Virginia Criminal Defense Attorneys
At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Virginia criminal defense attorneys who navigate the Class 1-6 felony system, First Offender Drug Programs (§ 18.2-251), the recently-passed marijuana legalization framework, the death penalty abolition (2021), and parole abolition (since 1995).
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Virginia attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Virginia criminal defense case review
A Virginia attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
How we match your Virginia criminal defense case
When you submit a Virginia 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 Virginia law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Virginia 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 Virginia
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 Virginia 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia
Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.
Exhibit C
Criminal Defense cases we take in Virginia
Which one is closest to yours?
DUI
Virginia DUI under § 18.2-266 — BAC .08+ adult, .02 under 21, .04 CDL. First offense Class 1 misdemeanor up to 12 months jail, IID required. .15+ mandatory minimum jail. Third offense within 10 years Class 6 felony, mandatory 90 days. DUI Causing Death (§ 18.2-36.1, 18.2-36.2) felonies.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDrug possession and delivery
Virginia legalized recreational marijuana possession (1 oz or less in private) effective July 1, 2021 — retail sales pending. Other controlled substances under § 18.2-250 — Possession Class 5 felony (Schedule I/II), Class 1 misdemeanor (Schedule III), etc. Distribution (§ 18.2-248) felony with mandatory minimums for Schedule I/II.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewAssault
Virginia assault: Simple Assault (§ 18.2-57, Class 1 misdemeanor base; enhanced for hate crime, against law enforcement, healthcare provider, etc.), Malicious Wounding (§ 18.2-51, Class 3 felony — intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill), Aggravated Malicious Wounding (§ 18.2-51.2, Class 2 felony 20-life).
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDomestic violence
Virginia Assault and Battery Against a Family or Household Member under § 18.2-57.2 (Class 1 misdemeanor first offense; third offense within 20 years Class 6 felony). First Offender (§ 18.2-57.3) deferred disposition — completion = dismissal. Protective Order under § 19.2-152.10. Federal § 922(g)(9) firearm ban applies.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewTheft / Larceny
Virginia larceny under § 18.2-95, 18.2-96 — Petit Larceny (under $1,000, Class 1 misdemeanor), Grand Larceny ($1,000+, Class 6 felony 1-20 or up to 12 months). Shoplifting (§ 18.2-103) same value framework. Receiving Stolen Goods tracks larceny tiers.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewWhite-collar crimes
Virginia prosecutes theft, fraud, identity theft (§ 18.2-186.3), forgery (§ 18.2-172), and securities fraud through Commonwealth’s Attorneys and AG. Federal exposure for wire fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, federal program fraud, and national security cases (NoVA proximity).
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewGun and firearm charges
Virginia concealed carry permit required under § 18.2-308.01. Possession of Firearm by Felon (§ 18.2-308.2) Class 6 felony with mandatory 2-year minimum for non-violent felons, 5 years for violent. Use of Firearm in Felony (§ 18.2-53.1) mandatory 3-year minimum (5 years for subsequent). Federal § 922(g) prosecutions common.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewSex offenses
Virginia sex offender registration under § 9.1-902 et seq. — tiered. Rape (§ 18.2-61) felony 5-life with mandatory minimums; Forcible Sodomy (§ 18.2-67.1); Object Sexual Penetration (§ 18.2-67.2); Aggravated Sexual Battery (§ 18.2-67.3); Carnal Knowledge of a Child (§ 18.2-63).
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewHomicide
Virginia homicide: First-Degree Murder (§ 18.2-32, 20-life — Class 2 felony), Capital Murder (§ 18.2-31, life — Virginia abolished death penalty 2021), Second-Degree Murder (5-40), Voluntary Manslaughter (Class 5 felony), Involuntary Manslaughter (Class 5 felony), Felony Murder, DUI Causing Death (§ 18.2-36.1, 36.2).
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewJuvenile offenses
Virginia juveniles handled under Title 16.1 in J&DR Court. Transfer to adult court for 14+ for serious offenses under § 16.1-269.1. Direct charging in Circuit Court for 14+ for murder, aggravated malicious wounding under § 16.1-269.1(C). Juvenile expungement under § 16.1-306.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewProbation and parole violations
Virginia probation revocation under § 19.2-306; parole abolished 1995 (Truth-in-Sentencing) so no traditional parole violations but post-release supervision violations possible. Geriatric and Conditional release programs limited. Significant collateral consequences from violations under Virginia Sentencing Guidelines.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewFederal crimes in Virginia
Two federal districts (EDVA — Rocket Docket Alexandria, WDVA). Common: drug trafficking (I-95, I-64), § 922(g) felon-in-possession, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, espionage/national security (NoVA proximity to D.C., Pentagon, CIA), securities fraud, child exploitation, and federal program fraud.
Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewExhibit D
How much do Virginia criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Virginia · 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 Virginia are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Virginia work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Va. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (federal, capital, white-collar) use hourly billing. The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and circuit public defender offices represent indigent defendants.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit E
What your Virginia criminal defense compensation can include
A Virginia 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 insufficient evidence, Commonwealth’s nolle prosequi, or speedy trial dismissal.
Charge Reduction
Reduction from felony to misdemeanor, from higher Class (1, 2) to lower (5, 6), removal of mandatory minimum allegations including firearm enhancement (§ 18.2-53.1).
First Offender / Deferred Disposition
First Offender Drug Program (§ 18.2-251 — completion = dismissal). First Offender Assault on Family Member (§ 18.2-57.3 — completion = dismissal). Underage Possession deferred (§ 4.1-305). Drug court, mental health docket, veterans court.
Plea Agreement
Negotiated resolution under Va. R. 3A:8. Includes charge reductions, dismissed counts, sentencing within Virginia Sentencing Guidelines, suspended time, and probation in lieu of incarceration. Alford pleas recognized.
Trial Acquittal
Not guilty verdict by Virginia jury or judge. Virginia criminal juries are 12 for Circuit Court felonies, 7 for misdemeanors, and must be unanimous (Va. Const. Art. I, § 8). Bench trial is the default unless jury demanded.
Post-Conviction Relief
Virginia state habeas under § 8.01-654 — 1-year filing window from finality. Writ of Actual Innocence (§ 19.2-327.10 et seq.) for newly discovered evidence. 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
Virginia criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Virginia attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Virginia
Same Virginia rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
