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Emergency Criminal Defense Lawyers in Santa Maria, CA (2026)

28 criminal defense lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank

8 of the 28 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

    #1 for emergency criminal defense in Santa Maria: San Luis Obispo DUI Attorneys, 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 Maria 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.

Top emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHours
1San Luis Obispo DUI Attorneys705.0★ (544)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
2Stein-Conaway DUI & Criminal Defense685.0★ (283)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
3Stein-Conaway DUI & Criminal Defense684.9★ (23)Santa MariaOpen 24 hrs (Google)
4Central Coast Criminal Defense655.0★ (64)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
5Aron Law Firm654.9★ (56)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
6Law Offices of David Chesley605.0★ (4)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
7Law Office of Amy Schroder595.0★ (4)Los Osos, 27 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
8805 Law Group534.0★ (32)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)
9David M Bixby Law Office584.5★ (6)Santa Maria—
10Jeffry C Radding Attorney at Law503.2★ (5)San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away—

Call an emergency criminal defense lawyer in Santa Maria 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.

The 28 emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria, 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.

  1. Ranked #1 in Santa Maria

    #1 San Luis Obispo DUI Attorneys

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    70/100LFR Score

    Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 544 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 5.0★ from 544 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    864 Osos St c, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for San Luis Obispo DUI Attorneys(805) 321-1000

  4. #4 Central Coast Criminal Defense

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    65/100LFR Score

    Ranked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 64 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 5.0★ from 64 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    1301 Chorro St Ste a, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for Central Coast Criminal Defense(805) 621-7181

  5. #5 Aron Law Firm

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    65/100LFR Score

    Ranked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 56 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.9★ from 56 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    505 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for Aron Law Firm(805) 618-1768

  6. #6 Law Offices of David Chesley

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    60/100LFR Score

    Ranked #6 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.

    • 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    1540 Marsh St #250, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for Law Offices of David Chesley(805) 250-7500

  8. #8 805 Law Group

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    53/100LFR Score

    Ranked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.0★ from 32 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Family law attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.0★ from 32 Google reviews
    • Open 24/7
    Hours
    Open 24 hours, 7 days
    Address
    940 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for 805 Law Group(805) 365-6221

  9. #9 David M Bixby Law Office

    Based in Santa Maria

    58/100LFR Score

    Ranked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.

    • 4.5★ from 6 Google reviews
    Address
    937 E Main St Ste 206, Santa Maria, CA 93454
    View profile for David M Bixby Law Office(805) 928-8323

  13. #13 Mark E. Powers, Attorney at Law

    Based in Santa Maria

    48/100LFR Score

    Ranked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.6★ from 15 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    106 E Boone St a, Santa Maria, CA 93454
    View profile for Mark E. Powers, Attorney at Law(805) 348-3838

  14. #14 Carlson Criminal Defense, P.C.

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    45/100LFR Score

    Ranked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 32 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 5.0★ from 32 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–6 PM · Sat 9 AM–5 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    890 Osos St Ste H, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for Carlson Criminal Defense, P.C.(805) 521-4965

  15. #15 The Law Office of Peter Depew

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    44/100LFR Score

    Ranked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 31 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.7★ from 31 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–7 PM · Sat 9 AM–6 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    1119 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for The Law Office of Peter Depew(805) 270-3031

  16. #16 Casciola & Galambos, LLP

    Based in San Luis Obispo, 26 mi away

    43/100LFR Score

    Ranked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Criminal justice attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.8★ from 17 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 8:30 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1042 Palm St Ste 201, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    View profile for Casciola & Galambos, LLP(805) 541-4135

  17. #17 Law Office Of Steven L. Crawford

    Based in Grover Beach, 16 mi away

    43/100LFR Score

    Ranked #17 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.

    • 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    192 N 11th St, Grover Beach, CA 93433
    View profile for Law Office Of Steven L. Crawford(805) 458-6312

  19. #19 Central Coast Criminal Defense

    Based in Santa Maria

    42/100LFR Score

    Ranked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.6★ from 10 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 7 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    2415 Professional Pkwy, Santa Maria, CA 93455
    View profile for Central Coast Criminal Defense(805) 621-7181

  21. #21 Paul Greco Law

    Based in Santa Maria

    41/100LFR Score

    Ranked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 37 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.8★ from 37 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    301 E Chapel St, Santa Maria, CA 93454
    View profile for Paul Greco Law(805) 864-2611

  24. #24 Frederick Law Firm

    Based in Nipomo, 7 mi away

    39/100LFR Score

    Ranked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 24 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Personal injury attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.7★ from 24 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    267 W Tefft St, Nipomo, CA 93444
    View profile for Frederick Law Firm(805) 929-1120

All 28 criminal defense lawyers by emergency score

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #28, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.

criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria, ranks 26 to 28
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingDistance
26Fisher Law Office344.3★ (26)26 mi
27Jeffrey D. Stulberg Law Office344.3★ (24)26 mi
28Frederick Law Firm345.0★ (14)26 mi

How we ranked emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria

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.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

LFR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed from
Reputation15%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it
Bar status10%An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded)
Review volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list
Recency10%Share of reviews from the last 12 months
Availability15%Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7
Practice focus15%How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name)
Proximity5%An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same)
Law Firms Ranked reviews10%Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are

Emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria: questions

Which criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria are open 24/7?

8 on this list post 24/7 hours, including San Luis Obispo DUI Attorneys, Stein-Conaway DUI & Criminal Defense, Stein-Conaway DUI & Criminal Defense, Central Coast Criminal Defense and Aron Law Firm.

Who is ranked #1 for emergency criminal defense in Santa Maria, CA?

San Luis Obispo DUI Attorneys is #1, with an LFR Score of 70 out of 100 on emergency weights.

How are emergency criminal defense lawyers in Santa Maria 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 Maria

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 28 criminal defense lawyers serving Santa Maria.

More emergency and criminal defense pages