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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Kingston, NY: 2026 rankings

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

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest LFR Score in Kingston: McCabe, Coleman, Ventosa & Patterson PLLC, LFR Score 70/100; 4.8★ from 146 Google reviews; open 24/7.

  2. 2

    Open 24 hours (per Google): The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 28.

  3. 5

    Most-reviewed: Selby Legal PLLC, 211 Google reviews at 5.0★, the most of 28 ranked; ranked #5.

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

28 Kingston criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 4 are open 24/7, 7 open Saturdays and 4 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 28 rated law firms.

Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Kingston 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 Kingston at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1McCabe, Coleman, Ventosa & Patterson PLLC704.8★ (146)Poughkeepsie, 16 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Top score
2The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi684.9★ (51)Poughkeepsie, 16 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Open 24 hours
3DWI TEAM675.0★ (10)KingstonOpen 24 hrs (Google)—
4Raiser Kenniff & Lonstein, Attorneys at Law675.0★ (27)KingstonSat—
5Selby Legal PLLC665.0★ (211)Poughkeepsie, 14 mi away—Most reviews
6Law Office of Daniel R. Miller665.0★ (20)Poughkeepsie, 16 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)—
7Russell A. Schindler625.0★ (10)Kingston——
8Cillis Law, PLLC604.7★ (24)Poughkeepsie, 16 mi away——
9Larkin Ingrassia Andrews Criminal Defense Attorneys Kingston605.0★ (4)Kingston——
10Christopher S. Coleman, PLLC584.8★ (9)Poughkeepsie, 16 mi away——

All 28 criminal defense lawyers in Kingston, 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.

  3. #3 DWI TEAM

    Based in Kingston

    67/100LFR Score

    Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    155 Stockade Dr, Kingston, NY 12401
    View profile for DWI TEAM(845) 933-7116

  5. Based in Poughkeepsie, 14 mi away

    66/100LFR Score

    Ranked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 211 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 211 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5:30 PM · Wed closed · Thu 9 AM–5:30 PM · Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    9 Main St, Highland, NY 12528
    View profile for Selby Legal PLLC(845) 419-3383

  7. #7 Russell A. Schindler

    Based in Kingston

    62/100LFR Score

    Ranked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    245 Wall St, Kingston, NY 12401
    View profile for Russell A. Schindler(845) 331-4496

  8. #8 Cillis Law, PLLC

    Based in Poughkeepsie, 16 mi away

    60/100LFR Score

    Ranked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 24 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 4.7★ from 24 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    48 Academy St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
    View profile for Cillis Law, PLLC(845) 554-7171

  12. #12 John G. Sisti, Esq.

    Based in Wawarsing, 13 mi away

    57/100LFR Score

    Ranked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    • 3.7★ from 6 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    207 Main St, New Paltz, NY 12561
    View profile for John G. Sisti, Esq.(845) 255-9100

  14. Based in Kingston

    56/100LFR Score

    Ranked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5:30 PM · Wed closed · Thu 9 AM–5:30 PM · Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    721 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401
    View profile for Selby Legal PLLC(845) 419-3383

  18. #18 Jonna Spilbor Law

    Based in Poughkeepsie, 16 mi away

    52/100LFR Score

    Ranked #18 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.3★ from 100 Google reviews.

    • 4.3★ from 100 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    214 Main St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
    View profile for Jonna Spilbor Law(845) 485-2529

  20. #20 Wallace & Wallace, LLP

    Based in Poughkeepsie, 16 mi away

    50/100LFR Score

    Ranked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 23 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.

    • 4.4★ from 23 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    85 Civic Center Plaza Ste LL3, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
    View profile for Wallace & Wallace, LLP(845) 473-0900

  22. Based in Newburgh, 29 mi away

    49/100LFR Score

    Ranked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.

    • 5.0★ from 28 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–5:30 PM · Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    320 Robinson Ave Ste 230, Newburgh, NY 12550
    View profile for Selby Legal PLLC(845) 419-3383

  25. #25 Craig M. Wallace Lawyer

    Based in Poughkeepsie, 16 mi away

    47/100LFR Score

    Ranked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.

    • 4.7★ from 3 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    Suite LL3, 85 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
    View profile for Craig M. Wallace Lawyer(845) 473-0900

All 28 criminal defense lawyers

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #28, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.

criminal defense lawyers in Kingston, ranks 26 to 28
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingDistance
26Law Offices of Ronald J. McGaw, Esq.462.3★ (3)16 mi
27The Law Office of Joseph F. Buono PLLC453.0★ (6)27 mi
28Anthony DeFazio Law P.C.443.1★ (7)29 mi

Also serving Kingston

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 Kingston
BusinessGoogle ratingDistance
Basch Keegan & Spada LLP4.8★ (152)In Kingston
D'Andrea Law Offices, P.C.4.8★ (20)In Kingston
Finkelstein & Partners, LLP4.9★ (45)In Kingston
Guttmann & Kellner, P.C.4.7★ (24)In Kingston
Ingram Law4.2★ (33)In Kingston
Joseph M. Pugliese, Esq.5.0★ (28)In Kingston
Kingston Bankruptcy Law Practice4.9★ (28)In Kingston
Kirk & Kistner, LLP4.8★ (101)In Kingston
Mainetti & Mainetti P.C.4.9★ (217)In Kingston
MARC W. MILLER & ASSOCIATES, P.C.4.7★ (101)In Kingston
New York Injury Law, LLP5.0★ (170)In Kingston
O’Connor & Partners, PLLC4.9★ (234)In Kingston
Ragues Law PLLC4.6★ (47)In Kingston
Rebecca Millouras-Lettre4.6★ (59)In Kingston
Rusk Wadlin Heppner & Martuscello, LLP5.0★ (29)In Kingston
The Law Office of Brian Juran4.8★ (101)In Kingston
The Law Office of Raymond J. Iaia4.7★ (23)In Kingston
The New York Injury & Malpractice Law Firm, P.C.5.0★ (989)In Kingston
The Trataros Law Firm PLLC4.5★ (26)In Kingston
Workers' Compensation Attorney5.0★ (105)In Kingston

How we ranked Kingston criminal defense lawyers

We scored 28 Kingston 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 Kingston 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 Kingston: frequently asked questions

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

By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Kingston, NY is McCabe, Coleman, Ventosa & Patterson PLLC with an LFR Score of 70/100. It has 4.8★ from 146 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi (#2) and DWI TEAM (#3) follow. We ranked 28 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Kingston?

LawFirmsRanked ranks 28 criminal defense lawyers serving Kingston, NY. 7 of them are based in Kingston; 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 Kingston are open 24/7?

4 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Kingston post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are McCabe, Coleman, Ventosa & Patterson PLLC (#1), The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi (#2) and DWI TEAM (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.

Which criminal defense lawyers in Kingston work on weekends?

7 of 28 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 4 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are McCabe, Coleman, Ventosa & Patterson PLLC (#1), The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi (#2) and DWI TEAM (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.

What Google rating do Kingston criminal defense lawyers have?

The median Google rating among 28 rated criminal defense lawyers in Kingston is 4.8★, with a median of 20 reviews. Selby Legal PLLC has the most, 211 reviews, and ranks #5. 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 Kingston count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 30 mi of the Kingston 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 Kingston, NY 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 Kingston, NY 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 Kingston?

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 Kingston

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 28 criminal defense lawyers serving Kingston.

More criminal defense lawyers and Kingston pages