How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost?

Driving under the influence (DUI) charges is no small matter regardless of where you live in the United States. A DUI lawyer typically costs $3,000-$5,000 or more, and this price may be low for many states. Because all DUI charges are unique, the cost for your case can be different than the costs of another person’s case. Because of the penalties involved, money may not be your primary focus if you are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

However, money is a significant factor for most accused of DUI. Even a minor DUI charge can cost you an arm and a leg to contest. At Unbundled Legal Services, we understand that money is often tight. Most people do not have a stash of hundreds or thousands of dollars to pay a DUI lawyer.

Far too often, individuals spend time in jail and eventually acquire a criminal record because they could not afford the right legal representation. Contact Unbundled Legal Help to talk to a lawyer from our network of lawyers. Find how they can help you with your DUI charge and save you as much money as possible. 

A Breakdown of Costs when Fighting a DUI 

Once you are notified of a DUI charge, you need to know which lawyer can help you and what specific fees you will need to pay. When you hire a DUI lawyer to handle the entire case from start to finish, you can expect to set aside thousands of dollars (if not tens of thousands). These services your DUI lawyer provides for a full-service legal defense may include the following:

• Initial consultation and case evaluation
• Formulation of plan on how to fight and defend your DUI charge
• Drafting and filing legal motions
• General court fees and other filing costs
• Billable hours spent by your lawyer and staff members completing paperwork   
•    Hours spent in the courtroom
• Hours spent working directly with you

While you expect your DUI lawyer to have the experience to handle a DUI case from beginning to end, you may only need a lawyer to handle appearances in court and discussions with prosecutors.

Receiving itemized bills for completing forms and filing briefs with the court can be a wake-up call. Do you need to pay a law firm to handle work you can accomplish on your own?

Finding Help and Resources from the Court

If you decide to handle some of the work necessary to defend yourself against a DUI charge, you should prepare to follow the steps a court requires. Most courts have websites with instructions for individuals facing criminal charges or civil lawsuits.

Individual courts create their own rules but generally use a template for similar cases. Some courts require specific procedures to file certain court documents. In addition to asking for help from the court (whether through the court’s website or in-person), you may find it helpful to talk to one of our Unbundled lawyers for an initial evaluation of your DUI charges. This will help you formulate a plan that can enable you to move forward on your own.

Know What to Expect in Your Jurisdiction

When fighting a DUI charge – whether on your own or with the help of a DUI lawyer – it is a good idea to know what to expect from the specific court and judge in your case. Some jurisdictions are more conservative than others. For instance, a court in a rural jurisdiction may treat DUI charges more seriously than in a big city, where DUIs are often considered routine crimes.

If DUI charges are aggressively prosecuted in your jurisdiction, you may want a DUI lawyer more involved. If, on the other hand, you are facing DUI charges in a large city like Chicago, for example, you may have an opportunity to handle the entire DUI matter without a lawyer. Some courts have DUI programs that limit penalties and costs.

When your livelihood is on the line if you learn you are in a jurisdiction that takes DUIs very seriously, having a DUI lawyer for more than just appearances in court may be important to consider.

What Makes DUI Cases So Expensive?

Even a first offense DUI charge is no laughing matter. Unless it involves an accident with bodily harm. The severity of your DUI charge is one factor that can increase the cost of a lawyer. Others include the following:

• Existing criminal history
• The severity of a DUI charge, such as involvement of a large amount of alcohol or drugs far above the legal limit
• Violation of probation
• Multiple criminal charges attached to the same DUI offense (such as leaving the scene of an accident or driving while on a suspended license, among others)
• The injury or death of another person in connection with your DUI event

Overall, less severe DUI charges do not cost as much as DUI charges that have multiple components requiring legal expertise. As such, whether you should hire a DUI lawyer to handle any portion of your case (or all of your case), is related to how severe your situation is.

Risks of Handling Your Own DUI Matter

Even if you feel certain you can handle a DUI case on your own without a lawyer’s help, it is best to talk to a DUI lawyer for an evaluation of your case. Consultations and initial case evaluations do not involve a commitment to spend thousands of dollars. You can ask for guidance with an initial consultation.

Because most DUI convictions create a permanent police record, you want to be sure you are not exposed to other legal issues down the line. A misunderstanding of DUI laws may lead you down the wrong path. You can find yourself in jail without understanding why. Consequences from choosing to represent yourself without legal guidance include the following:

• Jail time that could have been avoidable with better legal strategies
• ·A more serious criminal record
• Inability to drive a vehicle for at least one year (depending on the laws in the state where you face DUI charges)
• Difficulty keeping or getting a job
• Avoidable court fees

Hybrid legal representation can help protect your rights and reduce your financial costs by not agreeing to legal services you may not need. Unbundled Legal Services helps clients in your boat, by working with each client to formulate a plan that keeps a balance between representing yourself and allowing a lawyer to handle matters on your behalf.

How Do Unbundled Lawyers Fight Your DUI Charge?

We know quality legal representation can be expensive. If you are facing a DUI charge and have other legal matters that require assistance, Unbundled Legal Help works with lawyers that offer more affordable service options.

At Unbundled Legal Services, you work with our network of lawyers and small law firms from around the country who help clients like you with the portions of your case that you are most concerned with. You may have no problem handling administrative aspects of your case, such as filing forms in court, but still want a DUI lawyer to appear on your behalf.

Why pay a DUI lawyer to handle tasks you already feel comfortable doing? Oftentimes, small tasks generate large bills from DUI lawyers. With patience, diligence, and help from Unbundled Legal Services, you can find the best lawyer matched to the tasks you need help with. In other words, Unbundled Legal’s network of lawyers provides you with a la carte legal services, which help you reach your goals without draining your funds.

Acting alone without help from an experienced lawyer may compromise your legal rights. Contact Unbundled Legal Help today to speak to a lawyer from our network of lawyers help you fight your DUI charge. Spend as little as $500 to help cover the most important aspects of your DUI case.