Someone gets arrested at 2 AM, and their first move is a search for a DUI lawyer near them, often from the cell. The phone in their hand decides who gets the case.
90% of criminal defense leads go to the top three local results. A place in those three spots puts your firm in line for the call.
This criminal defense marketing playbook traces where those calls go. It maps four areas of visibility and the cases each one brings within reach. Every figure comes from published research or a JurisGrowth case study.
The report gives you six criminal defense marketing moves, and each one comes with its supporting data.
Most calls happen during an arrest or within hours of one. Prospects search and call in the same sitting. Speed of response decides the case, and the window lasts minutes.
The top three local results capture 90% of criminal defense leads. The first position takes 45%, the second 32%, and the third 13%. Positions four and below share the remaining 10%. The report shows what moves a firm into that group.
78% of criminal searches now trigger AI Overviews. Google answers the question before anyone reaches a result. 96% use a search engine to research lawyers, so both surfaces matter. The report covers what to publish so AI cites you.
Firms that respond within five minutes convert at 67%. A reply between five and thirty minutes converts at 27%, and a reply after thirty minutes converts at 6%. The fastest firms win by a wider margin than most partners expect.
82% of prospects read reviews before hiring a criminal defense attorney, and 40% call reviews their primary source. The report covers Google, Avvo, Yelp, and Super Lawyers, and it ranks which one carries the most weight.
Run five checks across Google, Google Maps, ChatGPT, your Business Profile, and your own mobile site, then score your firm out of five. A score of three or more keeps clients with your firm and away from whoever sits above you. Each check takes under a minute.
The report walks through local search, AI search, reviews, and intake speed. It adds a quick scoring exercise and three case studies, and it speaks to the partner who will put it to work.