74/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 141 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 Santa Barbara, CA (2026)
45 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank
18 of the 45 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 Santa Barbara: Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense, 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 Santa Barbara 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 | Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense | 74 | 4.9★ (141) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 2 | Aron Law Firm | 73 | 4.9★ (109) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 3 | Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C. | 72 | 4.9★ (61) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 4 | Appel & Morse | 69 | 4.7★ (26) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 5 | Ridley Defense | 69 | 4.9★ (184) | Ventura, 25 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 6 | Law Office of Hogan Ganschow | 68 | 5.0★ (14) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 7 | Law Offices of David Chesley | 68 | 5.0★ (14) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 8 | Steele & Voss Attorneys | 68 | 4.7★ (13) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 9 | The H Law Group Santa Barbara | 67 | 5.0★ (7) | Santa Barbara | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
| 10 | Kann California Law Group | 66 | 4.9★ (76) | Ventura, 30 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) |
Call an emergency criminal defense lawyer in Santa Barbara 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 (805) 749-5670
#1Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 141 Google reviews
- #2Call (805) 618-1768
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 109 Google reviews
- #3Call (805) 892-4922
#3Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C.
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 61 Google reviews
- #4Call (805) 966-0874
Open 24/7 · 4.7 from 26 Google reviews
- #5Call (805) 208-1866
Open 24/7 · 4.9 from 184 Google reviews
- #6Call (805) 664-1222
#6Law Office of Hogan Ganschow
Open 24/7 · 5.0 from 14 Google reviews
- #7Call (805) 791-2162
#7Law Offices of David Chesley
Open 24/7 · 5.0 from 14 Google reviews
- #8Call (805) 245-5078
Open 24/7 · 4.7 from 13 Google reviews
The 45 emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Barbara, ranked
24/7 first, then same-day service, then the rest. Each group is in LFR Score order on emergency weights.
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 Santa Barbara
73/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 109 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
72/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 61 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 26 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 25 mi away
69/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 184 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 14 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 14 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 76 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 88 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#12 Welch Law, APLC
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 60 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 29 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 14 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#14 Robert M Helfend
Based in Ventura, 25 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.3★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 9 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 18 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Employment attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
56/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.0★ from 9 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
#20 RBX Law, PC
Based in Santa Barbara
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 75 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
49/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 3 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 Santa Barbara
49/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#23 Bentley Law
Based in Ventura, 30 mi away
49/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 104 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
48/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.1★ from 9 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santa Barbara
48/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
All 45 criminal defense lawyers by emergency score
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #45, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Lynn & O'Brien, LLP | 48 | 4.4★ (7) | In Santa Barbara |
| 27 | The 805 Legal Team | 48 | 4.8★ (64) | 25 mi |
| 28 | Wilfert Law P.C. | 47 | 4.8★ (80) | 30 mi |
| 29 | Law Offices of Adam L. Pearlman | 47 | 3.3★ (7) | In Santa Barbara |
| 30 | Chambliss Legal | 47 | 4.2★ (5) | In Santa Barbara |
| 31 | Tri-Counties Criminal Defense | 47 | 5.0★ (4) | In Santa Barbara |
| 32 | RBX Law, PC | 46 | 5.0★ (20) | 20 mi |
| 33 | Law Offices of Adam L. Pearlman | 46 | 4.7★ (43) | 30 mi |
| 34 | Law Office of Jordan D. Hankey | 45 | 5.0★ (3) | In Santa Barbara |
| 35 | Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP | 44 | 4.6★ (19) | 30 mi |
| 36 | Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC | 43 | 4.9★ (55) | In Santa Barbara |
| 37 | Oza Law | 43 | 5.0★ (14) | 30 mi |
| 38 | Lytel & Lytel, LLP joined Klein DeNatale Goldner (KDG) | 42 | 4.7★ (28) | In Santa Barbara |
| 39 | Andrade Law Offices | 41 | 4.6★ (29) | In Santa Barbara |
| 40 | Law Office of J'Aimèe L. Oxton, APLC | 41 | 4.9★ (25) | In Santa Barbara |
| 41 | Bill Haney Law | 41 | 5.0★ (6) | 30 mi |
| 42 | Law Offices of Gregory I. McMurray, P.C. | 40 | 4.8★ (17) | In Santa Barbara |
| 43 | Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC | 40 | 4.7★ (168) | 25 mi |
| 44 | Law Offices of Monty S Gill | 38 | 5.0★ (71) | 30 mi |
| 45 | The Law Offices of Krause & Hirschhorn P.C. | 32 | 5.0★ (4) | 28 mi |
How we ranked emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Barbara
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 Santa Barbara: questions
Which criminal defense lawyers in Santa Barbara are open 24/7?
18 on this list post 24/7 hours, including Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense, Aron Law Firm, Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C., Appel & Morse and Ridley Defense.
Who is ranked #1 for emergency criminal defense in Santa Barbara, CA?
Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense is #1, with an LFR Score of 74 out of 100 on emergency weights.
How are emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 45 criminal defense lawyers serving Santa Barbara.