Reno, NV · Washoe County

Best Lawyers in Reno

Vetted Reno and Washoe County law firms for personal injury, divorce, criminal defense, and business. Real Nevada firms chosen for track record and client care, not ad spend. Browse by your situation and book a free consultation.

$250-450
Avg. Hourly Rate
2 yrs
Injury Deadline (NV)
6 wks
Divorce Residency
NV
Nevada Law Focus

Updated June 3, 2026

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Reno firm profiles are still being added to the directory. The firms below are established NV practices gathered from public sources; ratings shown as "not yet aggregated" will be added as we verify them. For full ranked write-ups, see the Top 10 guides further down.

Personal Injury
Bradley Drendel & Jeanney
Reno · Contingency
Free ConsultationAuto & serious injuryRatings not yet aggregated
Personal Injury
Battle Born Injury Lawyers
Reno · Contingency
Free ConsultationCar & truck accidentsRatings not yet aggregated
Divorce / Family
Surratt Law Practice
Reno · Hourly + retainer
ConsultationDivorce & custodyRatings not yet aggregated
Divorce / Family
Petroni Law Group
Reno · Hourly
ConsultationFamily & divorceRatings not yet aggregated
Criminal / DUI
Carlson & Work
Reno · Flat / Hourly
Free ConsultationCriminal, DUI & familyRatings not yet aggregated
Criminal / DUI
Law Offices of Calvert & Hubach
Reno · Flat
ConsultationDUI & criminal defenseRatings not yet aggregated

Reno Legal Guide

What You Need to Know About Hiring a Lawyer in Reno

Reno is northern Nevada’s legal and economic hub, shaped by tourism and gaming, a fast-growing logistics and tech corridor (the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center brought Tesla and others), the University of Nevada, and a steady inflow of new residents from California. That mix keeps personal injury, family law, criminal defense, and business work busy. Whatever your situation, you want a Washoe County attorney who knows the Second Judicial District Court and Nevada’s deadlines. Here is the plain-English version of what shapes a case in Reno.

$250-$450
Avg. hourly rate (Reno)
2 years
Personal injury SOL (NV)
Community
Property state (divorce)
6 weeks
Divorce residency (NV)

Nevada’s Short Divorce Residency Rule

Reno earned its old nickname as a divorce destination for a reason: Nevada has one of the shortest residency requirements in the country. One spouse only needs to live in the state for six weeks (42 days) before filing under NRS 125.020, proven with an affidavit from a Nevada resident witness. Nevada is also a community property state, so property and debt acquired during the marriage are generally split equally, while separate property owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance stays with the original owner. Fully agreed divorces (a joint petition) can move quickly through Washoe County.

Personal Injury in Nevada

Nevada gives you two years from the date of injury to file most personal injury claims (NRS 11.190), a shorter clock than many states. The state uses modified comparative negligence: you can recover as long as you are not more than 50% at fault, but your award drops by your share of the blame. Claims against a government entity carry their own notice rules. Almost all Reno injury lawyers work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless they recover.

DUI and Criminal Defense in Reno

Reno criminal cases run through the Reno Justice Court and the Second Judicial District Court in Washoe County. Nevada DUI penalties escalate quickly: a first offense can mean jail or community service, fines, a license suspension, and mandatory DUI school, with much stiffer mandatory penalties for a third offense (a felony) or a high blood-alcohol reading. Misdemeanor defense commonly runs $2,500-$6,000; felony defense ranges from roughly $7,500 to $35,000+ depending on the charge and trial exposure.

Reno Courts

The Second Judicial District Court handles civil, criminal, and family matters for Washoe County at the courthouse in downtown Reno; the Reno Justice Court hears misdemeanors, small claims, and preliminary matters. The Nevada Supreme Court and Court of Appeals sit in Carson City and Las Vegas. Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, which has a courthouse in Reno.

What Does a Reno Lawyer Cost?

Reno is a mid-to-upper-priced market. Solo and small-firm attorneys generally charge $250-$375 per hour; specialty and larger firms run $375-$500. Personal injury is almost always contingency (33%-40%). Flat-fee uncontested joint-petition divorces commonly run $1,500-$3,500, while contested cases bill hourly on a $3,000-$7,500 retainer. LLC and business formation often runs $800-$2,500 flat plus the Nevada Secretary of State and business-license fees, which are higher than in many states. Get the fee structure in writing before you hire.

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Top 10 Lawyer Guides for Reno

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