt (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.

Which criminal defense lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates work on weekends?

3 of 10 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 3 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Carey Law Office, LLC (#1), FrizWoods LLC - Criminal Defense Law Firm (#2) and Kevin J. McDevitt (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.

What Google rating do Chesapeake Ranch Estates criminal defense lawyers have?

The median Google rating among 10 rated criminal defense lawyers in Chesapeake Ranch Estates is 4.8★, with a median of 44 reviews. Kevin J. McDevitt has the most, 334 reviews, and ranks #3. 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 30 mi of the Chesapeake Ranch Estates 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD 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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates?

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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 10 criminal defense lawyers serving Chesapeake Ranch Estates.

More criminal defense lawyers and Chesapeake Ranch Estates pages