73/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 255 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Hamilton, ON: 2026 rankings
168 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Hamilton: Collett Read LLP, LFR Score 73/100; 4.9★ from 255 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 2
Open 24 hours (per Google): Aswani K. Datt, Criminal Defense Lawyer, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 168.
- 34
Most-reviewed: X-Copper, 522 Google reviews at 4.8★, the most of 168 ranked; ranked #34.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
168 Hamilton criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 56 are open 24/7, 74 open Saturdays and 69 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.9★ across 168 rated law firms.
Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton 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.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collett Read LLP | 73 | 4.9★ (255) | Hamilton | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | Aswani K. Datt, Criminal Defense Lawyer | 68 | 5.0★ (275) | Mississauga, 40 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours |
| 3 | Vikram Singh | 68 | 4.4★ (72) | Hamilton | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 4 | Jag Virk Lawyers | 68 | 5.0★ (27) | Hamilton | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 5 | Beth Bromberg | 67 | 4.5★ (33) | Hamilton | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 6 | Amedeo DiCarlo of DiCarlo & Wong Associates | 67 | 4.9★ (236) | Etobicoke, 45 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 7 | Kahlon Law | 66 | 5.0★ (186) | Mississauga, 48 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 8 | LawStop Criminal Lawyers | 66 | 4.9★ (226) | Brampton, 48 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 9 | Hepburn Criminal Law | 66 | 4.8★ (180) | Hamilton | — | — |
| 10 | Kazandji Law Criminal and Family Lawyers | 66 | 5.0★ (46) | Oakville, 24 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
All 168 criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton, 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.
Based in Mississauga, 40 km away
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 275 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#3 Vikram Singh
Based in Hamilton
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 72 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Hamilton
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 27 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Hamilton
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 33 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Etobicoke, 45 km away
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 236 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#7 Kahlon Law
Based in Mississauga, 48 km away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 186 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Brampton, 48 km away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 226 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Hamilton
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 180 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Oakville, 24 km away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 46 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#11 Eliany Advocates
Based in Hamilton
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Hamilton
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Mississauga, 44 km away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 107 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#14 Sukhraj Hundal
Based in Oakville, 30 km away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 48 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Hamilton
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#16 State Law Firm
Based in Mississauga, 42 km away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 235 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Hamilton
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Milton, 30 km away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 31 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#19 PCS
Based in Oakville, 25 km away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 23 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#20 Jag Virk Lawyers
Based in Burlington, 14 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 12 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Brampton, 47 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 103 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Mississauga, 45 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 58 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#23 Daley, Byers
Based in Oakville, 24 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 23 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Brampton, 47 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 121 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Mississauga, 41 km away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 34 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Criminal defense lawyers ranked #26 to #50
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #50, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile. We publish the top 50 of 168 ranked criminal defense lawyers here; the rest are on their profiles.
Also serving Hamilton
20 more criminal defense lawyers within 48 km that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a practice area we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.
How we ranked Hamilton criminal defense lawyers
We scored 168 Hamilton 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.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Hamilton data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Bar status | 10% | 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 volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 | Measured |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
How to choose a criminal defense lawyer
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many criminal defense matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
- Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
- Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
- Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
- Ask whether the lawyer regularly appears in the court where your case is filed.
- 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 Hamilton: frequently asked questions
Which criminal defense lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Hamilton?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Hamilton, ON is Collett Read LLP with an LFR Score of 73/100. It has 4.9★ from 255 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Aswani K. Datt, Criminal Defense Lawyer (#2) and Vikram Singh (#3) follow. We ranked 168 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Hamilton?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 168 criminal defense lawyers serving Hamilton, ON. 12 of them are based in Hamilton; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 48 km are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton are open 24/7?
56 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Collett Read LLP (#1), Aswani K. Datt, Criminal Defense Lawyer (#2) and Vikram Singh (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton work on weekends?
74 of 168 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 69 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Collett Read LLP (#1), Aswani K. Datt, Criminal Defense Lawyer (#2) and Vikram Singh (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Hamilton criminal defense lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 168 rated criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton is 4.9★, with a median of 29 reviews. X-Copper has the most, 522 reviews, and ranks #34. 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 Hamilton count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 48 km of the Hamilton city centre, 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 Hamilton, ON charge?
Criminal defence lawyers usually charge a block or flat fee per stage, or an hourly rate. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask your provincial legal aid plan whether you qualify. Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
What if I can’t afford a criminal defence lawyer?
Apply to your provincial legal aid plan, which issues certificates to private lawyers or provides staff lawyers if you qualify. Duty counsel can also help at your first court appearance. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of criminal defense lawyers in Hamilton, ON 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 Hamilton?
No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your province (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some province). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.
Update log for Hamilton
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 168 criminal defense lawyers serving Hamilton.
More criminal defense lawyers and Hamilton pages
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