68/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 30 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 Portsmouth, NH: 2026 rankings
37 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Portsmouth: Becker Legal, LFR Score 68/100; 4.2★ from 30 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 5
Open 24 hours (per Google): Contant Law, P.C., posts 24/7 hours; ranked #5 of 37.
- 3
Most-reviewed: Law Office of Timothy Connors, 183 Google reviews at 4.9★, the most of 37 ranked; ranked #3.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
37 Portsmouth criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 5 are open 24/7, 12 open Saturdays and 11 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.9★ across 37 rated law firms.
Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Portsmouth 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 | Becker Legal | 68 | 4.2★ (30) | Portsmouth | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | Cohen & Winters, PLLC | 68 | 4.9★ (112) | Portsmouth | — | — |
| 3 | Law Office of Timothy Connors | 67 | 4.9★ (183) | Haverhill, 26 mi away | Sat · Sun | Most reviews |
| 4 | The Maine Criminal Defense Group | 66 | 4.9★ (108) | Wells Beach Station, 24 mi away | Sat · Sun | — |
| 5 | Contant Law, P.C. | 65 | 5.0★ (22) | Newburyport, 19 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours |
| 6 | Rock Law PLLC | 65 | 4.8★ (42) | Portsmouth | — | — |
| 7 | Hutchinson Law Office, PLLC | 64 | 4.5★ (34) | Haverhill, 26 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 8 | Hansen Law Offices, PLLC | 63 | 5.0★ (16) | Portsmouth | — | — |
| 9 | Criminal Defense Lawyer Chaz Chandler | 62 | 4.7★ (15) | Haverhill, 26 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 10 | Wiberg Law Office, PLLC | 62 | 5.0★ (12) | Portsmouth | — | — |
All 37 criminal defense lawyers in Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 112 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Haverhill, 26 mi away
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 183 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Wells Beach Station, 24 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 108 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Newburyport, 19 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 22 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 42 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Haverhill, 26 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 34 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 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.
Based in Haverhill, 26 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 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 York Beach, 7 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Amesbury, 19 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 29 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Newburyport, 19 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Haverhill, 26 mi away
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 35 Google reviews, listed on Google as “General practice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#16 Plaia Law
Based in Portsmouth
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
58/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 44 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Wells Beach Station, 25 mi away
58/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Biddeford, 25 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 18 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portsmouth
56/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Durham, 30 mi away
55/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Rochester, 19 mi away
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 153 Google reviews.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Biddeford, 29 mi away
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.2★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Haverhill, 27 mi away
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
All 37 criminal defense lawyers
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #37, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Law Office of David Newton | 53 | 4.9★ (29) | 19 mi |
| 27 | Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin P.A. | 53 | 4.7★ (34) | 10 mi |
| 28 | Forghany Law P.C. | 52 | 5.0★ (64) | 27 mi |
| 29 | Boynton, Waldron, Doleac, Woodman & Scott, P.A. | 52 | 4.1★ (14) | In Portsmouth |
| 30 | Kalled Law Offices, PLLC | 52 | 5.0★ (8) | In Portsmouth |
| 31 | James McDaniel, Attorney At Law | 52 | 4.8★ (24) | 12 mi |
| 32 | Stachowske Law PLLC | 52 | 5.0★ (17) | 11 mi |
| 33 | Martino Law Group | 51 | 5.0★ (23) | 19 mi |
| 34 | Seaton & Lohr | 50 | 5.0★ (4) | 10 mi |
| 35 | Law Office of Stephen A. Roth | 49 | 4.7★ (15) | 18 mi |
| 36 | Gleason Law Offices PC | 48 | 4.1★ (34) | 27 mi |
| 37 | Sheehan, Schiavoni, Jutras & Magliocchetti, LLP | 47 | 4.5★ (15) | 27 mi |
Also serving Portsmouth
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.
How we ranked Portsmouth criminal defense lawyers
We scored 37 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth: frequently asked questions
Which criminal defense lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Portsmouth?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Portsmouth, NH is Becker Legal with an LFR Score of 68/100. It has 4.2★ from 30 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Cohen & Winters, PLLC (#2) and Law Office of Timothy Connors (#3) follow. We ranked 37 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Portsmouth?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 37 criminal defense lawyers serving Portsmouth, NH. 12 of them are based in Portsmouth; 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 Portsmouth are open 24/7?
5 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Portsmouth post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Becker Legal (#1), Contant Law, P.C. (#5) and Hutchinson Law Office, PLLC (#7). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which criminal defense lawyers in Portsmouth work on weekends?
12 of 37 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 11 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Becker Legal (#1), Law Office of Timothy Connors (#3) and The Maine Criminal Defense Group (#4). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Portsmouth criminal defense lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 37 rated criminal defense lawyers in Portsmouth is 4.9★, with a median of 17 reviews. Law Office of Timothy Connors has the most, 183 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 Portsmouth count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 30 mi of the Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 37 criminal defense lawyers serving Portsmouth.
More criminal defense lawyers and Portsmouth pages
Criminal defense lawyers near Portsmouth
- Criminal defense lawyers in Durham, NH54 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Dover, NH33 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Somersworth, NH29 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Rochester, NH40 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Salem, NH159 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Derry Village, NH120 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Derry, NH122 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Windham, NH141 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Londonderry, NH120 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Manchester, NH88 ranked
Other practice areas in Portsmouth
- Personal injury lawyers in Portsmouth172 ranked
- Social Security disability lawyers in Portsmouth20 ranked
- Divorce and family lawyers in Portsmouth42 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Portsmouth27 ranked
- Bankruptcy lawyers in Portsmouth48 ranked
- Immigration lawyers in Portsmouth25 ranked
- Employment lawyers in Portsmouth38 ranked
- Real estate lawyers in Portsmouth19 ranked
- Tax lawyers in Portsmouth14 ranked
- Intellectual property lawyers in Portsmouth13 ranked
- Insurance lawyers in Portsmouth44 ranked
- Mediators in Portsmouth24 ranked
- General practice lawyers in Portsmouth85 ranked
- All lawyers in Portsmouth