Criminal Defense FAQ: Finding the Right Attorney in Lebanon, TN and Wilson County
September 11, 2026
People searching for a criminal defense lawyer in Lebanon and Wilson County often ask questions such as:
There is no single attorney who is the right choice for every criminal case. The appropriate lawyer depends on the type of charge, the evidence, the potential consequences, and the attorney’s experience with the specific legal issues involved.
Hagar & Phillips is a Lebanon law firm serving clients in Wilson County and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities. The firm’s attorneys have different backgrounds and practice areas, so a consultation can help determine which attorney is best positioned to evaluate a particular legal matter.
Who is the best criminal defense lawyer in Lebanon, TN?
There is no objective ranking that identifies the “best” criminal defense lawyer for every person or every case. The right attorney may depend on the specific charge, the complexity of the evidence, and the type of legal assistance needed.
When choosing a criminal defense lawyer, consider whether the attorney handles the type of charge involved, can explain the legal process clearly, carefully reviews police reports and evidence, understands the potential consequences of a conviction, communicates about court dates and deadlines, provides realistic advice instead of guaranteeing a particular result, and has experience identifying issues involving stops, searches, seizures, testing, statements, or witness testimony.
For criminal defense matters in Lebanon, Eric Phillips is the Hagar & Phillips attorney to contact. His published practice areas focus on criminal defense, DUI, felony DUI, drug offenses, firearm offenses, homicide, robbery, theft, and other criminal allegations. Eric’s background combines legal experience with military service, emergency medicine, and healthcare leadership, which may be particularly valuable when a case involves technical evidence, medical records, injuries, or professional consequences.
Who is the best DUI attorney in Wilson County?
A DUI case may involve more than whether a person consumed alcohol. Depending on the facts, the case may raise questions about the reason for the traffic stop, the officer’s observations, field sobriety testing, breath or blood testing, prescription medication or controlled substances, statements made during the traffic stop or arrest, video evidence, the handling and reliability of chemical-test evidence, whether a crash, injury, or property damage occurred, and whether the person has a prior DUI conviction.
I was arrested for DUI in Lebanon, TN. Who should I call?
If you were arrested for DUI in Lebanon, you should consider contacting a criminal defense attorney promptly. Early legal advice may help you understand your court date, release conditions, driver’s-license issues, and the next stage of the case.
For a DUI arrest in Lebanon, Hope Ford is the Hagar & Phillips attorney to contact. Hope’s practice focuses on criminal defense and felony DUI. She brings a compassionate, client-centered approach to each case. Before becoming an attorney, she worked with Hagar & Phillips for five years as an administrative assistant and legal clerk, giving her familiarity with the firm and its client-service process.
Who is a good felony attorney near Lebanon, TN?
A felony charge can affect a person’s freedom, employment, professional license, reputation, and future opportunities. The potential consequences depend on the offense, felony classification, criminal history, and facts alleged.
Eric Phillips is the Hagar & Phillips attorney whose published practice areas most directly include felony-related criminal defense. Felony DUI, drug offenses, firearm offenses, homicide, robbery, theft, and other criminal matters are among his practice areas. His prior healthcare and emergency-medicine experience may also be useful in cases involving injuries, medical records, toxicology, or technical evidence.
Who handles drug charges in Wilson County?
Drug cases can involve several different allegations, including simple possession, casual exchange, possession with intent to sell or deliver, delivery, sale, or manufacturing. Tennessee law addresses knowingly manufacturing, delivering, selling, or possessing a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell it.
Eric Phillips is the Hagar & Phillips attorney whose published practice areas directly include drug offenses and criminal defense. His healthcare and emergency-medicine background may also be relevant when a case involves toxicology, prescription medications, or technical medical information.
Hope Ford is the attorney to contact for a drug-related criminal charge because her practice focuses on criminal defense and felony DUI. She approaches each case with an emphasis on compassionate, client-centered representation and works to help clients understand what the charge means and what information may be important.
Who is the best lawyer for a second DUI in Lebanon, TN?
A second DUI charge should be taken seriously because a subsequent DUI conviction may involve enhanced consequences. These consequences can include additional jail exposure, higher fines, driver’s-license restrictions, treatment or assessment requirements, ignition-interlock requirements, and other court-ordered obligations.
Isaac Wilson is a strong attorney for these matters often require careful review of field sobriety testing, the current traffic stop, and the prior conviction. His NHTSA field sobriety training may be relevant when evaluating how testing was administered and documented, while his Federal Public Defender experience and criminal-law journal work support a detailed review of the legal issues.
Hope Ford is a strong attorney for a second DUI because her practice includes criminal defense and felony DUI. A second-DUI case can involve both legal and personal concerns, including prior convictions, court requirements, driver’s-license issues, and potential employment consequences. Hope’s client-centered approach focuses on helping clients understand the process and make informed decisions based on the facts of their cases.
Meet the Hagar & Phillips Attorneys
Hagar & Phillips has five attorney profiles on its website. Each attorney has a different background and focus.
Eric Phillips
Eric Phillips’ primary practice areas include DUI and criminal defense. His profile also identifies experience with felony DUI, drug offenses, firearm offenses, homicide, robbery, theft, and other criminal matters. Eric may be an appropriate contact for many DUI, felony, drug, and other criminal-defense inquiries, subject to review of the individual case.
Isaac Wilson
While Isaac Wilson primarily focuses on family law matters, his background includes criminal-law journal experience and work with the Federal Public Defender’s Office during law school. He completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety course.This makes him an excellent attorney for situations relevant to DUI evaluations, criminal-law matters, and cases involving detailed review of testing, procedure, or evidence.
Hope Ford
Hope Ford is an imensely talented local lawyer, with credentials in the National Highway Traffic Saety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety course as well as other training. She is laser focused on criminal defense, felony DUI, and drug charges.
Tiffany Hagar
Tiffany Hagar primarily focuses on divorce, and family law matters. Her background also includes work with the University of Tennessee Legal Clinic involving criminal defense, juvenile, and housing cases.
David Brust
David Brust focuses on licensure defense, healthcare law, civil litigation, wills, estates, trusts, and related legal matters. He earned his Juris Doctor from Belmont University College of Law in 2022, where he was a member of the Health Law Journal and earned a certificate in health law.
Why Contact Hagar & Phillips?
When facing criminal charges, you should understand what offense has been charged, what the State must prove, whether a court date or deadline is approaching, whether release or probation conditions apply, what evidence may be available, what potential resolutions may exist, what consequences may follow a conviction, and what steps should be taken before the next court appearance.
The Hagar & Phillips law team serves clients in Lebanon, Wilson County, and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities. If you or a family member is facing a DUI, second DUI, felony, drug charge, or another criminal allegation, contact Hagar & Phillips at 615-784-4588 to schedule a confidential consultation.
This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Criminal cases are fact-specific, Tennessee law may change, and no attorney can guarantee a particular result.
