Best Boston DUI Attorneys

DUI lawyers in Boston represent drivers charged with operating under the influence, the term Massachusetts uses. They take first offenses, repeat charges, drugged driving cases, and crashes with injuries. A lawyer can review the stop, question the test results, and handle RMV hearings. The outcome can affect your license, job, and record. Bring the citation and any RMV notice to a first meeting.

Listed Boston DUI Lawyers are ranked by one score, applied the same way to every firm. It draws on public signals, including:

  • Client satisfaction and overall online reputation
  • The volume and consistency of client feedback
  • How established the firm is
  • Peer recognition within the legal community and across the web

Rankings are calculated independently from public data. Paid placements don't change a listing's score.

Leading Boston OUI Defense Lawyers for Breath Test & License Cases

Screenshot of the Law Office of Frank Fernandez, Esq. Website
185 Devonshire St STE 302, Boston, MA 02110, USA

Frank Fernandez is a Boston criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor. Before private practice, he prosecuted cases as a district attorney in St. Louis. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

His defense work spans drug, domestic violence, and white-collar cases. He has served as lead trial counsel in both state and federal courts. His practice reaches district courts across Massachusetts and the Superior Court.

He speaks fluent Spanish and has long served Boston's Latino community. He is available 24/7, and the first consultation is free.

Screenshot of the Contant Law, P.C. Website
10 Cedar St #23, Woburn, MA 01801, USA

From offices in Woburn and Newburyport, Contant Law defends OUI and criminal charges statewide. Attorneys Michael A. Contant and Alexandra Campbell work across Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex counties.

The OUI practice covers first-time charges, OUI accidents, and drivers under 21. The firm also defends students and college employees in Title IX investigations. Clients get Attorney Contant's cell phone number for the length of their case.

Screenshot of the Gilman Law P.C. Website
1000 Mt Laurel Cir Unit 1, Shirley, MA 01464, USA

Gilman Law is a Massachusetts OUI and license suspension practice based in Shirley. Founder Matthew Gilman once worked as a hearings officer at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. He heard more than 17,000 license-suspension cases on the RMV side.

The firm handles only OUI and license matters. That includes breath test refusals, hardship licenses, and Board of Appeal hearings. Its attorneys are NHTSA-certified to administer field sobriety tests. Cases are billed at a flat fee, with payment plans available.

Screenshot of the Cohen Cleary, P.C. Website
122 Dean St, Taunton, MA 02780, USA

Southeastern Massachusetts drivers facing OUI charges can turn to Cohen Cleary in Taunton and Plymouth. The firm's criminal defense team also handles motor vehicle offenses, drug charges, and probation violations. Cases range from misdemeanors to serious felonies.

As a large multi-practice firm, it also covers family, employment, and real estate law. Staff speak both Spanish and Portuguese.

Screenshot of the Rudolf, Smith, Griffis & Ruggieri, LLP Website
446 Main St Suite 1503, Worcester, MA 01608, USA

Rudolf, Smith, Griffis & Ruggieri is a Worcester criminal defense and family law firm. Its attorneys bring more than 70 years of combined experience. Their OUI work covers 24D first-offense programs, CDL charges, and out-of-state DUI cases.

The firm limits its caseload so each client gets personal attention. It serves Worcester, Middlesex, and Hampden counties.

Screenshot of the Milligan & Higgins Website
867 Boylston Street Suite 500, Boston, MA 02116, USA

James Milligan holds ABA-recognized board certification in drunk driving defense. Very few Massachusetts lawyers share that credential. His firm, Milligan & Higgins, works from Rockland, Boston, and North Andover.

The team handles OUI charges at every offense level. It also takes RMV licensing issues, clerk magistrate hearings, and firearm licensing appeals.

Screenshot of the Riccio Law - Criminal Defense Attorney Website

Anthony Riccio is a Quincy OUI lawyer who began his career as a Bristol County prosecutor. He has led dozens of trials, including more than 40 before juries. His OUI work covers first-through-fifth offenses and Melanie's Law cases.

Clients work with him directly instead of a junior associate. He appears in Boston Municipal Court and courts statewide.

Screenshot of the Anthony J. Luzzo, P.C. Website
370 Main St, Suite 900, Worcester, MA 01608, USA

Worcester trial attorney Anthony J. Luzzo appears in court every day. His criminal defense work covers drunk driving, assault, drug, and larceny charges. In OUI cases, he has won motions that kept breath test results out of evidence. He also handles divorce and personal injury cases.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Lefteris K. Travayiakis, P.C. Website

Lefteris K. Travayiakis is a Boston DUI lawyer who also defends major felony charges. His West Roxbury practice focuses on criminal defense across Greater Boston. In drug and gun cases, he has challenged unlawful searches and won dismissals. Super Lawyers has recognized his work.

Screenshot of the DelSignore Law Website
530 Washington St, Stoughton, MA 02072, USA

Michael DelSignore has written two books on Massachusetts OUI law. DelSignore Law has several offices, including Stoughton and Dedham. The National College for DUI Defense honored his work on a key marijuana OUI case.

Screenshot of the Caselden Law Website
111 Rice St, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA

Caselden Law offers flat-fee OUI defense from its Cambridge office. The firm also handles traffic tickets, RMV license suspensions, CDL issues, and record sealing.

Screenshot of the Joseph J. Goldberg-Giuliano, Attorney at Law Website
Dhar Law, LLP, Power House, The Schrafft Center, 529 Main St Suite P200, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA

Joseph Goldberg-Giuliano is a Greater Boston criminal defense attorney in private practice since 2008. He handles OUI, drug, and search-and-seizure cases and also advises cannabis businesses.

Screenshot of the Kelly M. Cusack, Attorney at Law Website

Kelly M. Cusack started her career as a public defender in Barnstable, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties. She defends OUI, gun, and domestic charges. One client won a jury acquittal on a gun charge in Boston Municipal Court.

Screenshot of the Clark and Assoc, LLP Website
79 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

Richard E. Clark is a DWI and OUI attorney serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Clark and Assoc has offices in Newburyport, Portsmouth, and Dover.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does OUI mean in Massachusetts?

It is the state's term for DUI. Massachusetts charges drunk or drugged driving as operating under the influence. The state can prove it with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. They can also rely on evidence of impairment from alcohol or certain drugs.

What are the penalties for a first OUI in Massachusetts?

A fine and possible jail time. A first offense is a misdemeanor. It carries a fine of $500 to $5,000 and up to 2.5 years in a house of correction. Many first-time drivers qualify for the 24D program instead. That route usually means probation, an alcohol education course, and a shorter license loss.

What happens if I refuse a breath test?

The RMV suspends your license. A first refusal brings a 180-day suspension. Refusal is not a separate crime. You generally have 15 days to request a refusal hearing.

Which court will hear my Boston OUI case?

Usually a Boston Municipal Court division. The BMC has eight divisions, including Central, Dorchester, Roxbury, and West Roxbury. An arrest in Cambridge, Quincy, or another nearby city goes to that area's district court.

How much does a Boston DUI attorney cost?

It depends on the charge and whether the case goes to trial. Many OUI lawyers charge a flat fee agreed at the start. Ask whether the fee covers trial, motions, and RMV hearings.

Can I get a hardship license after an OUI arrest?

Often, yes. A hardship license lets you drive during a set 12-hour window each day. Eligibility depends on your record and the type of suspension. Drivers with two or more OUI convictions usually need an ignition interlock device.

Types of OUI Cases in Boston

First-offense OUI. A first case can end in a 24D disposition, a not-guilty verdict, or a dismissal. A defense lawyer can explain which path protects your record best.

Second and repeat offenses. Penalties climb with each prior conviction. A second offense can trigger mandatory jail time and require an ignition interlock.

Under-21 OUI. Drivers under 21 face stricter license rules and longer suspensions. A .02 reading can trigger RMV action for a young driver.

Drugged driving. Marijuana and prescription drug cases can be harder to prove. Breath tests don't measure drug impairment, so officers' observations carry more weight.

OUI with an accident or injury. A crash raises the stakes, especially if someone was hurt. These cases may bring felony charges and longer license loss.

How to Choose a DUI Attorney in Boston

Ask how many OUI cases they try. A trial-ready lawyer gives you a real choice between a plea and a verdict.

Check their RMV experience. License hearings move on a separate track from the court case.

Ask how they challenge test evidence. Breath machines, blood draws, and field sobriety tests all have known weak points.

Confirm local court experience. Familiarity with BMC judges and prosecutors helps in plea talks.

Get the fee in writing. Make sure it lists what is included and what costs extra.

What Affects the Outcome of an OUI Case?

Every case turns on its facts. Key factors include the reason for the traffic stop, the breath test result, and your prior record. A reading of .15 or higher can mean an ignition interlock on a hardship license. An injury crash or a refusal also changes the options. A Boston DUI lawyer can review the police report and explain realistic outcomes.

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