69/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 29 Google reviews, listed on Google as “General practice attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
General Practice Lawyers in Traverse City, MI: 2026 rankings
43 general practice lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Traverse City: Smith & Johnson, P.C., LFR Score 69/100; 4.7★ from 29 Google reviews; open 7 days a week.
- 7
Open 24 hours (per Google): OGC Services PLLC, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #7 of 43.
- 2
Most-reviewed: Gerald F. Chefalo, 62 Google reviews at 4.6★, the most of 43 ranked; ranked #2.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
43 Traverse City general practice lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 1 is open 24/7, 2 open Saturdays and 3 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.6★ across 43 rated law firms.
Top 10 general practice lawyers in Traverse City 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 | Smith & Johnson, P.C. | 69 | 4.7★ (29) | Traverse City | Sat · Sun | Top score |
| 2 | Gerald F. Chefalo | 67 | 4.6★ (62) | Traverse City | — | Most reviews |
| 3 | Bethany C Warner & Associates | 67 | 4.4★ (26) | Traverse City | — | — |
| 4 | The Military Defense Firm | 67 | 5.0★ (16) | Traverse City | — | — |
| 5 | Jay Zelenock Law Firm PLC | 66 | 4.2★ (21) | Traverse City | — | — |
| 6 | Bradley L Putney PLC | 65 | 4.8★ (36) | Traverse City | — | — |
| 7 | OGC Services PLLC | 65 | 5.0★ (5) | Traverse City | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours |
| 8 | LaSusa Law Offices PLC | 65 | 4.8★ (25) | Traverse City | — | — |
| 9 | James M. Hunt | 65 | 4.1★ (13) | Traverse City | — | — |
| 10 | Attorney Edward Lauermann PLLC | 65 | 4.6★ (10) | Traverse City | — | — |
All 43 general practice lawyers in Traverse City, 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 Traverse City
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 62 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 26 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 21 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 36 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 25 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.1★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “General practice attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 20 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.4★ from 30 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#15 Kuhn Rogers PLC
Based in Traverse City
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 21 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#16 Becker David A
Based in Traverse City
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.3★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
#17 James W Saffell
Based in Traverse City
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 21 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Civil law attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#20 360 Law
Based in Traverse City
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.1★ from 19 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Traverse City
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
All 43 general practice lawyers
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #43, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Norm Droste PLC | 62 | 5.0★ (3) | In Traverse City |
| 27 | NachtLaw, P.C. | 61 | 4.6★ (9) | In Traverse City |
| 28 | Lindsey Law | 61 | 4.6★ (8) | In Traverse City |
| 29 | Ryann S. Embury, Esq | 61 | 5.0★ (7) | In Traverse City |
| 30 | Sherbin law offices, PLLC | 61 | 4.0★ (4) | In Traverse City |
| 31 | Ringsmuth Wuori PLLC | 61 | 5.0★ (6) | In Traverse City |
| 32 | DAR Law | Danbrook Adams Raymond PLC | 61 | 5.0★ (6) | In Traverse City |
| 33 | David A. Bieganowski, PLC | 61 | 3.4★ (10) | In Traverse City |
| 34 | Sondee Racine & Doren | 60 | 1.0★ (3) | In Traverse City |
| 35 | The Running Wise Law Firm: Ford, Conlon, Gerberding & Grier | 60 | 4.3★ (6) | In Traverse City |
| 36 | Traverse Legal, PLC | 60 | 5.0★ (4) | In Traverse City |
| 37 | Paul Bare Law Office | 59 | 4.2★ (5) | In Traverse City |
| 38 | Parsons Law Firm PLC | 59 | 4.0★ (4) | In Traverse City |
| 39 | BEK Law | 59 | 4.0★ (4) | In Traverse City |
| 40 | Edward G. Price - FSBO Attorney and Partner with Alward Fisher | 59 | 5.0★ (3) | In Traverse City |
| 41 | Attorney Richard P Carroll PLC | 59 | 5.0★ (3) | In Traverse City |
| 42 | Olson & Howard, P.C. | 59 | 4.0★ (3) | In Traverse City |
| 43 | Elhart Law Office | 58 | 3.7★ (51) | In Traverse City |
Also serving Traverse City
20 more general practice lawyers within 25 mi 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ADAM - American Divorce Association For Men: Northern Michigan | 3.3★ (13) | In Traverse City |
| Adler Firm, PLLC | 4.3★ (42) | In Traverse City |
| Dingeman & Dancer, PLC | 4.5★ (31) | In Traverse City |
| Graff, Graff, & Helveston | 4.2★ (10) | In Traverse City |
| Jarboe & Pfeil | 4.8★ (19) | In Traverse City |
| Jeffrey C Alandt | 4.1★ (9) | In Traverse City |
| Lynch Law Firm | 4.2★ (10) | In Traverse City |
| Mas Stig-Nielsen Criminal Defense Attorneys | 5.0★ (59) | In Traverse City |
| Michigan Auto Law - Auto Accident Attorneys | 5.0★ (40) | In Traverse City |
| Michigan Injury Lawyers | 4.9★ (21) | In Traverse City |
| Miller Embury, PLLC | 5.0★ (73) | In Traverse City |
| Neumann Law Group | 4.7★ (77) | In Traverse City |
| North Coast Legal, PLC | 4.5★ (8) | In Traverse City |
| Patrick S. Fragel, Attorney at Law, P.C. | 4.8★ (127) | In Traverse City |
| Revision Legal | 4.5★ (29) | In Traverse City |
| Rosi & Gardner, P.C. | 4.5★ (11) | In Traverse City |
| The Fierberg National Law Group, PLLC | 4.7★ (7) | In Traverse City |
| Whims Legal Group, PLC | 5.0★ (9) | In Traverse City |
| Whitman Family Law | 4.4★ (13) | In Traverse City |
| Wilson Kester The Empowered Divorce Source | 4.5★ (151) | In Traverse City |
How we ranked Traverse City general practice lawyers
We scored 43 Traverse City general practice 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 Traverse City 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 general practice lawyer
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many general legal matters 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 how often the firm handles your kind of matter, and whether it would refer it elsewhere.
- Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.
Questions to ask a general practice 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?
- How often do you handle matters like mine?
- 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.
General practice lawyers in Traverse City: frequently asked questions
Which general practice lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Traverse City?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked general practice lawyer in Traverse City, MI is Smith & Johnson, P.C. with an LFR Score of 69/100. It has 4.7★ from 29 Google reviews. It is open 7 days a week. Gerald F. Chefalo (#2) and Bethany C Warner & Associates (#3) follow. We ranked 43 general practice lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many general practice lawyers are there in Traverse City?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 43 general practice lawyers serving Traverse City, MI. 43 of them are based in Traverse City; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which general practice lawyers in Traverse City are open 24/7?
1 ranked general practice lawyer in Traverse City posts 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked is OGC Services PLLC (#7). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which general practice lawyers in Traverse City work on weekends?
2 of 43 ranked general practice lawyers post Saturday hours and 3 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Smith & Johnson, P.C. (#1) and OGC Services PLLC (#7). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Traverse City general practice lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 43 rated general practice lawyers in Traverse City is 4.6★, with a median of 10 reviews. Gerald F. Chefalo has the most, 62 reviews, and ranks #2. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does LawFirmsRanked rank general practice lawyers?
Each general practice 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 general practice lawyers outside Traverse City count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Traverse City city center, our service radius for general practice 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 general practice 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 general practice lawyers in Traverse City, MI charge?
General practice lawyers usually charge flat fees for routine work such as simple wills or closings and hourly rates for disputes. Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
When is a general practice lawyer a good fit?
For common matters such as wills, home purchases, small business contracts or minor disputes, especially in smaller cities. For complex cases, ask how often the firm handles your kind of matter. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of general practice lawyers in Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City?
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 Traverse City
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 43 general practice lawyers serving Traverse City.
More general practice lawyers and Traverse City pages
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