Nevada Criminal Defense Attorneys

Nevada criminal law has its own architecture: felonies graded Category A through E under NRS 193.130, habitual criminal enhancements under NRS 207.010 that can turn a routine case into a decades-long sentence, deferred and conditional sentencing options, and one of the more generous record-sealing frameworks in the country under NRS 179.245.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Nevada attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Nevada criminal defense case review

A Nevada attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Nevada criminal defense case

When you submit a Nevada 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 Nevada law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Nevada 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.

Get started How DearLegal works

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 Nevada

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 Nevada 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 Nevada, 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.

Felony Statute of Limitations: 20 years
Murder has no limit; certain sex offenses against children carry 20 years; most other felonies, 4 years; gross misdemeanors, 3 years (NRS 171.080-.085)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
Misdemeanors must be charged within 2 years; petty offenses within 1 year (NRS 171.090)
Sentencing Structure: Felonies graded
Felonies graded Category A-E under NRS 193.130; habitual criminal enhancement (NRS 207.010) functions as a Three Strikes-type law for repeat felons; deadly weapon enhancement under NRS 193.165
Expungement / Record Sealing: 2 years
Broad sealing under NRS 179.245-.301: most misdemeanors after 1-2 years, gross misdemeanors after 2 years, Category D/E felonies after 5 years, Category C after 7, Category B after 10 — many serious offenses excluded
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail governed
Bail governed by NRS 178.484 et seq., with a constitutional right to bail (Nev. Const. Art. 1, § 7); under Valdez-Jimenez v. Eighth Judicial District Court (2020), courts must make an ability-to-pay finding before imposing cash bail
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Start with the felony grading, because everything in a Nevada case flows from it. NRS 193.130 sets out Category A (life with parole, life without parole, or death), Category B (1-20+ years), Category C (1-5), Category D (1-4), and Category E (1-4, presumptive probation). Murder First-Degree is death-eligible — Nevada retains the death penalty. Then there's the habitual criminal statute, NRS 207.010: a defendant with two prior felonies faces 5-20 years, and three priors (one violent) means 10-25, life. On the drug side, Nevada voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016 (Question 2, effective January 2017, codified at NRS 678 et seq.), so adults 21+ can possess up to 1 oz cannabis and 1/8 oz concentrate; medical cannabis has been legal since 2000. The state has also repeatedly expanded sealing under NRS 179.245-.301 — most misdemeanors after 1-2 years, gross misdemeanors after 2 years, Category D/E felonies after 5 years, Category C after 7, Category B after 10, though many serious offenses are excluded. For first-time drug possession, Conditional Discharge under NRS 458.300 allows dismissal upon successful completion. Nevada District Attorneys plea-bargain extensively, and Clark County — home to Las Vegas and its tourism and gaming economy — processes the highest criminal volume in the state. A defense lawyer's job is to work all of these levers at once.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Nevada

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Nevada

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI / Felony DUI

NRS 484C.110 sets the .08 BAC standard. A first offense is a misdemeanor carrying 2 days to 6 months jail, a $400-$1,000 fine, and a 90-day suspension. A second within 7 years means 10 days to 6 months and a 1-year revocation. The third in 7 years becomes a Category B felony, 1-6 years.

Sound like yours? A Nevada attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do Nevada criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Nevada · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

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 Nevada are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Contingency fees are off the table in criminal matters — Nev. RPC 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) prohibit them — so Nevada defense lawyers bill hourly or quote a flat fee. Flat fees are the norm for misdemeanors and most felonies; complex matters tend toward hourly billing. If you cannot afford counsel, the Clark County Public Defender, Washoe County Public Defender, and Nevada State Public Defender (covering rural counties) represent indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Nevada criminal defense compensation can include

A Nevada criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Cases get dismissed outright through suppression motions, writs of habeas corpus attacking probable cause, the speedy trial guarantee in NRS 178.556 (60-day rule for in-custody indictees), or a DA nolle prosequi.

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

Nevada criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Nevada attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No — be polite, decline, and ask for a lawyer. LVMPD, NHP, the Washoe County Sheriff, and federal agents working Nevada all use trained interrogation techniques, and everything you say is admissible. You're protected by both the Fifth Amendment and Nev. Const. Art. 1, § 8(1), which guards against self-incrimination. Use those rights.

Yes. A Nevada misdemeanor can mean up to 6 months in county jail and $1,000 in fines under NRS 193.150, and a gross misdemeanor up to 364 days. A lawyer may be able to steer you into Pretrial Diversion or, for drug possession, Conditional Discharge (NRS 458.300) — both can end in dismissal. And DV and DUI convictions carry collateral consequences that follow you for years.

Different courts, different rules. State felonies and gross misdemeanors run through Nevada District Court; misdemeanors through Justice Court or Municipal Court. Federal cases land in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno) and are sentenced under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The federal docket here leans heavily toward I-15 / I-80 drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, federal fraud, and casino and financial crimes.

Your lawyer negotiates directly with the District Attorney's office under NRS 174.061 et seq. A deal might mean reduced charges, Conditional Discharge (NRS 458.300), entry into a Specialty Court — drug court, mental health court, veterans court — or a stipulated sentence recommendation. The terms vary enormously depending on the county and the prosecutor.

For most people, yes. NRS 179.245-.301 is one of the broader sealing schemes in the country: most misdemeanors become sealable 1-2 years after completion, gross misdemeanors after 2, Category D/E felonies after 5, Category C after 7, and Category B after 10. The exclusions matter, though — Murder First-Degree, certain sex offenses, DV, and certain felony DUIs cannot be sealed.

Juveniles under 18 go through juvenile court under NRS 62A et seq., and those records stay confidential. Better still, sealing under NRS 62H.130 means many juvenile records are automatically sealed at 21. The real danger is certification: juveniles 14+ charged with serious felonies can be sent to adult court under NRS 62B.390, so get counsel early.

Harsh, and they escalate quickly. NRS 484C.110 sets the limit at .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Implied consent under NRS 484C.160 means refusing a test triggers automatic license revocation, and NRS 484C.460 mandates an ignition interlock device for many offenses. A third DUI within 7 years is a Category B felony.