Do I need a lawyer for my first DUI?

Yes, a lawyer can be very helpful if there are any issues and you want to protect your record and license. For more information, please see my website or call me for a legal consultation.

Any time you are facing loss of liberty you should be represented. Often people take the stance that their current situation is an aberration and will never occur again. While that might be true, if something should happen in the future, a criminal history will work greatly to your disadvantage. Besides, you did not plan on this ever occurring, why should you think it is impossible to happen again.

You can do it yourself but if you can afford it we recommend hiring a lawyer, especially if there are any aggravating factors such as an accident, high blood alcohol, a child in the car or a prior conviction.

You don't NEED one. Will it help? YES! Especially if the arrest was recent. In a DUI arrest, you only have 10 calendar days to preserve your right to a DMV hearing. Without that hearing, the DMV will automatically suspend your license based on the arrest. An attorney can request that hearing for you at the appropriate DMV Driver Safety office and will be able to subpoena evidence and any witnesses necessary to competently defend your license. If you want any chance at maintaining your license, you should at least consult with a couple of attorneys about your case. DMV hearings, just like Court hearings, can be very complicated and involve many technical defenses when it comes to DUI charges.

It doesn't matter if it is your first, second, or third, it is never a good idea to represent yourself (unless all you want is just to plead guilty). An experienced lawyer can help you explore other options, including a reduction, dismissal, or acquittal of the charges, and to represent you at the DMV, which will go after your license separately. Contact a lawyer ASAP, as you have only 10 days to request a DMV hearing.

You have three options: 1. represent yourself. Not a good idea for many reasons - mainly that you will never know if you have any defenses you're giving up or overlooking. You won't know the procedures, laws of evidence or criminal procedure to know how to defend yourself. 2. Go with a public defender. If you truly cannot afford an attorney, you can request the services of the public defender. Downside? They have too many cases to devote much time to any one case. Other downside? They cannot and will not represent you with the DMV in the suspension hearing. 3. Hire an attorney. You can then choose the attorney you want to represent you and they can also fight the DMV in the license suspension hearings. Don't miss the 10 day window to contest the license suspension from the DMV. You only have 10 days to request that hearing or your license will automatically be suspended.

The obvious answer coming from a DUI lawyer such as myself would be yes. However, let me try to be a little more helpful with my response. Ultimately, whether or not you should hire a DUI lawyer on a first time DUI depends on a number of factors as follows: 1) what you hope to accomplish; 2) are you comfortable representing yourself; and 3) the facts of your case just to name a few. What I can say is that whatever the best result for your case may be, an experienced DUI attorney is the only way to ensure that you get it. I think in order for you to make the right choice for you, you should contact two or three DUI lawyers who have extensive experience in the court in which your case is filed to thoroughly evaluate your case and determine what defenses you may have and what is possible for you. Most, if not all, DUI attorneys offer free case evaluations so you have nothing to lose by doing so and I think this will really help you make the right decision for yourself. I hope this answer was helpful. Good luck.

Not if you know how to effectively represent yourself against a professional prosecutor trying to convict you and put you in jail. If serious about hiring counsel to help you in this, and if this is in SoCal courts, feel free to contact me. Keep in mind a little free advice: When you are arrested for DUI, whether alcohol or drugs, then upon release from jail or booking you were given documents that included a notice that you have only ten days to file a request with DMV for a hearing on an appeal of an automatic one-year suspension of your license imposed by DMV. That is separate and runs consecutively with any suspension that may be imposed by the court. Contact DMV and do so, timely, then appear at your scheduled DMV hearing and present any supporting evidence and testimony. If you don't know how to do these things, then hire an attorney that does. If serious about hiring counsel to help you in this, and if this is in SoCal courts, feel free to contact me.