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Best DUI Defense Attorneys in the United States

DUI lawyers handle two cases from one arrest: a criminal charge and a fight over your license. In some states, the window to request the license hearing runs about a week. Miss it, and the suspension can take effect on its own. The experienced attorneys below work both tracks.

Our team evaluates DUI Lawyers on credentials, track record, and client reviews to help you find a good fit.

  • 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
  • Aggregate satisfaction signals from independent sources

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

Find Top DUI Attorneys Near Me

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Best DUI Law Firms Near Me - Browse By Major Top US Cities:

Leading DWI Lawyers for First Offenses, Felony Charges & License Hearings

Screenshot of the Rossen Law Firm Website
6400 N Andrews Ave #510, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, USA

Rossen Law Firm is a Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyer and criminal defense practice serving Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. Founder Adam Rossen began his career as a prosecutor at the Broward County State Attorney's Office before opening the firm.

The team has handled more than 3,500 cases and logged over 1,000 courtroom victories. Drunk driving cases sit alongside drug charges, domestic violence, sex crimes, theft, and federal cases.

Attorneys challenge breath tests, traffic stops, and arrest procedures. They also move quickly on Florida's 10-day deadline to save a driver's license.

Phones are answered around the clock. Additional offices operate in Boca Raton, Sunrise, Miami, Coral Gables, Doral, Miramar, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens.

Screenshot of the The Davis Law Group, P.C. Website

Few attorneys can say they helped write the statute they now defend against. Larry A. Davis co-drafted the Illinois DUI law and co-authored "Defense of DUI," a continuing legal education text used by lawyers across the state.

Davis has argued impaired-driving cases before the Illinois Appellate Court and the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court has cited his writing. He previously served as a hearing officer, prosecutor, and legal advisor to the Illinois Secretary of State.

That background shapes the firm's second focus: driver's license reinstatement. Thousands of clients have gone through Secretary of State hearings here, including people denied driving relief in the past.

Traffic tickets, expungements, and criminal charges round out the practice. The firm's Chicago DUI attorneys appear in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, and Kane County courthouses.

Screenshot of the DM Cantor Website
40 N Central Ave, Suite 2300, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

More than 7,400 case victories sit behind DM Cantor, including 4,188 in DUI and vehicular crime matters and 171 complete jury trial acquittals.

The Phoenix firm carries three Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialists per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization, and no law firm in the state has more. Founder David Michael Cantor has practiced since 1989 and earned that certification in 1999.

Every misdemeanor and felony case gets at least one specialist handling or supervising the defense. The team also works the forensic ground these cases turn on, from gas chromatography to breath and blood alcohol testing methods.

Ranking Arizona voted the practice first in DUI and vehicular crimes law from 2020 through 2026. A Phoenix DUI attorney is reachable 24/7 for a free initial consultation.

Screenshot of the Drennan Law Firm Website
900 Bowman Rd #304, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA

Serving the Charleston area and the Low Country from Mt. Pleasant, Drennan Law Firm defends hundreds of drunk driving and traffic cases every year.

Attorney John Drennan founded the practice with a focus on impaired-driving defense, and today's team carries on that focus. Clients work directly with their own attorney rather than a rotating group of associates.

Drug charges, professional license defense, and injury claims fill out the practice. Branch offices sit in Charleston and Goose Creek, and case reviews cost nothing.

Screenshot of the Witt Law Group PS Website
400 Warren Ave UNIT 415, Bremerton, WA 98337, USA

Ryan and Jennifer Witt built their Bremerton practice on two things: criminal defense and injury claims. Both are former prosecutors, and the firm reports a 98% success rate on DUI charges, meaning dismissed or reduced.

Cases run through Kitsap and Thurston County courts, including Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Olympia, and Lacey. The team handles physical control, marijuana DUI, boating under the influence, and Department of Licensing hearings.

Offices in Tumwater, Poulsbo, and Vancouver support the main Bremerton location. Staff answers seven days a week.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Michael A. Scafiddi, Inc.  Website
432 N Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92401, USA

A family-founded practice, the Law Offices of Michael A. Scafiddi has fought criminal charges in San Bernardino County for decades. Michael, Megan, and Anthony Scafiddi all practice here, joined by senior trial attorney G. Christopher Gardner.

Alongside drunk driving cases, the office takes drug offenses, domestic violence, sex crimes, murder charges, and post-conviction relief. Michael Scafiddi holds an AV Preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

A second office in Temecula serves clients across Riverside County.

Screenshot of the RTS LAW GROUP Website
715 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA

"Come to us if you don't want to plead guilty" is the line RTS Law Group leads with. Led by Ryan T. Smith, the Charlotte practice covers DWI, traffic citations, revoked licenses, and DMV hearings.

Speeding tickets, reckless driving, and CDL violations fill out the traffic side. The team also takes auto accident and wrongful death claims. Clients can call or text, and consultations are free.

Screenshot of the Stark DUI Lawyers Website

Stark DUI Lawyers is a statewide Indiana OWI defense practice run by Gregg J. Stark, a former drunk driving prosecutor with over 30 years on the defense side.

Stark has fought OWI arrests in every county in the state, from Indianapolis and Lafayette to Bloomington and Crown Point. His work centers on analyzing field sobriety tests, breath tests, and blood draws under Indiana toxicology rules.

Guidance before you hire costs nothing, and calls are answered statewide.

Screenshot of the Stephen P. Pfeiffer Website
4417 Corporation Ln, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, USA

NHTSA certification in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing gives Stephen P. Pfeiffer an angle most Virginia Beach defense lawyers do not have. He completed both the SFST instructor development course and the ARIDE program.

Pfeiffer handles impaired driving, vehicular manslaughter, and federal charges himself from the first call to the court date. Martindale-Hubbell rates him AV Preeminent, and he belongs to the National College for DUI Defense.

Screenshot of the Johnen & Holevoet Law Offices Website
44 E Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

From downtown Madison, Johnen & Holevoet Law Offices defends OWI and DUI charges for clients across Wisconsin.

The firm also takes underage drinking tickets, speeding and traffic defense, drug offenses, and Wisconsin pardon applications. Sasa Johnen and John Holevoet lead the team, and case evaluations are free.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. Website
4533 Van Nuys Blvd Suite 202, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, USA

More than 25 attorneys, among them former judges, prosecutors, and police, staff the Law Offices of David S. Chesley from its Sherman Oaks base.

The firm reports that 95% of its drunk driving clients receive no jail time, and it has won Avvo's Clients' Choice Award for 16 straight years. Attorneys appear daily in courts throughout California.

Screenshot of the The Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson Website
3455 Peachtree Rd NE #500, Atlanta, GA 30326, USA

Richard S. Lawson has resolved more than 5,000 Georgia impaired driving cases across 30-plus years, and he prosecuted them before he defended them.

His Atlanta practice takes drunk driving work and little else. Six offices cover metro Atlanta and North Georgia, and the team fields weekend calls to cover Monday court dates.

Screenshot of the Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC Website

Joseph, Hollander & Craft defends impaired driving charges in Lawrence Municipal Court, Douglas County District Court, and courthouses nearby.

Its attorneys bring decades of jury-trial experience, plus experience with suppression motions and challenges to breath and blood results. The firm also represents drivers at license revocation hearings, which Kansas requires within 14 days of arrest. Five offices span Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Penny Wymyczak-White Website
1415 Louisiana St 18th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Penny Wymyczak-White is a Houston criminal defense attorney with over 20 years in Texas law. She works as a solo practitioner, so clients deal with her directly at every stage.

DWI cases, license suspension, and drug charges form the core of her practice across Harris County and neighboring counties. She takes calls 24 hours a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a DUI lawyer cost?

Usually a flat fee. Most DUI defense attorneys quote one price for the case rather than billing hourly. Fees commonly run from a few thousand dollars for a first misdemeanor to much more for a felony or a trial. Ask what the quote covers, since license hearings and expert witnesses are often billed separately.

How long does a DUI case take?

A few months, typically. A first offense resolved by plea often wraps up in two to four months. Contested cases with motions or a jury trial can run a year or longer. The license side moves faster, and that deadline usually hits within days of the arrest.

What is the deadline to save my driver's license?

Short, and it varies by state. Washington gives drivers seven days to request a Department of Licensing hearing. Kansas allows 14 days, Florida 10, and Georgia 30. The clock starts at arrest, not at your first court date.

Do I need a lawyer for a first offense?

Often yes. A first conviction still creates a permanent record in most states. It can raise insurance rates, block certain jobs, and complicate travel. Attorneys also spot procedural problems that a person representing themselves would miss.

What do DUI, DWI, and OWI mean?

Same conduct, different labels. States use driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, or operating while intoxicated to describe impaired driving. Indiana uses OWI, Wisconsin uses OWI, and Texas and New York use DWI. The defenses work much the same way.

Can a DUI charge be reduced or dismissed?

Sometimes. Prosecutors may reduce a charge to reckless driving or wet reckless depending on the state, your record, and the strength of the evidence. Dismissals usually come from a bad stop, a flawed test, or a procedural error. No attorney can promise an outcome.

Will I go to jail for a DUI?

Not always on a first offense. Many states allow probation, community service, treatment programs, or electronic monitoring instead. Prior convictions, a high blood alcohol reading, an accident, or a child in the car push the penalties up sharply.

Types of DUI Cases These Attorneys Handle

First offense DUI. Usually a misdemeanor, and usually the case with the most room to negotiate. Diversion or a reduced charge may be available depending on the state.

Repeat offense DUI. Second and third charges carry mandatory minimums in most states. Some jurisdictions treat a third or fourth offense as a felony.

Felony and aggravated DUI. Charges escalate when there is serious injury, a death, a very high blood alcohol level, or a suspended license. These cases often go to trial.

Drug and prescription DUI. Impairment by marijuana, prescription medication, or other substances. There is no breath test for these, so cases turn on officer observations and blood results.

Underage and college DUI. Zero tolerance laws set the limit near .02 for drivers under 21. A conviction can affect financial aid and school discipline.

Commercial driver DUI. CDL holders face a lower legal limit and can lose their license for a year on a first offense, even in a personal vehicle.

Boating under the influence. Charged separately in most states, with its own testing rules and penalties.

License suspension and reinstatement. Administrative hearings, hardship permits, ignition interlock, and restoring driving privileges after a revocation.

How to Choose a DUI Attorney

Ask how much of their practice is DUI. Some attorneys defend impaired driving cases every week. Others take one occasionally between other criminal work.

Check for testing and forensic training. Certification in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, or training in breath and blood analysis, gives an attorney real ground to challenge the evidence.

Ask who handles the license hearing. The administrative case is separate from the criminal one. Confirm that it is included in the fee and that someone is already working on the deadline.

Look for local court experience. Prosecutors, judges, and diversion programs differ by county. An attorney who appears in that courthouse regularly knows what is realistic there.

Get the fee in writing. Ask what triggers extra cost, such as a trial, an expert witness, or an appeal.

What Affects the Outcome of a DUI Case

Results vary widely, and no two cases line up. Blood alcohol level matters, but so does the legality of the stop, how the officer ran the field sobriety tests, and whether the breath machine was calibrated on schedule. Prior convictions weigh heavily at sentencing. So does an accident, an injury, or a passenger under 18. Some states also let a judge order treatment or a monitoring program in place of jail. An attorney who knows the local court can give you a realistic read early.