Best Chicago DUI Attorneys

After an arrest, DUI lawyers in Chicago handle two cases at once: the criminal charge and your driver's license. They defend first offenses, repeat and felony charges, and drug-related DUI. A defense attorney can test whether the stop was legal and whether breath or blood results hold up. That can mean a dismissal, a lesser charge, or less time off the road. Most will talk through a case for free before you hire them.

Listed Chicago 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 Chicago DUI Defense Attorneys for Cook County Courts & License Hearings

Screenshot of the Ktenas DUI Lawyers Website
739 S Western Ave Ste E, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Chicago DUI Lawyers is the trade name of Ktenas Law, a drunk driving and criminal defense practice founded in 2017. All three attorneys, Alex, Nick, and Lauren Ktenas, are former prosecutors in Cook County and Will County.

The team takes first-offense, felony, and CDL DUI cases, plus aggravated DUI charges tied to a fatal crash. Every case review checks the traffic stop, the arrest, breath and blood testing, and police procedure. The firm also files petitions to rescind a statutory summary suspension before it starts on day 46.

Besides its Chicago office, Ktenas Law has locations in Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homewood, and Frankfort. Gun, drug, and theft charges round out the practice.

Screenshot of the O'Meara Law LLC Website
53 W Jackson Blvd STE 919, Chicago, IL 60604, USA

Michael O'Meara handled thousands of cases as a Cook County assistant state's attorney before switching sides. He now runs O'Meara Law as a solo practice and has more than two decades of legal experience.

As a DUI defense lawyer in Chicago, Attorney O'Meara has challenged field sobriety tests, chemical reports, and body-cam footage. One Cook County DUI case ended in a reduction to reckless driving. In each case, he aims to avoid jail, reduce or dismiss charges, and protect the client's license.

The National Trial Lawyers named him to its Top 100 Trial Lawyers list. He also defends drug, weapons, and sex crime charges.

Screenshot of the The Toney Law Firm, LLC Website
134 N LaSalle St Ste 225, Chicago, IL 60602, USA

The Toney Law Firm is a DUI and criminal defense practice led by trial attorney Sarah Toney, who also teaches law. Her team defends misdemeanor, felony, and federal charges in Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, Will, and Lake counties.

DUI work covers first and second offenses, extreme and drug DUI, and crashes that caused injuries. The firm also represents drivers at license reinstatement hearings.

Attorney Toney holds an AV Preeminent rating and has earned Super Lawyers Top 100 and Top 50 Women honors. She has served as president-elect of the Illinois State Bar Association. Fox 32, WGN, and ABC 7 have asked her to comment on high-profile criminal cases.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Mitch Furman Website
77 W Wacker Dr Ste 4500, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

Speedy trial demands and breath-test challenges are regular tools for Mitch Furman. In one Cook County case, the State missed its 160-day deadline, and the court dismissed every DUI charge.

Attorney Furman has more than 20 years of practice and has taken hundreds of trials to verdict. He appears in Cook, Will, and DuPage County courts. His downtown office also handles divorce and personal injury cases.

Screenshot of the Fenbert & Associates Website
10 S La Salle St Ste 3702, Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Fenbert & Associates is a criminal defense firm that has served Chicago and Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will counties since 2015. Founding attorney Richard Fenbert defends DUI and traffic cases, along with federal fraud, gun, and drug charges.

He prepares every case as if it will go to trial, in state or federal court. Clients can reach him 24/7, and the firm keeps a second office in Elmhurst.

Screenshot of the Mark Sciblo Law Office Website
5945 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60646, USA

Since opening his Northwest Side practice in 1994, Mark Sciblo has handled over 900 felony and misdemeanor DUI cases. He has also handled more than 1,000 Secretary of State hearings to restore driving privileges.

Attorney Sciblo wrote the book "DUI Jury Trial: A True Story." He serves clients in English and Polish.

Screenshot of the The Chicago DUI Attorneys Website
1655 S Blue Island Ave Suite 324, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

The Chicago DUI Attorneys is a division of The Longe Law Firm, a criminal defense practice on the Lower West Side. Principal attorney Gbenga Longe is a former Cook County assistant state's attorney and a Super Lawyers Rising Star.

The firm has won not-guilty verdicts in drunk driving trials. Its lawyers appear at the Maywood, Rolling Meadows, Bridgeview, Markham, and Skokie courthouses.

Screenshot of the Uche Litigation - Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney Chicago Website

Nenye Uche has tried more than 500 cases to verdict, from DUI and criminal charges to civil rights claims. His courtroom work has drawn coverage from CNN, the Chicago Tribune, and the BBC.

Attorney Uche is listed in The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. His firm also takes personal injury and police misconduct cases.

Screenshot of the Villalobos & Associates Website
1620 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

Villalobos & Associates is a Pilsen law firm offering DUI and criminal defense in English and Spanish. Founder Raul Villalobos began his career trying cases as a Cook County prosecutor and has more than 40 years of experience.

In one case, the team won a DUI acquittal after cross-examination showed the State could not prove who was driving.

Screenshot of the G&S DUI Attorneys at Law Website
33 N Dearborn St #1950, Chicago, IL 60602, USA

Michael Gruszeczki and Dustin Smith, both former prosecutors, built their practice around drunk driving and license cases. G&S handles first and repeat offenses, felony DUI, and challenges to statutory summary suspensions.

The partners also help eligible drivers get restricted driving permits. Spanish-speaking help is available, and a second office operates in Glen Ellyn.

Screenshot of the Goldman & Associates Website
180 N La Salle St Ste 3650, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

Goldman & Associates is a criminal and DUI defense firm with offices in Chicago, Skokie, and Waukegan. Newsweek named it one of the nation's 14 best criminal defense firms. Steven Goldman takes calls 24/7.

Screenshot of the Harold L Wallin Website
33 N Dearborn St # 502, Chicago, IL 60602, USA

Harold L. Wallin is a Chicago DUI attorney with more than three decades of trial experience. He holds an AV Preeminent rating and handles license reinstatement and order-of-protection cases.

Screenshot of the Adam Grosch Attorney At Law Website
9760 S Roberts Rd, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA

From a Palos Hills office, Adam Grosch defends DUI, drug, and domestic violence charges across the south suburbs. He also handles suspended and revoked driver's licenses.

Screenshot of the Feldman Criminal Defense Website
5419 N Sheridan Rd #113, Chicago, IL 60640, USA

Stephen J. Feldman is an Edgewater criminal lawyer and DUI hearing officer. He has presided over more than 1,000 hearings on restoring suspended or revoked licenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Chicago?

Often a flat fee. The price depends on the charge, your record, and whether the case goes to trial. An aggravated charge or a jury trial costs more than a first offense that resolves early.

What happens to my license after a DUI arrest in Illinois?

It is suspended on day 46. A failed or refused chemical test triggers a statutory summary suspension. First offenders lose their license for 6 months after a failed test and 12 months after a refusal. Drivers with a DUI or suspension in the past five years face 12 or 36 months.

How do I challenge the suspension?

File a petition to rescind. It must be filed within 90 days of the suspension notice. The court then has 30 days to hold a hearing. Filing does not pause the suspension, so act early.

Is a first DUI a felony in Illinois?

No, it is a Class A misdemeanor. It carries up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Many first offenders qualify for court supervision, which avoids a conviction. Supervision is available only once in a lifetime.

What are the penalties for a second or third DUI?

They rise fast. A second conviction brings 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service. A second offense within 20 years also means at least a five-year revocation. A third DUI is a Class 2 felony with a possible prison term of 3 to 7 years.

Can I drive while my license is suspended?

First offenders often can. They may apply for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit and install a breath alcohol ignition interlock device. Drivers who are not first offenders do not qualify for this permit.

Can a DUI be expunged or sealed in Illinois?

Not if it ends in a conviction or supervision. Illinois bars both outcomes from expungement and sealing. A case dismissed or ending in a not-guilty verdict may be eligible.

Types of DUI Charges in Chicago

First-offense DUI. Arrests inside city limits go to the Traffic Division at the Daley Center. Suburban Cook County arrests are heard in the municipal district where the stop happened.

Repeat DUI. Prior convictions remove supervision as an option. Mandatory jail or community service applies, and the license revocation grows longer with each offense.

Aggravated DUI. A crash causing great bodily harm, driving on a revoked license, or a third offense turns the case into a felony. Those cases from Chicago move to the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Cannabis and drug DUI. Illinois sets a THC limit of 5 nanograms per milliliter of whole blood within two hours of driving. Prescription drugs can also support a charge if they impair driving.

CDL DUI. Commercial drivers face a 0.04 alcohol limit while operating a commercial vehicle. A conviction can disqualify the CDL even after an arrest in a personal car.

Underage DUI. Illinois has zero tolerance for drivers under 21. Any trace of alcohol can cost a young driver their license.

How to Choose a DUI Lawyer in Chicago

Ask who runs the license hearing. The suspension and the criminal charge move on separate tracks. One attorney should manage both, with the same strategy.

Match the lawyer to your courthouse. A city arrest means the Daley Center. A suburban arrest may land in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, or Markham. Ask how often the attorney appears in your cases.

Ask about trials. Some offices resolve nearly every case by plea. Ask how many DUI cases the lawyer has tried before a judge or jury.

Test their grasp of the evidence. Breath machines need maintenance records. Blood draws follow strict handling rules. A good lawyer requests those documents early.

Get the fee terms in writing. Confirm whether trial, motions, and the rescission hearing cost extra.

Factors That Shape DUI Outcomes in Illinois

No two DUI cases end the same way. Judges look at your record, your alcohol level, and whether a crash hurt anyone. A reading of 0.16 or higher brings extra mandatory penalties. A child passenger raises the stakes further. On the defense side, an unlawful stop or faulty testing can weaken the State's evidence. A reduction to reckless driving avoids the mandatory revocation that follows a DUI conviction. Whether that is possible depends on the facts and the witnesses.

DUI Law Firms in Other Cities