Step 1: Free Case Consultation
We sit down with you to understand the charges, the circumstances, and what's at stake. You'll leave with a clear picture of what to expect and how we plan to defend you.
Criminal & Traffic Law
Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer for Felony and Misdemeanor Charges
When your freedom is on the line, you need a criminal defense attorney unafraid to fight for you.
Villalobos & Associates has defended Chicago clients for decades.
Facing charges in Cook County
Why You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Cook County
A criminal case can move fast, and the decisions you make in the first few days often shape everything that follows. Whether you've been charged with a misdemeanor or a serious felony, the outcome affects your job, your family, your record, and in some cases your ability to stay in the country.
Cook County's criminal courts, including the courthouse at 26th and California, handle an enormous volume of cases every day. Without a local attorney who knows the judges, prosecutors, and procedures, it's easy for your case to get lost in the shuffle or resolved in a way that doesn't reflect your best interests.
Founding attorney Raul Villalobos spent years as a Cook County State's Attorney before becoming the head felony prosecutor at 26th and California. That background gives our clients a real advantage: we know how prosecutors build their cases, and we know exactly where those cases fall apart.
Practice areas
Criminal Charges We Defend Across Chicago and the Surrounding Counties
No two criminal cases are the same, and neither is our approach to defending them. Our criminal defense attorneys have represented clients in nearly every type of criminal matter heard in Cook, DuPage, Will, and Lake county courtrooms, including:
- Assault and aggravated assault charges
- Battery, aggravated battery, and battery to a police officer
- Domestic battery and violation of an order of protection
- Weapons charges, including unlawful use of a weapon (UUW/Agg UUW)
- Drug possession and possession with intent to deliver
- Serious felony charges, including sexual assault, attempted murder, and homicide
Whether you're facing a first-time misdemeanor or a complex felony with forensic evidence, our team prepares every case as if it's headed to trial.
How we build your defense
Our Approach to Criminal Defense, From Arraignment to Trial
Every case starts the same way: with a careful, honest look at the evidence and the charges against you. From there, our felony defense lawyer and misdemeanor defense lawyer team works the case at every stage, not just the parts that are easy.
Step 2: Investigation and Evidence Review
We review police reports, surveillance footage, phone records, and forensic evidence. In many cases, our own investigation uncovers facts the state's attorney's office never considered.
Step 3: Building Your Defense Strategy
We identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case, file the right pretrial motions, and negotiate from a position of strength when a resolution serves you better than a trial.
Step 4: Trial or Resolution
If the state won't offer a fair outcome, we take the case to trial. Our attorneys have tried hundreds of cases in Cook County courtrooms and know how to present your side to a judge or jury.
Why choose our firm
A Local Attorney With Big-Firm Trial Experience
Big-firm results with small-firm attention isn't a slogan we use lightly. Clients come to us because they want a law firm that treats their case like it matters, because it does.
Decades Inside Cook County Courtrooms
Raul Villalobos built his career trying cases at 26th and California, one of the busiest criminal courthouses in the country. That experience shapes how our whole team prepares every case.
Se Habla Español
Our office sits in the heart of Pilsen on 18th Street, and we're proud to offer a Spanish speaking lawyer for clients and families who are more comfortable discussing their case in Spanish.
A Record Our Clients Can Point To
From dismissed murder charges to reduced sentences and full acquittals, our results speak for themselves. We're glad to walk you through outcomes similar to your situation during your consultation.
Common questions
Criminal Defense Questions From Chicago Clients
Here are answers to questions we hear often from clients and families facing criminal charges in Cook, DuPage, Will, and Lake counties.
Answers
What's the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony charge in Illinois?
Misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of less than one year in jail and generally include lower-level offenses like simple battery. Felonies carry a minimum sentence of one year or more in prison and include charges like aggravated battery, weapons offenses, and homicide. The stakes, procedures, and potential penalties differ significantly, which is why it matters to have a lawyer who handles both.
Should I talk to the police before hiring a criminal defense lawyer?
No. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, and you should use both. Politely tell officers you want to speak with your lawyer before answering any questions, then call us right away. Anything said before you have legal representation can be used against you later.
What happens at my first court appearance in Cook County?
Your first appearance is usually a bond hearing or arraignment, where the judge formally reads the charges, sets or reviews bail, and schedules future court dates. Having an attorney present at this stage can make a real difference in whether you're released and under what conditions.
Can a felony defense lawyer get my charges reduced or dismissed before trial?
In many cases, yes. Weak evidence, procedural errors, or new information can lead prosecutors to reduce or dismiss charges before a case ever reaches a jury. Our attorneys review every case for these opportunities while also preparing as though the case will go to trial, so you're never caught unprepared.
Where we practice
Criminal Defense Representation Throughout Cook, DuPage, Will, and Lake Counties
Villalobos & Associates represents clients facing criminal charges throughout the Chicagoland area. Our attorneys regularly appear in courtrooms across the following communities:
Don't Face Criminal Charges Alone
A criminal charge moves quickly, and so should your defense. Call Villalobos & Associates today for a free, confidential consultation with a trial lawyer who has spent decades fighting for clients across Chicago and the surrounding counties.
