70/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 896 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Pelham, NH: 2026 rankings
237 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Pelham: Gilman Law P.C., LFR Score 70/100; 4.9★ from 896 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 2
Open 24 hours (per Google): Erkan & Sullivan, PC, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 237.
- 5
Most-reviewed: Toland Law, LLC, 488 Google reviews at 4.9★, the most of 237 ranked after Gilman Law P.C.; ranked #5.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
237 Pelham criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 62 are open 24/7, 94 open Saturdays and 84 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 237 rated law firms.
Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Pelham 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 | Gilman Law P.C. | 70 | 4.9★ (896) | Fitchburg, 22 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | Erkan & Sullivan, PC | 70 | 5.0★ (168) | North Andover, 10 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours |
| 3 | Osborne Law, PLLC | 69 | 4.9★ (143) | Nashua, 7 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 4 | Contant Law, P.C. | 68 | 5.0★ (166) | Woburn, 19 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 5 | Toland Law, LLC | 67 | 4.9★ (488) | Boston, 30 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Most reviews |
| 6 | Law Office of Timothy Connors | 67 | 4.9★ (183) | Haverhill, 13 mi away | Sat · Sun | — |
| 7 | Law Office of William J. Barabino | 66 | 5.0★ (307) | Medford, 24 mi away | Sat · Sun | — |
| 8 | The Law Offices of Lewin & Lewin | 66 | 4.9★ (104) | Lawrence, 12 mi away | Sat · Sun · Evenings | — |
| 9 | Joseph Waldbaum, Esq. | 66 | 4.9★ (167) | Beverly, 25 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 10 | Law Office of Matthew W Peterson | 66 | 5.0★ (196) | Boston, 29 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
All 237 criminal defense lawyers in Pelham, 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.
Based in North Andover, 10 mi away
70/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 168 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Nashua, 7 mi away
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 143 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Woburn, 19 mi away
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 166 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 30 mi away
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 488 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Haverhill, 13 mi away
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 183 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Medford, 24 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 307 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Lawrence, 12 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 104 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Beverly, 25 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 167 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 29 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 196 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 29 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 174 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Beverly, 25 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 141 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Salem, 26 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 120 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 29 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 125 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Woburn, 19 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 43 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
#16 Conley Law, PLLC
Based in Danvers, 22 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 55 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Nashua, 7 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 213 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Manchester, 19 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 32 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Haverhill, 13 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 34 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 29 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 93 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 30 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 118 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
#22 Dhar Law, LLP
Based in Medford, 27 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 142 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
#23 Rakhlin Law
Based in Boston, 29 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 69 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Boston, 29 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 63 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Haverhill, 13 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
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 237 ranked criminal defense lawyers here; the rest are on their profiles.
Also serving Pelham
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.
| Business | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Altman & Altman LLP | 4.8★ (277) | 28 mi |
| Attorney Edward R. Molari | 5.0★ (6) | 30 mi |
| Attorney John Brien | 5.0★ (2) | 7 mi |
| Attorney Kent Barker, Winer and Bennett, LLP | 5.0★ (2) | 8 mi |
| Bowser Law | 4.7★ (39) | 8 mi |
| Charles W. Rankin | 5.0★ (2) | 29 mi |
| Coughlin Law | Criminal & DUI Defense | 5.0★ (6) | 26 mi |
| Groff David M | 5.0★ (4) | In Pelham |
| James Bell P.C. Healthcare Defense Attorney | 5.0★ (3) | 30 mi |
| Keegan Law | 4.3★ (11) | 29 mi |
| Law Office of Amy Sixt | 5.0★ (2) | 27 mi |
| Law Office of Jillise McDonough | 5.0★ (15) | 29 mi |
| Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson | 5.0★ (8) | 26 mi |
| Law Office of O'Shaughnessy, Walker and Buchholz | 3.0★ (2) | 19 mi |
| Law Office of Stephen M. Forlizzi | 5.0★ (2) | 21 mi |
| Law Offices of Stephen F Reardon PC | 5.0★ (2) | 28 mi |
| Nassiri Swan & Associates PC | 4.5★ (2) | 25 mi |
| Pamela A. Morris Attorney At Law | 5.0★ (2) | 29 mi |
| Scalli Murphy Law, P.C. | 5.0★ (2) | 24 mi |
| Serpa Law Office | 5.0★ (248) | 30 mi |
How we ranked Pelham criminal defense lawyers
We scored 237 Pelham 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 Pelham 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 Pelham: frequently asked questions
Which criminal defense lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Pelham?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Pelham, NH is Gilman Law P.C. with an LFR Score of 70/100. It has 4.9★ from 896 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Erkan & Sullivan, PC (#2) and Osborne Law, PLLC (#3) follow. We ranked 237 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Pelham?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 237 criminal defense lawyers serving Pelham, NH. Another 20 within 30 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which criminal defense lawyers in Pelham are open 24/7?
62 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Pelham post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Gilman Law P.C. (#1), Erkan & Sullivan, PC (#2) and Osborne Law, PLLC (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which criminal defense lawyers in Pelham work on weekends?
94 of 237 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 84 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Gilman Law P.C. (#1), Erkan & Sullivan, PC (#2) and Osborne Law, PLLC (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Pelham criminal defense lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 237 rated criminal defense lawyers in Pelham is 4.8★, with a median of 19 reviews. Gilman Law P.C. has the most, 896 reviews, and ranks #1. 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 Pelham count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 30 mi of the Pelham 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 Pelham, NH 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 Pelham, NH 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 Pelham?
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 Pelham
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 237 criminal defense lawyers serving Pelham.
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