74/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 735 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Emergency Criminal Defense Lawyers in Columbia, SC (2026)
Top 50 of 65 criminal defense lawyers, in emergency orderUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank
16 of the 50 criminal defense lawyers on this list post 24/7 hours. 24/7 law firms come first, then same-day, each ranked by LFR Score with availability weighted higher.
If you or someone you know is arrested: you can stay silent and ask for a lawyer before answering questions. Calls from jail are usually recorded, so do not discuss the facts of the case on them.
The short answer
- 1
#1 for emergency criminal defense in Columbia: True Defense Law Firm, open 24/7.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
Top emergency criminal defense lawyers in Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | True Defense Law Firm | 74 | 5.0★ (735) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 2 | Dayne Phillips Criminal Defense Attorney | 72 | 5.0★ (211) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 3 | Shealey Law Firm, Defense and Injury Attorneys | 72 | 4.9★ (235) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 4 | Truslow & Truslow, Attorneys at Law | 71 | 5.0★ (155) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 5 | Touma Law Group | 71 | 4.9★ (132) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 6 | Law Office of David B. Tarr | 70 | 4.9★ (80) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 7 | The Laubshire Law Firm, LLC | 70 | 4.5★ (118) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 8 | Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC | 69 | 4.8★ (243) | Lexington, 11 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 9 | Matt Bodman, P.A. | 69 | 4.8★ (51) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 10 | The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. | 69 | 5.0★ (36) | Columbia | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
Call an emergency criminal defense lawyer in Columbia now
24-hour hours mean the firm lists itself as open around the clock on Google; that does not show its phone is answered. A lawyer may not be able to visit a jail or appear in court the same day: ask what they can do now and what it costs before you agree.
- #1Call (803) 258-6070
Open 24/7 · 5.0 from 735 Google reviews
- #2Call (803) 962-8628
#2Dayne Phillips Criminal Defense Attorney
Open 24/7 · 5.0 from 211 Google reviews
- #3Call (803) 590-8756
#3Shealey Law Firm, Defense and Injury Attorneys
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 235 Google reviews
- #4Call (803) 256-6276
#4Truslow & Truslow, Attorneys at Law
Open 24/7 · 5.0 from 155 Google reviews
- #5Call (803) 879-4499
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 132 Google reviews
- #6Call (803) 238-7967
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 80 Google reviews
- #7Call (803) 708-4755
Open 24/7 · 4.5 from 118 Google reviews
- #8Call (803) 359-3301
#8Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC
Open 24/7 · 4.8 from 243 Google reviews
The 50 emergency criminal defense lawyers in Columbia, ranked
24/7 first, then same-day service, then the rest. Each group is in LFR Score order on emergency weights. The full ranking of all 65 is on the criminal defense lawyers page.
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 Columbia
72/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 211 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
72/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ 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 Columbia
71/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 155 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
71/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 132 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
70/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 80 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
70/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 118 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Lexington, 11 mi away
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 243 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 51 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 36 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Lexington, 12 mi away
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ 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 Columbia
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 58 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ 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 Columbia
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 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 Columbia
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 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.
#16 Strom Law Firm
Based in Columbia
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.6★ from 270 Google reviews.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 1,093 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
#18 Jack B. Swerling
Based in Columbia
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 126 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 Columbia
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 45 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 West Columbia, 2 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 8 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 Columbia
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 2.7★ from 7 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 Columbia
52/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 129 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
52/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 110 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#24 Saluda Law, LLC
Based in Lexington, 12 mi away
51/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 260 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbia
51/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 69 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Top 50 of 65 criminal defense lawyers by emergency score
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #50, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Kent Collins Law Firm | 51 | 5.0★ (228) | 12 mi |
| 27 | Li Law Firm, LLC | 50 | 4.9★ (55) | In Columbia |
| 28 | Law Office of Patrick C. Sharpe | 50 | 5.0★ (46) | In Columbia |
| 29 | ALW Law, LLC | 50 | 5.0★ (38) | In Columbia |
| 30 | Thompson & Hiller Defense Firm | 50 | 5.0★ (37) | In Columbia |
| 31 | The Steele Law Firm, LLC | 49 | 5.0★ (28) | In Columbia |
| 32 | Law Offices of Jonathan M. Harvey | 49 | 4.6★ (38) | In Columbia |
| 33 | The Leventis Law Firm, LLC | 49 | 4.8★ (29) | In Columbia |
| 34 | William A. Hodge, Attorney at Law | 49 | 4.8★ (22) | In Columbia |
| 35 | A.J.Z. Law Firm, LLC | 48 | 4.5★ (23) | In Columbia |
| 36 | Michael D. McMullen | 48 | 5.0★ (13) | In Columbia |
| 37 | Johnson Toal & Battiste P.A. | 48 | 4.3★ (19) | In Columbia |
| 38 | Koon Cook & Walters | 48 | 4.6★ (14) | In Columbia |
| 39 | Scott J. Hayes | 48 | 4.4★ (15) | In Columbia |
| 40 | Mathias G Chaplin Law Offices | 48 | 4.4★ (13) | In Columbia |
| 41 | Larry C. Marchant, Jr. | 48 | 4.9★ (10) | In Columbia |
| 42 | O'Leary Associates | 48 | 4.4★ (13) | In Columbia |
| 43 | Harris & Gasser, LLC | 47 | 5.0★ (7) | In Columbia |
| 44 | Law Office of S. Harrison Saunders, VI LLC | 47 | 4.1★ (7) | In Columbia |
| 45 | Truitt Law Firm | 46 | 5.0★ (5) | In Columbia |
| 46 | Burn Law Firm, LLC | 46 | 5.0★ (21) | 12 mi |
| 47 | Kinard Law Group | 46 | 3.8★ (64) | 12 mi |
| 48 | O'Neil Good & Li | 46 | 5.0★ (4) | In Columbia |
| 49 | Sharpe & Leventis, LLC | 43 | 5.0★ (132) | In Columbia |
| 50 | Stoney & Walker, LLC | 43 | 4.9★ (129) | In Columbia |
How we ranked emergency criminal defense lawyers in Columbia
Emergency lists move 10 points of the LFR Score from reputation to availability: 15% and 15%. Availability credits 24/7 hours, same-day service, weekend hours and weekly open hours. 24/7 criminal defense lawyers are listed first, then same-day, then the rest; ranks follow that order. Paid placement never changes a rank.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 15% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it |
| 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) |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months |
| Availability | 15% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are |
Emergency criminal defense lawyers in Columbia: questions
Which criminal defense lawyers in Columbia are open 24/7?
16 on this list post 24/7 hours, including True Defense Law Firm, Dayne Phillips Criminal Defense Attorney, Shealey Law Firm, Defense and Injury Attorneys, Truslow & Truslow, Attorneys at Law and Touma Law Group.
Who is ranked #1 for emergency criminal defense in Columbia, SC?
True Defense Law Firm is #1, with an LFR Score of 74 out of 100 on emergency weights.
How are emergency criminal defense lawyers in Columbia ranked?
Emergency lists move 10 points of the LFR Score from reputation to availability: 15% and 15%. Availability credits 24/7 hours, same-day service, weekend hours and weekly open hours. 24/7 criminal defense lawyers are listed first, then same-day, then the rest; ranks follow that order. Paid placement never changes a rank.
What should I do before the criminal defense lawyer arrives?
If you or someone you know is arrested: you can stay silent and ask for a lawyer before answering questions. Calls from jail are usually recorded, so do not discuss the facts of the case on them.
How many emergency criminal defense lawyers here list a phone number?
25 of the 25 law firms ranked in full list a phone number. Tap Call to dial it.
Update log for Columbia
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 65 criminal defense lawyers serving Columbia.