Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys
At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Maryland criminal defense attorneys who navigate the state’s Justice Reinvestment Act sentencing reforms, the recreational cannabis framework under the Maryland Cannabis Reform Act, Probation Before Judgment (PBJ), and the Maryland Second Chance Act expungement pathway.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Maryland attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Maryland criminal defense case review
A Maryland attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
How we match your Maryland criminal defense case
When you submit a Maryland criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.
Case type
A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.
Size and complexity
Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.
Jurisdiction and licensing
Your matter is decided under Maryland law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Maryland who regularly appears where your case would be heard.
Capacity and fit
Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.
Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.
DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.
Exhibit A
What happens with a criminal defense claim in Maryland
Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Maryland criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Maryland, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.
Exhibit B
When to call a criminal defense attorney in Maryland
Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.
Exhibit C
Criminal Defense cases we take in Maryland
Which one is closest to yours?
DUI / DWI
Maryland DUI/DWI under Md. Transp. § 21-902 (.08 BAC DUI, .07 BAC DWI). First offense DUI: up to 1 year jail, $1,000 fine, 180-day suspension. Second within 5 years: up to 2 years, mandatory minimum 5 days. IID required for high-BAC and repeat. Fourth in 5 years: felony.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDrug possession and distribution
Maryland legalized recreational cannabis July 1, 2023 (Cannabis Reform Act after Question 4) — adults 21+ can possess up to 1.5 oz flower. Other controlled substances under Md. Crim. Law § 5-601 et seq. — possession with intent and distribution carry felony exposure. Volume dealing (kingpin) under § 5-613 carries 20-40 years mandatory.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewAssault
Maryland assault: Second-Degree Assault (Md. Crim. Law § 3-203, misdemeanor up to 10 years), First-Degree Assault (§ 3-202, felony up to 25 years).
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDomestic violence
Maryland Second-Degree Assault is the common DV charge with DV designation. Protective Orders under Md. Family Law § 4-501 et seq. Mandatory arrest standards under Public Safety provisions. Federal § 922(g)(9) firearm ban applies. Maryland has additional firearm restrictions for DV defendants under Public Safety Article.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewTheft
Maryland theft tiers under Md. Crim. Law § 7-104: under $100 (misdemeanor, 90 days), $100-$1,500 (misdemeanor, 6 months), $1,500-$25,000 (felony, 5 years), $25,000-$100,000 (felony, 10 years), over $100,000 (felony, 20 years).
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewWhite-collar crimes
Maryland prosecutes theft, fraud, identity fraud (Md. Crim. Law § 8-301 et seq.), forgery, and securities fraud through State’s Attorneys and the Attorney General. Federal exposure for wire fraud, healthcare fraud (Baltimore-area Medicare fraud), and public corruption.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewGun and firearm charges
Maryland has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Wear, Carry, or Transport handgun (Md. Crim. Law § 4-203) misdemeanor; Use of Firearm in Felony or Crime of Violence (§ 4-204) 5-20 years consecutive. Handgun Qualification License (HQL) required for purchase. Federal § 922(g) cases routine.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewSex offenses
Maryland sex offender registration under Md. Crim. Proc. § 11-701 et seq. — Tier I, II, III with lifetime registration for Tier III. Rape (Md. Crim. Law § 3-303), Sexual Assault degrees with severe penalties. Sex Offender Registration Act compliance crucial.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewHomicide
Maryland homicide: First-Degree Murder (Md. Crim. Law § 2-201, life or life without parole; Maryland abolished death penalty 2013), Second-Degree Murder (§ 2-204, up to 40 years), Manslaughter (§ 2-207, 10 years), Vehicular Manslaughter (varies). Felony murder included in First-Degree Murder.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewJuvenile offenses
Maryland juveniles handled under Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A. Waiver to adult court for 15+ for serious felonies. Automatic adult prosecution for 16/17 charged with certain offenses (Murder, etc.). Reverse waiver back to juvenile court possible. Juvenile records expungeable at 21.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewProbation violations
Maryland probation revocation under Md. R. 4-347. Justice Reinvestment Act 2016 reformed graduated sanctions for technical violations. New criminal conduct generally means full revocation.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewFederal crimes in Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Baltimore, Greenbelt). Common: I-95 drug trafficking, § 922(g) felon-in-possession (Project Safe Neighborhoods Baltimore focus), wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and federal terrorism/cyber cases given proximity to D.C., NSA, and Fort Meade.
Sound like yours? A Maryland attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewExhibit D
How much do Maryland criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Maryland · Criminal Defense
Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
Criminal Defense matters in Maryland are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Maryland work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Md. Rule of Prof. Conduct 19-301.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Maryland Office of the Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide — one of the larger and well-regarded PD offices in the country.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit E
What your Maryland criminal defense compensation can include
A Maryland criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.
Charge Dismissal
Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss for insufficiency, speedy trial under Md. R. 4-271 (Maryland Hicks Rule 180-day trial requirement in Circuit Court), or State nolle prosequi.
Charge Reduction
Reduction from felony to misdemeanor, from First-Degree to Second-Degree, removal of firearm enhancement or mandatory minimum allegations.
Probation Before Judgment / Stet Docket
Probation Before Judgment under Md. Crim. Proc. § 6-220 — guilty plea, judgment not entered, probation conditions; successful completion = no conviction. Stet docket — case held in abeyance for 3 years, then automatically expunged absent new offenses.
Plea Agreement
Negotiated resolution under Md. R. 4-243. Includes charge reductions, dismissed counts, recommended sentences, and probation in lieu of incarceration.
Trial Acquittal
Not guilty verdict by Maryland jury or judge. Maryland criminal juries are 12 for Circuit Court (jury trials), 6 may be agreed by parties; verdicts must be unanimous (Md. Decl. of Rights Art. 21).
Post-Conviction Relief
Maryland Uniform Postconviction Procedure Act (Md. Crim. Proc. § 7-101 et seq.); coram nobis (for collateral consequence challenges); state habeas corpus. Successor petitions restricted.
DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.
Exhibit F
Maryland criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Maryland attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Maryland
Same Maryland rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
