Hiring a DUI Lawyer in Arizona
What a first DUI can cost in Arizona, how criminal lawyers charge, your right to a public defender, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Arizona: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Arizona's ER 1.5 (Arizona Supreme Court Rule 42), the scope of representation and the basis or rate of the fee must be communicated to the client in writing, and contingency fee agreements must be signed by the client and meet ER 1.5(c). Contingency fees are not permitted in most family law matters or in any criminal defense case. If a fee is called nonrefundable or earned on receipt, the client must be told in writing that they may discharge the lawyer at any time and may be entitled to a refund. The bar's guidance also notes a contingency agreement cannot let the lawyer also take court-awarded fees or collect more than a statute allows. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Arizona's Fee Arbitration Program is free and voluntary for clients who dispute a lawyer's fee; the amount in dispute must be $1,000 or more and no litigation over the fee can be pending. Clients do not need a lawyer to take part. If both sides agree to arbitrate, the award is binding. Phone: 602-340-7379. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | Arizona's Client Protection Fund, created by the Arizona Supreme Court in 1961, can reimburse losses caused by an Arizona lawyer's dishonest conduct (theft, embezzlement, conversion, failure to refund unearned fees when no work was done, or intentional dishonesty) toward a client or in a qualifying fiduciary role. The lawyer generally must have been suspended for more than six months, disbarred, placed on interim suspension or disability inactive status, have died, or been convicted of a related felony. Negligence, malpractice and fee disputes where some work was done are not covered. The Trustees may pay up to $100,000 on one claim and up to $250,000 total in claims against one lawyer; payment is discretionary. Claims must be filed within five years of when the claimant knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct. |
Arizona rules to know first
| First-offense DUI penalties | A first DUI is a class 1 misdemeanor. The sentence is at least 10 consecutive days in jail (the judge may suspend all but one day if the person completes court-ordered alcohol or drug screening, education or treatment), a fine of at least $250 plus additional assessments of $500 and $500, possible community restitution, required Traffic Survival School, and an ignition interlock device when the offense involved alcohol (the court may extend the interlock period beyond 12 months). Administratively, a test result of 0.08 or more leads to a license suspension of at least 90 consecutive days; a first-time driver who caused no death or serious physical injury and proves completion of alcohol or drug screening instead gets 30 days of suspension followed by at least 60 days of restricted driving, or may ask for a special ignition interlock restricted license. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
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| Refusing a breath test | Anyone who drives in Arizona consents to blood, breath, urine or other testing after a DUI arrest. Refusing (or not completing) the test leads to a 12-month suspension, or two years for a second or later refusal within 84 months. Reinstatement requires completing alcohol or drug screening. After screening, a first-time refuser may apply for a special ignition interlock restricted driver license for the rest of the suspension; this is not available for a second refusal within 84 months. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. § 28-1321(B), (P) |
| Hardship license | MVD can issue a special ignition interlock restricted driver license (SIIRDL) in some DUI and refusal cases after alcohol or drug screening, which requires a working interlock for the rest of the suspension period; accepting one waives the right to an administrative hearing. It is not available after a second refusal within 84 months. For a qualifying first DUI administrative suspension, MVD suspends driving for 30 days and then restricts it for at least 60 days once the driver proves completion of alcohol or drug screening. For a first no-insurance violation, MVD (not the court) may restrict driving privileges for three months instead of suspending them, after verifying the driver has current insurance. No restricted license option for point suspensions was confirmed. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Arizona offers an online Find an Attorney member directory but does not describe a statewide lawyer referral service. The Arizona courts' Self-Service Center lists the county bar referral services instead: the Maricopa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (602) 257-4434, which charges a small consultation fee, and the Pima County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (520) 623-4625, which offers a 30-minute consultation for a fee. State Bar public page: https://www.azbar.org/for-the-public/ |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Arizona's Member Directory lets you search lawyers by name or by legal need, with filters such as certified specialization, city, county, language and firm. Results show membership status, a State Bar admission-related date, practice area, professional liability insurance status, board-certified specializations and section memberships. Legal paraprofessionals and alternative business structures can also be looked up. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints ("bar charges") about Arizona lawyers, legal paraprofessionals and alternative business structures go to the State Bar of Arizona's Intake Department. The bar encourages calling the Intake Hotline (602-340-7280 or 800-319-0514 ext. 7280) before submitting a written charge, which can be filed with the online charge form. An Intake Bar Counsel reviews it, usually contacts the lawyer, and the matter may be dismissed, referred to diversion, or sent for screening investigation. The bar's "Check Legal Professional Discipline" link goes to its Member Directory. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Arizona has three LSC-funded legal aid organizations that give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Community Legal Services, (800) 852-9075 (Maricopa, Mohave, La Paz, Yavapai and Yuma counties and some nearby towns); DNA-People's Legal Services, (800) 789-5781 (Coconino County and the Navajo and Hopi Nations); and Southern Arizona Legal Aid, (800) 248-6789 (Pima and other southern and central counties and 11 Native American communities). Step Up to Justice offers free civil legal help to low-income residents of Pima County. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Arizona · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.