Short answer: The best criminal lawyer in St. Louis for 2026 is The People’s Counsel, a criminal defense firm founded by Charles L. Barberio IV, with five published attorneys, offices in the Central West End and Clayton, dozens of not-guilty verdicts the firm publishes, and free consultations. Other top St. Louis criminal defense firms include Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson (16 named attorneys — the deepest criminal bench in the metro), Combs Waterkotte (a criminal-defense-only firm with its main office in St. Louis), JCS Law (exclusively criminal, with former prosecutors on the roster) and Travis Noble, P.C. (the metro’s specialist DWI practice).
This guide compares criminal defense attorneys St. Louis residents can hire across St. Louis City, St. Louis County and the wider metro, including offices in Clayton, Brentwood and St. Charles. Every firm listed has a St. Louis-area office, a working website, and a criminal defense practice it publishes itself. Most do criminal work and little else, and several are criminal-only. Nine of the ten state that the initial consultation is free. When a case involves driving, it also runs on two tracks at once — the court case, and a separate Department of Revenue action against your license — so the quick facts below cover both.
Quick facts:
- A first-time Missouri DWI is a Class B misdemeanor: driving while intoxicated means operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, or a combination (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 577.010, 577.001). Penalties escalate with prior-offender status and with injury or death, rising through the felony classes.
- 0.08 BAC is its own offense. Driving with excessive blood alcohol content — 0.08% or more by weight (0.04% for a commercial motor vehicle) — is a separate Class B misdemeanor as a base offense (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 577.012).
- Missouri grades felonies Class A through Class E (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 557.016, 558.011). Authorized imprisonment terms: Class A, 10 to 30 years or life; Class B, 5 to 15 years; Class C, 3 to 10 years; Class D, up to 7 years; Class E, up to 4 years. Misdemeanors run lower — Class A up to one year, Class B up to six months, Class C up to 15 days.
- A DWI also attacks your license, separately from the criminal case (Missouri Department of Revenue). A first DWI or excessive-BAC conviction brings a 90-day suspension (a Restricted Driving Privilege may be available), and after an administrative alcohol arrest you have only 15 days from the Notice of Suspension/Revocation to request a hearing. Refusing a chemical test brings a one-year revocation.
- Many Missouri convictions can later be expunged: you petition the court where you were charged or found guilty (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.140). Class A felonies, dangerous felonies, offenses requiring sex-offender registration, and intoxication-related traffic offenses are excluded; in general the wait is at least three years after completing a felony disposition, or one year for a misdemeanor, with fines and restitution satisfied.
- You can confirm any Missouri attorney’s license and standing in The Missouri Bar’s official lawyer directory before you hire them.
Every fact below comes from the firm’s own website or another published source named in our notes. Where a Google rating could be read from a firm’s Google profile in October 2026, we show its star rating and review count, checked in October 2026 and rechecked monthly. Five firms’ ratings could not be read from their Google listings for this edition, so those profiles carry no rating line — and we never substitute a firm’s own review claims for its Google numbers. We left out ratings, awards and dollar figures we couldn’t confirm. Where a firm states something about itself, we say so. Fees, deadlines and penalties depend on the facts of each case, so confirm details directly with each firm.
This article is informational only. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no firm on this list can guarantee a result. Talk with a licensed attorney about your own situation.
Last reviewed Nov 2026
Criminal lawyers in St. Louis: at a glance
| Rank | Firm | Best for | Criminal practice areas | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The People’s Counsel | Serious charges — a criminal-only firm with a named trial team | Drug crimes, violent crimes, DWI, federal crimes, expungement, license reinstatement | Central West End (63108) |
| 2 | Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson | Federal and serious felony charges backed by a deep bench | Federal crimes, drug crimes, DWI, sex crimes, violent crimes, white collar crimes, appeals | Clayton (63105) |
| 3 | Combs Waterkotte | Criminal-defense-only representation at multi-office scale | State & federal defense, DWI, felonies, sex crimes, drug charges, expungement | Clayton (63105) |
| 4 | JCS Law | DWI and felony defense from former prosecutors | DWI and felony DWI, drug crimes, domestic violence, federal charges, murder/manslaughter | Clayton (63105) |
| 5 | Travis Noble, P.C. | DWI charges — the specialist DWI practice | DWI (flagship), drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, white collar crimes | Clayton (63105) |
| 6 | Bruntrager & Billings, P.C. | Felony and white-collar defense with generations of local history | Felonies, violent crimes, white collar crimes, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, juvenile matters | N. Meramec Ave. (63105) |
| 7 | JMH Law Firm, LLC | DWI and felony defense west of the city | Felonies and misdemeanors, DWI, drug possession, sexual assault, traffic | Brentwood (63144) |
| 8 | Glaesman Law Firm, LLC | One criminal-only attorney handling your case personally | DUI, drug crimes, federal drug crimes, gun crimes, expungements, violent crimes | S. Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood (63144), plus St. Charles |
| 9 | The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith | State and federal criminal trials from a solo trial attorney | Federal crimes, weapons crimes, drug offenses, violent crimes, DWI, sex crimes | Forsyth Blvd. (63105) |
| 10 | Miller & Hine, LLC | Felony and misdemeanor defense with 24/7 free consultations | Drug crimes, DWI crimes, juvenile crimes, misdemeanors, theft crimes | St. Louis (63144) |
Related: Injured in a crash rather than charged with a crime? See our best personal injury attorneys in St. Louis.
How we ranked the criminal lawyers in St. Louis
- A local office. Every firm here publishes a street address in the St. Louis area, and we confirmed each one on the firm’s own website.
- Focus on criminal defense. We favored firms where criminal defense is the core practice, not a sideline — most of this list does criminal work exclusively or nearly so, and several are criminal-only.
- People you can name. Each profile names the attorneys the firm itself publishes, with their firm-published credentials. Where a firm publishes no attorney roster, we say so rather than fill the gap from directories.
- Trial depth. Criminal cases turn on courtroom work, so we weighed published jury-trial experience and backgrounds the firms publish — former prosecutors, former public defenders, and lawyers who came from the other side of the courtroom.
- State and federal coverage. Charges can land in either system, so we noted which firms publish federal defense as well as state defense. Confirm any attorney’s license in The Missouri Bar’s directory before hiring.
- Clear first steps. We favored firms that explain how to start — a free consultation, published availability, and what happens next.
- Google ratings. Where a rating could be read from a firm’s Google profile, the profile shows its star rating and review count exactly as published, checked October 2026 and rechecked monthly. Five firms’ ratings could not be read from their Google listings for this edition, so those profiles carry no rating line. The ratings are reported as published; they don’t decide the order of this list.
The 10 best criminal lawyers in St. Louis in 2026
1. The People’s Counsel
Best for: Serious charges — a criminal-only firm with a named trial team.
The People’s Counsel is a criminal defense firm founded by Charles L. Barberio IV, who started his own practice in 2008, the year he graduated from law school at the University of Missouri and joined the Missouri Bar. The firm works from two offices: 4542 W Pine Blvd in the Central West End, St. Louis (63108) — the office its site presents first — and 222 S Central Ave, Suite 1004, in Clayton (63105).
Its team page names five attorneys. Barberio’s published record includes dozens of not-guilty verdicts and multiple acquittals on the most serious charges, including murder, and his site lists honors including Criminal Chair Elect of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Top 40 Under 40, Super Lawyers Rising Star and National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Eric Selig began in the St. Louis City Public Defender’s Office, where he tried more than 25 felony jury trials, and has tried more than 75 jury trials since 2006; he joined the firm in 2020 and co-anchors its criminal litigation team, and he is a two-time co-recipient of the MACDL Atticus Finch Award for Trial Excellence. Associates Alex Shenderov and Sarah McKinney round out the published litigation team, and attorney Nikki Moody is also listed.
The firm’s published criminal practice covers:
- Drug crimes: possession through distribution.
- Violent crimes: assault, armed criminal action, manslaughter, and first- and second-degree murder.
- Driving cases: DWI/DUI, driver’s license reinstatement, and Missouri hardship licenses.
- Property and record cases: burglary, stealing, and expungement.
- Federal crimes and misdemeanors through severe felonies.
The firm publishes example outcomes including not-guilty verdicts in a domestic assault case and in a murder/armed criminal action case, and a drug-case dismissal. It offers free consultations and invites people charged with a crime to call anytime.
Why it’s #1: A criminal-defense-only firm built around trial work: a founder who has practiced criminal law since 2008, a five-attorney team anchored by a former public defender with more than 75 jury trials since 2006, two metro offices, and free consultations. Phone: (314) 669-6464.
Google rating: 4.6 stars from 45 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
2. Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson
Best for: Federal and serious felony charges backed by a deep bench.
Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson, at 120 South Central Avenue, Suite 130, in Clayton (63105), fields the deepest criminal bench on this list — 16 attorneys named on its own site. President and founding member Scott Rosenblum has been a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2006 and a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers since 2016. Principal Joel J. Schwartz’s practice, in the firm’s words, concentrates exclusively in federal and state criminal defense; principal Matt Fry sits on the MACDL board and its DWI committee and teaches Trial Advocacy II at SLU Law; principal Marc Johnson has been managing partner since 2018; and principal T.J. Matthes holds a 2026 Lon O. Hocker Award. The firm claims a combined 130 years of criminal law legal service.
Its published criminal practice covers appeals, drug crimes, DWI & DUI, federal crimes, juvenile crimes, sex crimes, sex offender registry removal, violent crimes and white collar crimes. The firm offers free initial consultations and publishes evening and weekend appointments.
Why it’s #2: Sixteen named criminal attorneys, an American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow leading the firm, and 130 combined years of criminal practice as the firm reports it — the bench to pick for a federal or multi-count felony case. Phone: (314) 862-4332.
Google rating: 4.7 stars from 171 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
3. Combs Waterkotte
Best for: Criminal-defense-only representation at multi-office scale.
Combs Waterkotte is a criminal-defense-only firm whose site footer labels 231 S. Bemiston Ave, Suite 1100, Saint Louis (63105) as its main office, with a second metro office in Clayton by appointment and further offices in Kansas City, Branson, Belleville, Illinois, and Chicago. Founders Christopher “Chris” Combs (10+ years, with DWI/DUI, drug, violent-offense and Title IX work) and Steven “Steve” Waterkotte (17+ years of criminal defense) lead a roster that includes former public defenders and a former prosecutor among its named attorneys. The firm describes its team as bringing more than 100 years of combined experience.
Its published practice is the broadest criminal menu on this list: state and federal criminal defense, DWI/DUI, felonies and misdemeanors, sex crimes, violent crimes and domestic violence, assault and battery, murder and homicide, drug charges, weapons offenses, theft and burglary, property crimes, white-collar and internet crimes, probation violations, expungement, juvenile crimes, orders of protection and Title IX matters. The firm offers free, confidential consultations, claims a guaranteed response within 24 hours, and publishes 24/7 support.
Why it’s #3: A firm that does nothing but criminal defense, at a scale few defense firms reach — two founders with 10- and 17-plus years, a deep published charge menu, and its main office in St. Louis. Phone: (314) 900-4357.
Google rating: 4.9 stars from 536 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
4. JCS Law
Best for: DWI and felony defense from former prosecutors.
JCS Law is an exclusively criminal practice at 120 S Central Ave, Suite 1550, in Clayton (63105), founded by John C. Schleiffarth. Schleiffarth is a member of the NACDL, the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense, and his published honors include National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers Rising Star and St. Louis Magazine Best Lawyers 2013–2016. The roster around him is heavy on the other side of the courtroom: Leigh McLinden Hawk and Heidi Leopold (30+ years of trial experience, AV Preeminent) are both former prosecutors, Anthony J. Muhlenkamp brings 22 years of criminal defense experience, and Jen Kusmer practices in state and federal court.
The firm’s published practice covers DWI and felony DWI, drug crimes and marijuana charges, domestic violence, violent crimes, white collar crimes, stealing, sex crimes, murder and manslaughter, and federal cases including drug conspiracy, firearms charges and fraud. The firm offers a free, no-obligation case review, lists its hours as 24/7, and publishes flexible payment terms.
Why it’s #4: An exclusively criminal firm whose founder publishes national DWI-defense credentials and whose roster stacks former prosecutors next to a 22-year defense veteran. Phone: 314-561-9690.
Google rating: 4.9 stars from 234 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
5. Travis Noble, P.C.
Best for: DWI charges — the specialist DWI practice.
Travis Noble, P.C., at 8000 Maryland Avenue, Suite 910, in Clayton (63105), is built around one charge. Travis L. Noble, Jr. has worked DWI cases for more than 30 years; he spent his first decade as a police officer and narcotics agent before practicing law, and his firm says he has tried more DWI cases than any attorney in Missouri. He concentrates exclusively on DWI defense, including felony charges arising from DWI accidents, and the site names an eight-person team behind him.
The published DWI menu runs from first offenses to vehicular homicide, DWI injury and property accidents, boating while intoxicated, persistent-offender DWI, leaving the scene, and driving while suspended or revoked. The firm also publishes drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, white-collar crimes and bond forfeiture and failure-to-appear warrant work, in state and federal court. It offers a free consultation and free case evaluation.
Why it’s #5: For a DWI charge, this is the metro’s specialist: a former police officer and narcotics agent who has spent 30-plus years on DWI defense and concentrates on it exclusively. Phone: (314) 721-6614.
Google rating: 4.4 stars from 87 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
6. Bruntrager & Billings, P.C.
Best for: Felony and white-collar defense with generations of local history.
Bruntrager & Billings, P.C., at 168 N. Meramec Avenue, Suite 400, St. Louis (63105), has served St. Louis since 1954 — a family-owned firm the site describes as three generations of trial attorneys. The firm publishes no named attorney roster or individual bios in text on its site, so this profile names none; what it states collectively about its criminal practice is that its attorneys are former prosecutors who spent years on the other side of the courtroom.
Its published criminal practice covers felonies; violent crimes including homicide, manslaughter and domestic assault; white collar crimes including fraud, embezzlement and forgery; DUI/DWI; drug offenses; misdemeanors; juvenile matters; and cases from municipal ordinance violations through federal court. The criminal page offers a free, confidential consultation.
Why it’s #6: In practice since 1954 and family-run across three generations, with former prosecutors handling its criminal cases — the longest local history on this list. Phone: (314) 646-0066.
Google rating: 4.6 stars from 11 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
7. JMH Law Firm, LLC
Best for: DWI and felony defense west of the city.
JMH Law Firm, LLC — the firm now operating at The Hammer Law Firm’s former domain, listed here under its current name — works from 8821 Manchester Road in Brentwood (63144), with a second office at 223 N. Main Street, Suite 1, in St. Charles (63301). The firm claims more than 60 years of combined criminal law experience across its team. Managing attorney Joseph M. Harvath worked in a Prosecuting Attorney’s office and alongside a St. Louis-area judge; Chandrika Harvath is a former Assistant Circuit Attorney for St. Louis and former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County; Joshua Saleem is a former Assistant Public Defender; Wayne T. Schoeneberg brings 40+ years of private practice; and trial attorney Christopher J. Zellers leads the firm’s DWI trial work.
Its published criminal practice covers felonies and misdemeanors, DWI, drug possession, sexual assault and traffic cases. The firm offers a free, confidential initial consultation.
Why it’s #7: A metro-core Brentwood office, a second office in St. Charles, and a team that mixes former prosecutors with a former public defender and a 40-year trial lawyer. Phone: 314-827-6222.
Google rating: 4.8 stars from 22 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
8. Glaesman Law Firm, LLC
Best for: One criminal-only attorney handling your case personally.
Glaesman Law Firm, LLC is Lucas Glaesman’s solo practice, at 1401 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 950, St. Louis (63144), with a second office in St. Charles. Glaesman earned his J.D. in 2011 and opened his own firm in 2014, and his bio describes the last decade as practicing criminal law to the exclusion of all else — the site’s own summary is “Solely Focused on Criminal Defense.” He says he has defended hundreds of people across the St. Louis metropolitan area, and his bio page displays Super Lawyers selections for 2018–2021.
The published practice covers DUI, drug crimes and federal drug crimes, drug possession, gun crimes, expungements, traffic tickets, sex crimes, theft crimes, violent crimes, domestic violence, assault and murder. The site invites prospective clients to schedule an initial consultation; it does not publish a free-consultation statement, and its listed hours are weekday business hours.
Why it’s #8: A criminal-only solo practice open since 2014 — the attorney you meet is the attorney who handles every part of the case. Phone: (314) 827-4384.
Google rating: 4.9 stars from 66 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
9. The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith
Best for: State and federal criminal trials from a solo trial attorney.
The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith, at 7733 Forsyth Blvd, Suite 1850, St. Louis (63105), is Gregory Smith’s solo practice. His site presents him as “A Criminal Trial Attorney” with extensive criminal trial experience in state and federal courts, and his domestic violence page states that he is not only an experienced criminal defense attorney but also a forensic scientist.
The published practice covers federal crimes, weapons crimes, drug offenses, violent crimes, DWI, sex crimes, child pornography charges, white collar crimes, assault charges and juvenile crimes — misdemeanors and felonies, in state and federal courts. The firm’s practice pages offer a free consultation and free case evaluation.
Why it’s #9: A single-attorney trial practice spanning state and federal charges, with a forensic-science background the firm itself publishes — a useful combination for evidence-heavy cases. Phone: 314-786-3522.
Google rating: 4.7 stars from 26 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
10. Miller & Hine, LLC
Best for: Felony and misdemeanor defense with 24/7 free consultations.
Miller & Hine, LLC, at 8764 Manchester Rd., Suite 204, St. Louis (63144) — with further offices in Cape Girardeau and Kansas City — is led by partners Jason Hine and Jimmy Miller, both Saint Louis University School of Law graduates from 2014, with attorney Paul Vysotsky (SLU Law 2020) also on the roster. Hine interned at a prosecutor’s office and worked for a local criminal defense attorney during law school, and the firm says he has tried cases to verdict in state and federal court; his profile lists Super Lawyers Rising Star selections for every year 2022–2026. The firm reports more than 50 years of combined experience.
Its criminal page states that it handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in the St. Louis metro area, covering drug crimes, DWI crimes, juvenile crimes, misdemeanors and theft crimes, with published resources on bond reduction hearings, plea deals and preliminary hearings. Criminal defense is a genuine, dedicated practice here, though the firm overall leads with personal injury work — which is why it rounds out the list. The firm publishes 24/7 availability for free consultations, including a one-hour free case evaluation by phone or in person.
Why it’s #10: A dedicated metro criminal practice with two named partners, a published Super Lawyers Rising Star record, and free consultations around the clock. Phone: (314) 413-2053.
Google rating: 4.9 stars from 174 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026).
How to choose a criminal lawyer in St. Louis
Act in days, not weeks
Some deadlines in a criminal case start almost immediately. After a DWI arrest, you have 15 days from the Notice of Suspension/Revocation to request the administrative hearing that protects your license. Several firms on this list publish 24/7 availability — JCS Law lists round-the-clock hours, Miller & Hine offers free consultations 24/7, and Combs Waterkotte publishes 24/7 support — so a first call does not have to wait for business hours.
Match the firm to the charge
A first DWI, a federal drug conspiracy indictment and a homicide charge are different fights. On this list, Travis Noble, P.C. is the DWI specialist; Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson fields the deepest bench for federal and complex cases; JCS Law and Combs Waterkotte concentrate on criminal defense across the full charge range; and The People’s Counsel publishes acquittal results on the most serious charges.
Ask who will handle your case
At a solo practice — Glaesman Law Firm, The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith — the attorney you meet handles the case personally. At a larger firm, ask which attorney takes your file to court and who your day-to-day contact will be. Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson names 16 attorneys; The People’s Counsel names five; JMH Law Firm names five.
State court, federal court, or both
Some firms publish federal defense explicitly; others describe state-court work. If your charge is federal — or could become federal, as drug and firearms cases sometimes do — confirm the firm practices in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri before you sign.
Understand the fee before you sign
Criminal defense is usually charged as a flat fee or by the hour, not as a percentage of a recovery the way injury cases are. Nine of the ten firms here state that the initial consultation is free; Glaesman Law Firm invites you to schedule an initial consultation without stating it is free. Ask what the fee covers (trial? appeals? the license hearing?), and get it in writing.
Red flags
- Someone guarantees your case will be dismissed or promises a specific outcome.
- You’re pressured to plead guilty at the first meeting, before any evidence is reviewed.
- The firm won’t put the fee agreement in writing.
- You can’t get a straight answer about who is working on your case.
The bottom line
Start with The People’s Counsel if you want a criminal-only firm with a named trial team and two metro offices. Choose Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson if the case is federal or complex enough to need a 16-attorney bench, Travis Noble, P.C. if the charge is a DWI, JCS Law or Combs Waterkotte if you want a criminal-only firm with former prosecutors and round-the-clock availability, and Glaesman Law Firm or The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith if you want one solo attorney handling everything personally.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the best criminal lawyers in St. Louis?
The People’s Counsel is our top pick for 2026: a criminal-defense firm founded by Charles L. Barberio IV, with five published attorneys, offices in the Central West End and Clayton, and free consultations. Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson (16 named attorneys, including a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers), Combs Waterkotte (criminal-defense only, with its main office in St. Louis), JCS Law (exclusively criminal, with former prosecutors on the roster) and Travis Noble, P.C. (a specialist DWI practice) are other notable firms.
What happens if I get a first DWI in Missouri?
A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 577.010, and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more is a separate offense under § 577.012, also a Class B misdemeanor as a base offense. Penalties escalate sharply with prior offenses or when someone is injured, rising through the felony classes. Separately, the Department of Revenue acts against your license: a first conviction brings a 90-day suspension, and after an arrest you have only 15 days from the notice to request an administrative hearing — one reason DWI cases need a lawyer immediately.
What should I do after being arrested in St. Louis?
Stay calm, do not discuss the facts of the case with police or anyone else before you have a lawyer, and write down everything you remember while it is fresh. Then get a consultation quickly: deadlines start running at once — after a DWI arrest you have 15 days to request the hearing that protects your license — and nine of the ten firms on this list offer a free first consultation, with several publishing 24/7 availability. Bring the ticket or charging paperwork, any court date notice, and your driver’s license information to the first meeting.
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Missouri?
Missouri grades felonies from Class E up to Class A (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 557.016, 558.011). Authorized imprisonment terms are: Class A, 10 to 30 years or life; Class B, 5 to 15 years; Class C, 3 to 10 years; Class D, up to 7 years; and Class E, up to 4 years. Misdemeanors are lower: a Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year, a Class B misdemeanor up to six months, and a Class C misdemeanor up to 15 days. The class charged — and any prior-offender enhancements — drives both the exposure and the defense strategy.
Can I get a criminal record expunged in Missouri?
Often, yes. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.140 you can petition the court where you were charged or found guilty to expunge records of an arrest, plea, trial or conviction for eligible offenses. Class A felonies, dangerous felonies, offenses requiring sex-offender registration and intoxication-related traffic offenses are excluded. In general you must wait at least three years after completing a felony disposition, or one year for a misdemeanor, with fines and restitution paid and no charges pending; lifetime limits on petitions also apply. Several firms on this list publish expungement practices.
How much does a criminal lawyer cost in St. Louis?
Criminal defense fees are usually a flat fee or an hourly arrangement set by the charge and the court — unlike injury cases, they are not a percentage of a recovery, and the firms here do not publish their fee schedules. What they do publish is the first step: nine of the ten firms on this list state that the initial consultation is free (Glaesman Law Firm invites you to schedule an initial consultation without stating it is free), and JCS Law also publishes flexible payment terms. Get the fee agreement in writing before you sign.
How do I choose a criminal lawyer in St. Louis?
Match the firm to the charge: a DWI points to a specialist like Travis Noble, P.C., a federal case to a firm with a deep federal bench like Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson, and a felony to a firm whose attorneys publish serious trial experience. Ask who will actually handle your case — at solo practices like Glaesman Law Firm and The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith it is the attorney you meet — and confirm the attorney’s license and standing in The Missouri Bar’s official lawyer directory before you hire.
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Last reviewed: Nov 2026.