69/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 34 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Sarnia, ON: 2026 rankings
15 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Sarnia: Barnwell Law, PLLC, LFR Score 69/100; 5.0★ from 34 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 2
Open 24 hours (per Google): Davis Law Group PLLC, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 15.
- 3
Most-reviewed: Black Law PLLC - Better Call Black, 200 Google reviews at 4.8★, the most of 15 ranked; ranked #3.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
15 Sarnia criminal defense lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 5 are open 24/7, 5 open Saturdays and 5 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.7★ across 15 rated law firms.
Top 10 criminal defense lawyers in Sarnia 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 | Barnwell Law, PLLC | 69 | 5.0★ (34) | Port Huron, 3 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | Davis Law Group PLLC | 66 | 5.0★ (10) | Port Huron, 5 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours |
| 3 | Black Law PLLC - Better Call Black | 64 | 4.8★ (200) | Port Huron, 3 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Most reviews |
| 4 | Brandon McNamee PLC | 64 | 4.9★ (44) | Port Huron, 8 km away | — | — |
| 5 | A Defence Lawyer-Terry Brandon | 62 | 4.6★ (22) | Sarnia | — | — |
| 6 | Donohue Defence - Sarnia Lawyer | 61 | 4.4★ (13) | Sarnia | — | — |
| 7 | The Black Law Team | 60 | 5.0★ (55) | Port Huron, 13 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 8 | The Heisler Law Group | 60 | 4.3★ (76) | Port Huron, 1 km away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 9 | OWL Legal Services P.L.C. | 56 | 4.8★ (90) | Port Huron, 10 km away | — | — |
| 10 | Gerry Mason Law Offices PLLC | 54 | 4.5★ (73) | Port Huron, 10 km away | — | — |
All 15 criminal defense lawyers in Sarnia, 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 Port Huron, 5 km away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Port Huron, 3 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 200 Google reviews, the most in Sarnia.
Based in Port Huron, 8 km away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 44 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Sarnia
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 22 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Sarnia
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based in Port Huron, 13 km away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 55 Google reviews.
Based in Port Huron, 1 km away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.3★ from 76 Google reviews.
Based in Port Huron, 10 km away
56/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 90 Google reviews.
Based in Port Huron, 10 km away
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.5★ from 73 Google reviews.
Based in Port Huron, 1 km away
53/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.1★ from 39 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Family law attorney”.
Based in Sarnia
52/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.
Based in Port Huron, 8 km away
51/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 20 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.
Based in Clinton Township, 45 km away
51/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 101 Google reviews.
#15 Simasko Legal
Based in Port Huron, 8 km away
48/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.
Also serving Sarnia
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.
| Business | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Casselman Legal | 4.9★ (59) | In Sarnia |
| Chelsea Cooper - Lawyer | 4.6★ (23) | In Sarnia |
| Fazio Law | 4.8★ (45) | In Sarnia |
| Francis De Sena, Martin Riley Law Office | 3.8★ (17) | In Sarnia |
| George Murray Shipley Bell, LLP | 4.4★ (46) | In Sarnia |
| Glenn T Dawson | 4.3★ (8) | In Sarnia |
| Gray Robert B | 5.0★ (5) | In Sarnia |
| Great Lakes Law | 4.8★ (37) | In Sarnia |
| Houlihan Law | 5.0★ (90) | In Sarnia |
| Joel J.W.G. Szaefer Professional Corporation - Family & Divorce Law | 4.2★ (29) | In Sarnia |
| Kirby D John | 4.0★ (8) | In Sarnia |
| Law Office of Nathan Miller | 4.4★ (16) | In Sarnia |
| McFadden Robert W | 3.2★ (5) | In Sarnia |
| McFadyen George F | 3.7★ (18) | In Sarnia |
| McLeod Pamela J | 2.9★ (11) | In Sarnia |
| Peter Norris - Lawyer | 5.0★ (61) | In Sarnia |
| Phillips Raymond | 5.0★ (11) | In Sarnia |
| Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers | 4.7★ (15) | In Sarnia |
| Santoro Law Office | 3.8★ (28) | In Sarnia |
| Veronica Riley Law Office | 4.6★ (5) | In Sarnia |
How we ranked Sarnia criminal defense lawyers
We scored 15 Sarnia 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 Sarnia 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 Sarnia: frequently asked questions
Which criminal defense lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Sarnia?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked criminal defense lawyer in Sarnia, ON is Barnwell Law, PLLC with an LFR Score of 69/100. It has 5.0★ from 34 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Davis Law Group PLLC (#2) and Black Law PLLC - Better Call Black (#3) follow. We ranked 15 criminal defense lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many criminal defense lawyers are there in Sarnia?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 15 criminal defense lawyers serving Sarnia, ON. 3 of them are based in Sarnia; 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 Sarnia are open 24/7?
5 ranked criminal defense lawyers in Sarnia post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Barnwell Law, PLLC (#1), Davis Law Group PLLC (#2) and Black Law PLLC - Better Call Black (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which criminal defense lawyers in Sarnia work on weekends?
5 of 15 ranked criminal defense lawyers post Saturday hours and 5 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Barnwell Law, PLLC (#1), Davis Law Group PLLC (#2) and Black Law PLLC - Better Call Black (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Sarnia criminal defense lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 15 rated criminal defense lawyers in Sarnia is 4.7★, with a median of 39 reviews. Black Law PLLC - Better Call Black has the most, 200 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 Sarnia count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 48 km of the Sarnia 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 Sarnia, 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 Sarnia, 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 Sarnia?
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 Sarnia
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 15 criminal defense lawyers serving Sarnia.
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