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3 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Palm Desert (2026)

Ranked by real Google ratings and review volume · How we chose

Lorian Hartfield
By Lorian Hartfield, Real Estate and Financial Expert · ✓ Updated · 7 min read

We compared 18 criminal defense lawyers in Palm Desert on Google Maps · 3 listed · How we rank

An arrest tends to arrive without warning, and the first call you make shapes everything that follows. The criminal defense lawyers in Palm Desert listed here carry more than 240 Google reviews between them, with ratings from 4.8 to a perfect 5.0, so the stars barely separate them. What does is the kind of case each firm's clients describe, from sealed records to DUI and traffic citations. The offices are in Palm Desert, Palm Springs and La Quinta.

Short answer: Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell in Palm Springs leads, rated 5.0 from more than 95 Google reviews, with clients describing dismissed cases and sealed records. The Mulligan Defense (La Quinta, 4.9) and Law Offices of Soda & Greenberg (Palm Desert, 4.8) follow. One Shaffer Cormell reviewer mentions a payment plan, but none of the firms publishes fees.
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Defense Firms of the Coachella Valley, Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell 5.0 ★ 100 Dismissals, record sealing and tickets View ›
2 The Mulligan Defense 4.9 ★ 72 Free consultation, board-certified specialist View ›
3 Law Offices of Soda & Greenberg 4.8 ★ 70 Palm Desert office, DMV and bilingual help View ›
3 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Palm Desert (2026)

Meet the firms

LA
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell

5.0100 Google reviews

Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell is a Palm Springs criminal defense practice whose site covers criminal defense, DUI defense and traffic ticket defense. The site says it works in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial and Kern counties. Its client reviews describe arrests, multiple open cases, record sealing and traffic citations.

What people praise

  • A client with six open cases, including a DUI, says all six were dropped and the records sealed
  • Another reviewer says the firm successfully petitioned the court to seal an arrest record
  • A commercial driver says the firm helped him keep his license and his trucking job
  • Clients praise regular updates by phone and email
  • One client mentions the firm was willing to set up a payment plan

Worth knowing

  • The office is in Palm Springs, not Palm Desert
  • Some reviewers hired the firm for traffic citations, so not every review is about a serious criminal charge
Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert
Rating5 / 5
Review volume100 · 92nd
Confidencemoderate
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks first on a 5.0 and the largest review base here, and the reviews are the most specific about outcomes. The firm is also the one to ask about a commercial driver's license or a ticket.

Website+1760-922-5051 Directions

3111 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

The Mulligan Defense logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The Mulligan Defense

4.972 Google reviews

The Mulligan Defense is a criminal defense and DUI practice on Calle Estado in La Quinta, led by attorney Joshua Mulligan. Its site says he is a State Bar board certified criminal law specialist and that the firm serves Palm Springs, Indio and the wider Coachella Valley. It offers a free consultation, according to its site.

What people praise

  • Clients say he spent real time on the phone and in person before asking for any money
  • One reviewer says he turned down a payment at a consultation and advised that a smaller matter might not need a lawyer yet
  • A client describes a calm, prepared presence in court
  • A reviewer says the fee stayed as agreed even though the case ran longer than expected

Worth knowing

  • The office is in La Quinta, a short drive from Palm Desert
Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume72 · 81st
Confidenceearly
Recency4 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown96% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A good choice if you want a specialist who explains the plan before any commitment. It ranks second on a smaller review base than Shaffer Cormell, though its 4.9 is close behind.

Website+1760-777-4322 Directions

78-060 Cll Estado #21, La Quinta, CA 92253

LA
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Law Offices of Soda & Greenberg

4.870 Google reviews

Law Offices of Soda & Greenberg works from Village Court in Palm Desert, with a second office in Banning. Its site describes a criminal division covering DUI, drug, violent and theft crimes, plus a civil division for personal injury and family matters. The site offers free initial consultations and says it serves Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

What people praise

  • Clients praise attorney David Greenberg for explaining each step and answering even small questions
  • One client says a weekend call reached a receptionist who started the intake right away
  • A reviewer says the attorney also helped with DMV processes alongside the court case
  • A mother who does not speak English says a team member translated for them

Worth knowing

  • The firm also handles civil, personal injury and family law, so criminal defense is one part of the practice
Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume70 · 75th
Confidenceearly
Recency2 years ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The only firm here with a Palm Desert office, and a sensible local option. It ranks third on the smallest review base, and the reviews we read praise the attorneys' communication more than they describe specific outcomes.

Website+1760-320-2000 Directions

44901 Village Ct Ste A, Palm Desert, CA 92260

4

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What the scorecard shows

Every figure on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown. Rating is the live Google star average. Review volume is how many clients have rated the firm, compared with other firms in the pool. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a rating built on more reviews counts for more. Recency reflects how recently clients are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How do criminal defense lawyers charge in Palm Desert?

None of these firms publishes its fees on the pages we read, so we aren’t listing prices. Cost depends on the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, and how long the case runs. One Shaffer Cormell client mentions a payment plan, and a Mulligan Defense client says they paid a single agreed fee up front. Ask each office for its fee in writing.

Defense lawyers close to you

These offices are in Palm Desert, La Quinta and Palm Springs. The Mulligan Defense says it serves Palm Springs, Indio and the Coachella Valley, and Soda & Greenberg lists a second office in Banning. Looking for a criminal lawyer near me? Each listing has a phone number and map link.

What to ask before you hire

  • Have you handled charges like mine in Riverside County courts?
  • Will you be the attorney appearing in court, or someone else?
  • How is your fee set, and is a payment plan possible?
  • What should I do and avoid before our first meeting?
  • If this involves my driver’s license, can you help with the DMV side as well?

Frequently asked questions

Which of these firms handle DUI cases?

Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell lists DUI defense on its site, The Mulligan Defense describes itself as a criminal defense and DUI practice, and Soda & Greenberg lists DUI offenses among its criminal cases.

Can any of these lawyers help with a traffic ticket or a commercial driver’s license?

Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell lists traffic ticket defense on its site. One client says the firm got a citation dismissed, and a commercial driver says it helped him keep his license. Soda & Greenberg’s client also mentions help with DMV matters.

Which firm says its attorney is a board certified specialist?

The Mulligan Defense’s site says attorney Joshua Mulligan is a State Bar board certified criminal law specialist.

Do any of these firms offer a free first consultation?

Soda & Greenberg’s site says initial consultations are free, and The Mulligan Defense’s site invites a free consultation. Confirm the terms when you call.

Where to call first

Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell is the strongest all-round pick on rating and review volume, while The Mulligan Defense suits people who want a specialist and a free first conversation. For a Palm Desert office, call Soda & Greenberg, and ask every firm how the fee works before you sign.

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