Best Chicago DUI Attorneys

DUI lawyers in Chicago work against a 46-day clock. Your license is suspended automatically on day 46 after a failed or refused test. A petition to rescind is the only way to fight that in court. The defense attorneys below handle the license hearing alongside the criminal case.

We research each listing using public records, verified reviews, and direct evaluation. Our rankings reflect reputation, reliability, and results.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Overall online reputation and verified user feedback

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Top-Rated Chicago DUI Defense Lawyers for Felony Charges & License Hearings

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

Chicago DUI Lawyers operates as Ktenas Law LLC and defends drunk driving and criminal charges across Cook, Will, and DuPage counties. All three attorneys are former Illinois prosecutors.

Founder Alexander Ktenas served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Chicago and Markham. He has litigated hundreds of felony and misdemeanor trials and closely studies NHTSA field sobriety protocols. Nicholas Ktenas graduated magna cum laude and in the top 10 of his class at Northern Illinois University College of Law. Lauren Ktenas is a former Will County prosecutor.

The firm has handled only DUI and criminal defense since 2017. Cases range from first offenses and CDL charges to felony and aggravated DUI. Attorneys appear at the Daley Center, Bridgeview, Markham, Maywood, Skokie, and Rolling Meadows courthouses.

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

Michael O'Meara spent years as a Cook County assistant state's attorney before moving to the defense side. He has over 20 years of legal experience and has handled thousands of criminal cases.

His practice covers DUI, drug charges, weapons cases, sex crimes, and traffic violations. Past results include a Cook County DUI reduced to reckless driving and drug charges dropped. He has challenged field sobriety tests, chemical reports, and police body-cam footage.

The National Trial Lawyers named him to its Top 100 Trial Lawyers list. He runs a solo practice as a Chicago DUI attorney in the Loop, so clients work with him directly rather than an associate.

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

A perfect 10 Avvo rating and two Super Lawyers list placements back Sarah Toney's record at The Toney Law Firm. She has more than 20 years in DUI defense and also teaches as a law professor.

This downtown Chicago DUI firm defends misdemeanor, felony, and federal charges in Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, Will, and Lake counties. Attorneys Craig Campbell and Isabelle Abbott complete the trial team.

Case results include an acquittal on DUI charges and suppressed test results in a DUI death case. The practice also covers license reinstatement and Secretary of State hearings. Attorney Toney has appeared on Fox 32 and WGN to comment on Illinois criminal cases.

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

Two decades of courtroom work stand behind the Law Offices of Mitch Furman. Attorney Furman has taken hundreds of trials to verdict and holds an AV Preeminent rating.

Alongside DUI and criminal defense, the practice covers divorce, personal injury, and civil litigation. Furman appears in Cook, Will, and DuPage County courts and publishes plain-language guides for drivers arrested in the city and its suburbs. Consultations are free.

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

Richard Fenbert defends misdemeanor and felony charges in both state and federal court. He opened this Loop practice in 2015 after working at a national criminal defense and DUI trial firm.

His clients have included physicians, professional athletes, and public figures. Fenbert lectures on DUI defense and takes calls around the clock. The firm serves Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will counties.

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

More than 900 DUI cases since 1994 sit behind Mark Sciblo's record. The Northwest Side attorney also co-wrote a book about a DUI jury trial.

Sciblo handles traffic tickets, license reinstatement hearings, and misdemeanor and felony charges. He earned his J.D. from John Marshall Law School and an M.B.A. from Dominican University. Staff serves clients in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, and English.

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

A division of The Longe Law Firm, this practice concentrates on drunk driving defense. Principal attorney Gbenga Longe and his team are former Cook County prosecutors who once built these cases from the other side.

They have earned Super Lawyers Rising Stars recognition and won not-guilty verdicts at trial. Work runs from the arrest through motions to suppress and trial. Case reviews cost nothing.

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

Nenye Uche has tried more than 500 cases to verdict across criminal, DUI, and civil rights matters. As a Cook County prosecutor, he handled over a thousand criminal and DUI cases before switching sides.

His wins include a not-guilty DUI verdict at the Daley Center and an appellate reversal in People v. Litwin. The firm also takes injury claims with no fee unless the client wins.

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

Founded in 1995, Villalobos & Associates has served generations of families on Chicago's Lower West Side. Raul Villalobos began his career at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and became head felony prosecutor at 26th and California. The firm covers DUI, criminal defense, traffic, family law, immigration, and real estate, with attorneys who speak Spanish and Polish.

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

Few Chicago practices take drunk driving cases and nothing else. G&S does. Attorneys Michael Gruszeczki and Dustin Smith both prosecuted for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Gruszeczki graduated at the top of his class at DePaul University College of Law. Their work centers on motions to suppress evidence, bench trials, and jury trials.

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

Newsweek has named Goldman & Associates one of the 14 best criminal defense firms in the country. Steven Goldman has practiced for over 20 years and handled thousands of cases, from drunk driving and gun charges to violent crimes. The phones are staffed 24/7, and the firm keeps offices in Chicago, Skokie, and Waukegan.

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

Licensed in Illinois since 1994, Harold Wallin concentrates on DUI defense. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 Avvo score. Wallin represents drivers in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties and appears at Secretary of State reinstatement hearings.

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

Adam Grosch graduated with honors from DePaul College of Law in 1988 and spent nearly ten years prosecuting for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. He opened his own Palos Hills practice in 1998.

Grosch defends drunk driving, drug, and domestic violence charges, plus license suspension and expungement matters. Most of his work runs through the Bridgeview and Markham courthouses, and he serves Cook, Will, DuPage, and Kankakee counties.

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

Stephen Feldman defends criminal and drunk driving charges. He also sits as a Secretary of State hearing officer and has presided over more than 1,000 license reinstatement hearings. He started out as a City of Chicago prosecutor, earned Rising Star recognition, and teaches trial advocacy at John Marshall Law School.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Chicago?

It depends on the charge. Most Chicago DUI attorneys charge a flat fee for a first offense. Felony cases and cases that go to trial cost more. Many firms listed here offer a free first consultation.

What is a statutory summary suspension in Illinois?

An automatic license suspension. It starts on the 46th day after you fail or refuse chemical testing. It is separate from the criminal case and applies even without a conviction. You have 90 days to file a petition to rescind under 625 ILCS 5/2-118.1.

How long will my license be suspended?

Six or twelve months for a first offender. Failing a chemical test brings a six-month suspension. Refusing brings twelve months. Drivers with a prior DUI disposition in the past five years face longer terms, up to 36 months for a refusal.

Is a first DUI a felony in Illinois?

No, it is a Class A misdemeanor. A first offense carries up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $2,500. The charge becomes aggravated DUI, a Class 4 felony or higher, when factors like a prior record or an injury crash apply.

Can I still drive during my suspension?

Often yes, with a device. First offenders may qualify for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit under 625 ILCS 5/6-206.1. The permit requires a breath alcohol ignition interlock in your vehicle. Drivers with a recent DUI disposition are not eligible.

Can a DUI be expunged in Illinois?

Almost never. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions cannot be expunged or sealed. Court supervision does not clear the record either. Only a case that ends in dismissal or a not guilty finding may qualify.

Types of DUI Charges in Chicago

First offense DUI. A Class A misdemeanor, but it still triggers the summary suspension. Most first cases are heard at the Daley Center or a suburban Cook County courthouse.

Second and subsequent DUI. Penalties climb sharply. A second conviction within 20 years brings a minimum five-year revocation and mandatory jail or community service.

Aggravated DUI. Injury crashes, a suspended license, or multiple priors elevate the case to a felony. Some aggravated charges carry no option for probation.

CDL DUI. Commercial drivers face a 0.04 limit, half the standard threshold. A first violation disqualifies the commercial license for a year, even in a personal vehicle.

Underage DUI. Illinois applies zero tolerance to drivers under 21. Any detectable alcohol can suspend a young driver's license.

Drug-related DUI. Cannabis and prescription cases turn on impairment, not just presence in the blood. These charges often hinge on a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation.

How to Choose a DUI Lawyer in Chicago

Ask who handles the license side. The criminal case and the summary suspension are two separate fights. You want one attorney running both.

Check their courthouse. A lawyer who works the Daley Center weekly knows those judges. That matters more than a downtown address.

Ask how many cases they take to trial. Some firms settle nearly everything. Ask directly how often they try a DUI to verdict.

Confirm they know the science. Breath machines need calibration logs. Blood draws follow strict protocol. Good defense work starts there.

Get the fee in writing. Find out whether trial, a suspension hearing, and appeals are included or billed separately.

DUI Penalties and Outcomes in Illinois

Outcomes vary widely by case. Illinois courts weigh your driving record, your blood alcohol level, and whether anyone was hurt. First offenders often qualify for court supervision, which avoids a conviction on the criminal record but still cannot be sealed. A reduction from DUI to reckless driving is a common defense goal, since it spares the mandatory revocation. Whether that is realistic depends on the evidence. Ask a Chicago attorney to review the police reports and testing records.