Best Minneapolis MN Criminal Defense Lawyers

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Why These Minneapolis Criminal Lawyers?

We help connect consumers with top-rated criminal defense attorneys in Minneapolis. To determine which are the best of the best, we scored each criminal defense attorney or law firm across a half-dozen metrics covering three categories. Each firm or attorney’s results were analyzed to bring you a handpicked list of the very best criminal defense lawyers in Minneapolis.

  • Attorneys reviewed: 18
  • Top picks: 5

If you or a loved one have been arrested, do not delay seeking the assistance of an attorney. The sooner an attorney can get involved in your case, the better your chances of having a strong defense.

The attorney you hire may start right away, studying the authorities’ against you, doing legal research, and preparing legal motions. That’s why the sooner they begin, the better, as they work to chip away at the prosecution’s case against you.

Skilled criminal defense attorneys in Minneapolis handle everything from DUIs to simple misdemeanors to white-collar crimes to violent felonies. Get the best legal defense in Minneapolis by choosing from this list of best criminal defense attorneys.

Read the profiles below and choose the attorney or law firm that best aligns with your needs.

Best Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyers

Here are the best criminal defense law firms and attorneys in Minneapolis:

  1. Gerald Miller Law Firm
  2. Appelman Law Firm
  3. Christopher Keyser
  4. Wilson & Clas
  5. Lauren Campoli

Best Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyers for 2021

If you or a loved one are looking for an outstanding criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis, these lawyers are the best of the best.

Gerald Miller Law Firm

2915 S Wayzata Boulevard

Minneapolis, MN 55405

Phone: (612) 440-4610

The four attorneys practicing at Gerald Miller Law Firm have a combined 50-plus years of experience, led by founding partner Gerald Miller, one of the most respected attorneys in the Twin Cities area. The firm maintains a 10.0 rating on Avvo, and its attorneys have been honored by groups like SuperLawyers, the National Trial Lawyers, and the National College for DUI Defense.

Their primary criminal defense practice area is in DWI, but they also defend clients accused of assault, drug crimes, domestic violence, forgery, gun crimes, fraud, robbery, theft, and more.

Visit law firm website: https://geraldmillerlawyer.com/

Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GeraldMillerPA


Appelman Law Firm

4501 Minnetonka Blvd, #100

St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Phone: (352) 224-2277

The two attorneys of Appelman Law Firm are devoted entirely to the practice of criminal defense. Partner Eric Dootlittle spent the early part of his career as Assistant Carver County Attorney, which gave him unique insight in how defense attorneys can successfully pick apart a prosecutor’s case.

They defend clients accused of crimes like DWI, sex crimes, traffic offenses, theft, drug crimes, prostitution, violent crimes, and juvenile crimes. From their St. Louis Park office, the firm’s attorneys handle cases all around the Minneapolis area, including the cities of Edina, Eden Prairie, Robbinsdale, and more.

Visit law firm website: https://aacriminallaw.com/

Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/appelman.law


Christopher Keyser

400 South 4th Street, Suite 806M

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone: (612) 338-5007

Attorney Christopher Keyser has been certified by the Minnesota Bar Association as a criminal law specialist, which puts him in the top three percent of attorneys in the state who are specialists in their field. He was named a rising star by Minnesota SuperLawyers, and he’s been honored by the National Trial Lawyers.

Keyser’s primary practice areas are DWI, assault, drug offenses, probation violation, robbery, solicitation, fraud, burglary, and military defense. He has a 10.0 rating on Avvo and has received a high rating from Martindale-Hubbell. His main office is in Minneapolis, but he sees clients in Stillwater by appointment.

Visit law firm website: https://www.keyserdefense.com/

Visit law firm Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/keyserlaw


Wilson & Clas

201 Sixth Street Southeast, Suite 210

Minneapolis, MN 55414

Phone: (612) 910-2104

Wilson & Clas is a boutique criminal defense firm, which means they take on fewer cases so that each one can have the utmost attention from both partners in the firm. Both partners have deep roots in Minnesota, having graduated from colleges in the state.

Their primary practice areas include assault, DUI, drug crimes, stalking, juvenile crimes, sex crimes, probation violation, theft, and more. From their north Minneapolis office, they handle cases from around the state, including Brooklyn Center, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Edina, and more.

Visit law firm website: https://www.wilsoncd.com/


Lauren Campoli

7300 France Ave. S. Suite 405

Edina, MN 55435

Phone: (612) 810-0060

Attorney Lauren Campoli is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a criminal law specialist, an achievement only three percent of attorneys in the state can claim. Though her law practice is relatively new among the firms on this list, she has handled hundreds of cases, including dozens of criminal jury trials. Campoli’s clients boast an 87 percent acquittal rate in state court.

She handles cases for clients accused of a range of criminal offenses, including DWI, drug crimes, theft, homicide, domestic violence, and she’s experienced in handling cases with juvenile defendants. Her primary office is in Edina, but she also has a location in downtown Minneapolis.

Visit law firm website: https://campolidefense.com/firm-overview/

Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/whatsmydefense/


What Types of Crimes Are Most Common in Minneapolis?

About 24,000 crimes were reported in Minneapolis in 2019, the most recent year for federal data on crime across the country. Like other cities and every state, property crimes are much more common in Minneapolis than violent crimes. In fact, more than eight in 10 crimes in Minneapolis in 2019 were property-related incidents, and larceny-theft alone accounted for nearly 60 percent of all crimes.

On a population-adjusted basis, violent crimes took place at a rate of 926 per 100,000 people in Minneapolis, while property crime occurred at a rate of about 4,500 per 100,000. In Minneapolis, as in most big cities, crime rates are higher than they are at the national level. The violent crime rate in the U.S. is 367 per 100,000 people, while the property crime rate is about 2,100 per 100,000.

Crimes in Minneapolis, by number and per 100,000 people

Crime Number Per 100,000 people
All violent crimes 3,990 926
Murder 46 11
Rape 459 106
Robbery 1,289 299
Aggravated assault 2,196 509
All property crimes 19,469 4,517
Burglary 3,397 788
Larceny-theft 13,172 3,056
Motor vehicle theft 2,900 673
Arson 75 17

Compared to other major cities in Minnesota, crime rates in Minneapolis tend to be on the high side. The city ranks in the top half among the 10 biggest cities in the state when it comes to the crime rate for every crime category, and it’s first for most of them. That includes murder, overall violent crimes, and overall property crimes. But the broader metro area compares much more favorably to other cities and metro areas across the country. In fact, compared to the 60 biggest cities in the country, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, which includes Bloomington and portions of Wisconsin, does not rank in the top half for any crime category. Its highest national ranking is in rape and larceny-theft, two categories where the city ranks 31st.

Like many American cities, 2020 represented a surge in many types of crime, and Minneapolis was in many ways the center of this surge. The pandemic and the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer are the events most often blamed for kicking off the 2020 crime surge, which saw murders almost double in the city of Minneapolis. So far, 2021 appears to be on pace to see additional increases in homicide, as well as robbery and aggravated assault.

It’s important to note that police- and FBI-reported data does not cover closed cases or incidents for which a person was convicted.