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10 Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin

This page compares Austin criminal defense practices by the matters they describe, their communication approach, and the type of case support they offer. It is intended to help you identify relevant questions quickly, not to predict a legal result or replace advice about your circumstances.

How we rank this list

Before ranking this guide we review each business's track record, what its customers say and how clearly it explains its work. The result is an editorial selection that we update as things change.

Featured positions are clearly marked and only offered to businesses that already earned their place in the guide.

Top 3All listingsMapHow to decide

Compare 10 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Austin

The Law Office of Kevin Bennett, Austin#1
Strengths
  • Kevin Bennett personally handles every aspect of each case

  • The practice covers DWI, assault, family violence, sex crimes, theft and drug crimes

  • The office explains legal steps, options and defense strategy directly to clients

The Law Office of Kevin Bennett

5.0620 reviews

Open 24 hours

1411 West Ave #100, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People facing DWI charges in Travis CountyClients accused of felony or misdemeanor criminal offensesPeople who want direct attorney involvement throughout a case

The Law Office of Kevin Bennett represents people facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges in Austin and Travis County, including DWI, assault, family violence, sex crimes, theft and drug crimes. Kevin Bennett personally handles every aspect of a case rather than handing clients to a junior associate or staff member. The office emphasizes clear explanations of the criminal process and case-specific defense strategy.

Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys, Austin#2
Strengths
  • The firm describes a senior-attorney and case-concierge service model

  • Its listed practice areas range from DWI to capital murder

  • The firm says it does not handle traffic violations

Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys

5.0596 reviews

Open 24 hours

500 W 2nd St Ste 1900, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People charged with DWI or another felony or misdemeanorClients facing assault, drug, theft, weapons or probation mattersFamilies seeking structured communication during a criminal case

Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys represents clients facing criminal charges in Austin and Travis County. The firm lists defense for DWI, controlled-substance charges, assault, probation violations, drug charges, theft, weapons charges and other felonies or misdemeanors, while excluding traffic violations. Its stated client service includes proactive case updates, a direct line to a senior trial attorney and a dedicated case concierge.

Stephen T. Bowling, Austin#3
Strengths
  • Combines DWI and criminal defense with expunction services

  • Offers online appointments and on-site services

Stephen T. Bowling

5.0369 reviews

Open 24 hours

816 Congress Ave Ste 950, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People facing DWI or other criminal-defense mattersClients seeking help with expunction proceedings

Stephen T. Bowling is an Austin criminal-defense firm handling DWI and other criminal matters, including expunction cases. The firm provides on-site services and online appointments, with a client process centered on communication, explanations of legal steps and case support.

The Hull Firm, Austin#4
Strengths
  • Challenges multiple forms of DWI evidence, including blood toxicology and DRE evidence

  • Includes a former Travis County DWI prosecutor on the defense team

  • Provides attorney availability 24 hours a day

The Hull Firm

5.0364 reviews

Open 24 hours

1004 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People facing an Austin or Travis County DWI chargeClients seeking criminal defense with local court knowledge

The Hull Firm is an Austin criminal defense law firm focused on DWI and other criminal cases in Travis County. Its DWI defense work addresses traffic stops, field tests, blood toxicology and DRE evidence, while the team includes six criminal defense attorneys, two managing partners with more than 30 years of combined Travis County court experience and a former Travis County DWI prosecutor. The firm offers free consultations and payment plans.

The Law Office of David Reed, Austin#5
Strengths
  • A client-focused approach built around attentive, precise and transparent representation

  • Support described as consistent throughout extended proceedings

The Law Office of David Reed

5.0293 reviews

Open 24 hours

608 W 12th St, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People seeking representation for a criminal justice matterClients who value detailed guidance through a lengthy case

The Law Office of David Reed is an Austin criminal justice law practice. It suits people seeking representation through a prolonged or stressful criminal case, with an approach characterized by detailed attention, transparency and steady communication. Client accounts describe support from the beginning of a case through its resolution, including cases that were dismissed.

Lance Kennedy Law, Austin#6
Strengths
  • Online appointments are available

  • The firm emphasizes transparent communication and plain-English explanations

Lance Kennedy Law

5.0226 reviews

Open 24 hours

111 Congress Ave. Ste 500, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People seeking criminal-defense representationClients who want legal terms and case updates explained clearly

Lance Kennedy Law is an Austin criminal justice law firm offering on-site services and online appointments. The firm suits people navigating stressful legal situations who want a defense team that communicates in plain English, explains complex terms and provides updates throughout a case. Its documented positioning emphasizes respectful, transparent communication without promises about outcomes.

Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC, Austin#7
Strengths
  • Former-prosecutor perspective on criminal defense

  • Practice includes expunction and first-time-offense matters

Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC

5.0151 reviews

Open 24 hours

505 W 12th St, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People facing criminal charges in or around AustinClients needing help with DWI, drug, theft or violent-crime cases

The Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC is an Austin criminal defense practice representing people facing charges including DWI, drug, theft, assault, family-violence and other serious criminal matters. Alejandro Martinez previously served as a prosecutor for the Dallas City Attorney's Office and Williamson County Attorney's Office, giving the practice experience from both sides of the courtroom. It also handles first-time offenses and expunction matters.

Law Office of Zachary Bidner, Austin#8
Strengths
  • The attorney is described as personally handling cases and explaining each stage

  • Case communication includes prompt callbacks, follow-up and discussion of available options

Law Office of Zachary Bidner

5.0139 reviews

Open 24 hours

818 W 10th St Ste A, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People seeking representation for misdemeanor, DWI or probation mattersClients who value direct answers and regular communication during a case

The Law Office of Zachary Bidner is an Austin criminal justice practice representing clients through criminal cases. Its approach is described as responsive, attentive and focused on explaining options and legal process clearly. The office is suited to clients facing matters such as misdemeanor, DWI and probation cases who want direct communication and personal case attention.

Smith & Vinson Law Firm, Austin#9
Strengths
  • Offers online appointments as well as on-site services

  • Provides step-by-step explanations of legal processes and outcomes

Smith & Vinson Law Firm

4.9390 reviews

Open 24 hours

1411 West Ave Unit 124, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People seeking criminal defense representationFamilies needing support with juvenile defense matters

Smith & Vinson Law Firm is an Austin criminal justice law firm offering on-site services and online appointments. The firm suits people facing criminal or juvenile defense matters who need a lawyer to explain the legal process, discuss possible outcomes, and provide organized case support. Its client-facing approach centers on clear communication, responsiveness, and compassionate guidance during stressful proceedings.

Law Office of Jorge Vela, Austin#10
Strengths
  • The attorney’s seven years as both a federal and state prosecutor

  • Defense coverage that includes DWI, violent crimes and drug crimes

Law Office of Jorge Vela

5.0107 reviews

Open 24 hours

818 W 10th St Ste A, Austin, TX 78701, United States
A good fit for
People facing state or federal criminal chargesEnglish- or Spanish-speaking clients seeking criminal defense

The Law Office of Jorge Vela represents people charged with state and federal crimes in Austin, Travis County and across Central Texas. Its criminal defense work includes DWI, violent crimes and drug crimes. Jorge Vela previously spent seven years as a federal Assistant United States Attorney and state Assistant District Attorney, bringing prosecution-side experience to defense strategy. The firm serves English- and Spanish-speaking clients and answers the phone 24 hours a day.

The key facts side by side

#BusinessRatingReviewsA good fit for
#1The Law Office of Kevin Bennett 5.0620People facing DWI charges in Travis County
#2Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys 5.0596People charged with DWI or another felony or misdemeanor
#3Stephen T. Bowling 5.0369People facing DWI or other criminal-defense matters
#4The Hull Firm 5.0364People facing an Austin or Travis County DWI charge
#5The Law Office of David Reed 5.0293People seeking representation for a criminal justice matter
#6Lance Kennedy Law 5.0226People seeking criminal-defense representation
#7Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC 5.0151People facing criminal charges in or around Austin
#8Law Office of Zachary Bidner 5.0139People seeking representation for misdemeanor, DWI or probation matters
#9Smith & Vinson Law Firm 4.9390People seeking criminal defense representation
#10Law Office of Jorge Vela 5.0107People facing state or federal criminal charges

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Compare criminal defense coverage across Austin

The attorneys are described as serving Austin, Travis County, Central Texas, or state and federal matters. Geographic scope varies by practice, so confirm whether the attorney handles the court, charge, and location relevant to your case.

Criminal defense services represented here

  • DWI defenseThe Law Office of Kevin Bennett, Stephen T. Bowling, The Hull Firm, and other listed practices describe DWI representation. The Hull Firm specifically discusses stops, field tests, blood toxicology, and DRE evidence.
  • Felony and misdemeanor casesKevin Bennett, Michael & Associates, Alejandro Martinez, Jorge Vela, and others describe defense for felony, misdemeanor, or serious criminal charges.
  • Expunction mattersStephen T. Bowling and the Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC explicitly include expunction services in their stated practice descriptions.
  • Case communication and explanationsSeveral firms emphasize plain-English explanations, proactive updates, direct answers, transparency, or support through an extended proceeding.
  • Personal attorney involvementKevin Bennett states that he personally handles every aspect of each case. Zachary Bidner’s description also emphasizes personal case attention and direct communication.
  • Juvenile and specialized defenseSmith & Vinson Law Firm describes juvenile defense, while Michael & Associates lists broad matters but states that traffic violations are outside its scope.

Questions to ask when choosing defense counsel

  1. Match the charge to stated experienceStart with the exact matter—DWI, assault, drug, theft, weapons, probation, juvenile, expunction, or another charge—and confirm that it falls within the attorney’s stated scope.
  2. Ask who will handle the caseIf direct attorney involvement matters to you, ask who will explain developments, prepare the defense, and remain available throughout the proceeding.
  3. Clarify deadlines immediatelyThe Hull Firm notes a separate 15-day ALR hearing-request deadline in DWI cases. Ask counsel about any deadline that may apply to your situation.
  4. Set communication expectationsCompare firms that describe proactive updates, plain-English explanations, direct lines, case concierges, or regular callbacks, and ask how those promises work in practice.
  5. Confirm jurisdiction and appointment formatSome practices describe Austin and Travis County work, while others include state or federal matters. Online, on-site, and phone availability also varies.

Questions people often ask

Which Austin attorneys handle DWI cases?

The Law Office of Kevin Bennett, Michael & Associates, Stephen T. Bowling, The Hull Firm, Alejandro Martinez, and Jorge Vela all describe DWI defense. Other listed firms may handle criminal matters more generally.

Do any of these firms handle expunctions?

Stephen T. Bowling, DWI & Criminal Defense Attorneys and the Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC explicitly describe expunction services.

Does every firm handle traffic violations?

No. Michael & Associates specifically states that traffic violations are outside its stated scope. Confirm the scope with any attorney before scheduling.

What should I do about a DWI deadline?

The supplied description for The Hull Firm notes a separate 15-day ALR hearing-request deadline. Because deadlines can be case-specific, contact a qualified attorney promptly about your circumstances.

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