Hiring a DUI Lawyer in Arkansas
What a first DUI can cost in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas: fee rules
| If a lawyer takes your money | Arkansas has a Client Security Fund overseen by the Arkansas Supreme Court's Client Security Fund Committee, whose members are appointed by the Court; the Administrative Office of the Courts (625 Marshall Street, Little Rock; 501-682-9400) is the listed contact. |
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Arkansas rules to know first
| First-offense DUI penalties | The Office of Driver Services suspends the license for 6 months for a first DWI (alcohol) offense, and reinstatement requires an ignition interlock for a period equal to the suspension, an alcohol education or treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. The state driver license study guide says a first conviction carries a fine of $150 to $1,000 plus court costs and possible jail of up to one year. The study guide also mentions a 120-day suspension; the DFA administrative page lists 6 months. The minimum jail term was not confirmed from the statute itself. |
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| Refusing a breath test | A driver who refuses an alcohol or drug test faces an administrative suspension: 180 days for a first refusal, 24 months for a second within 5 years, a 3-year revocation for a third within 5 years, and lifetime revocation for a fourth within 5 years. Reinstatement requires a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. A driver may request an administrative hearing within 7 calendar days of arrest and may drive for 30 days on the driver's license receipt if the license was valid. |
| Hardship license | After a DWI arrest, a driver can request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit, depending on the offense. A restricted driving permit may also be available for underage alcohol (MIP/ID) suspensions, as decided by a hearing officer. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Arkansas Bar Association runs ArkansasFindALawyer, an online directory you can search by name, firm, city, postal code (within a set distance) or area of practice. The bar's page does not describe it as a referral service and states no consultation fee. The bar's general line is 501-375-4606. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Arkansas Judiciary's online Attorney Search lets you look up lawyers by last name, first name, city, ZIP code or bar number; attorney rosters are also posted. The site says its information is not the official record kept by the Clerk of the Courts and directs users to the Clerk's Office at (501) 682-6849 to verify. Rosters: https://attorneyinfo.aoc.arkansas.gov/roster |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Arkansas lawyers are handled by the Office of Professional Conduct of the Arkansas Supreme Court (Administrative Office of the Courts), One Capitol Mall, Suite 3D-101, Little Rock, AR 72201-1049; phone 501-376-0313 or toll-free 800-506-6631. File using the office's grievance form (printable for mailing or fillable for emailing). Disciplinary decisions are posted online, and paper copies are available from the Clerk of the Courts at $0.50 per page. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Legal Aid of Arkansas is the LSC-funded legal aid organization for Arkansas and provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The Arkansas Bar Association also points people to Arkansas Access to Justice (arkansasjustice.org), Arkansas Free Legal Answers (ar.freelegalanswers.org) and Arkansas Law Help (arlawhelp.org) for free legal information and help. Bar legal assistance page: https://www.arkbar.com/?pg=LegalAssistance |
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All legal help in Arkansas · 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.