Hiring a DUI Lawyer in Georgia

What a first DUI can cost in Georgia, 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 Georgia: fee rules

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill	The State Bar of Georgia's Fee Arbitration Program handles fee disputes between lawyers and clients (and between lawyers). It is free to clients and lawyers in attorney/client disputes. Participation is a choice, but the program offers only binding arbitration, so both sides agree to be bound by the award. Most hearings use a panel of two lawyers and one non-lawyer. Start with a Petition for Fee Arbitration. Phone: 404-527-8750. Source: State Bar of Georgia, Fee Arbitration
If a lawyer takes your money	The State Bar of Georgia Clients' Security Fund, created in 1968, can reimburse eligible clients who lost money through a Georgia lawyer's dishonest conduct in a lawyer-client relationship. The lawyer must have been disbarred, indefinitely suspended or voluntarily surrendered the license (unless deceased). Malpractice and insured or bonded losses are excluded. There is no fixed cap on the page: the Board of Trustees sets amounts based on available funds, number of claims and work the lawyer actually did, and claims are typically not paid in full. Apply no later than two years after the Supreme Court of Georgia's final disciplinary action; no filing fee is listed. Source: State Bar of Georgia, Clients' Security Fund

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill

The State Bar of Georgia's Fee Arbitration Program handles fee disputes between lawyers and clients (and between lawyers). It is free to clients and lawyers in attorney/client disputes. Participation is a choice, but the program offers only binding arbitration, so both sides agree to be bound by the award. Most hearings use a panel of two lawyers and one non-lawyer. Start with a Petition for Fee Arbitration. Phone: 404-527-8750.

Source: State Bar of Georgia, Fee Arbitration

If a lawyer takes your money

The State Bar of Georgia Clients' Security Fund, created in 1968, can reimburse eligible clients who lost money through a Georgia lawyer's dishonest conduct in a lawyer-client relationship. The lawyer must have been disbarred, indefinitely suspended or voluntarily surrendered the license (unless deceased). Malpractice and insured or bonded losses are excluded. There is no fixed cap on the page: the Board of Trustees sets amounts based on available funds, number of claims and work the lawyer actually did, and claims are typically not paid in full. Apply no later than two years after the Supreme Court of Georgia's final disciplinary action; no filing fee is listed.

Source: State Bar of Georgia, Clients' Security Fund

Georgia rules to know first

First-offense DUI penalties	DUI penalties include fines up to $1,000, jail up to 12 months, and mandatory license suspension. For drivers 21 and older, a first DUI within 5 years brings a 12-month suspension, but the driver can apply for reinstatement after 120 days by completing a DDS-approved DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program and paying the reinstatement fee. A limited driving permit may be available. Statutory minimum jail, minimum fine and community service for a first DUI were not confirmed from the statute text. Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 40-6-391, 40-5-63; Georgia DDS Driver's Manual, Section 5; DDS DUI (First Offense) FAQ
Refusing a breath test	Georgia law requires drivers to submit to state-administered chemical tests of blood, breath, urine or other bodily substances. Refusing leads to a license suspension of at least one year, and refusal to submit to blood or urine testing may be offered as evidence at trial. Drivers may obtain additional independent tests at their own expense after submitting to the state's tests. Source: O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.1; Georgia DDS Driver's Manual, Section 10
Hardship license	Some suspended drivers qualify for a limited driving permit, which restricts driving to purposes such as going to work, scheduled medical care or prescriptions, school classes, alcohol or drug treatment support groups, and driver education or required assessment and treatment programs. For a first DUI conviction, DDS must issue a limited permit to a qualifying driver ($25, valid one year). Source: O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64; Georgia DDS Limited Permits page; Traffic Court Reference Manual 2021–2022

Full Georgia guide

Find and check a lawyer

Lawyer referral service	The State Bar of Georgia says it "is not able to directly refer clients to lawyers." It offers the ReliaGuide Enhanced Directory to search for lawyers by type of law, and points people to the referral services run by many local and voluntary bar associations (it links a list of referral services that comply with Bar Rule 7.3(c)(2)). Source: State Bar of Georgia, Find a Lawyer
Check that the lawyer is licensed	The State Bar of Georgia offers an online Member Directory with basic and advanced search for looking up Georgia lawyers. Source: State Bar of Georgia, Member Directory
Check discipline history or file a complaint	Grievances about Georgia lawyers are filed online with the State Bar of Georgia's Office of the General Counsel (OGC). An OGC attorney reviews each grievance to see whether it shows a possible violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct; grievances outside its jurisdiction or without sufficient evidence or merit are dismissed. If a possible violation appears, the grievance is sent to the lawyer for a response, and those that appear to involve a violation go to the State Disciplinary Board for investigation. The lawyer will likely see what you submit. State Bar: 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303; 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865. Online grievance portal: https://portals.georgiabar.org/ogc/grievance Source: State Bar of Georgia, Office of the General Counsel - File a Grievance

Free legal help

Free legal aid	Georgia's LSC-funded legal aid organizations are Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program, which give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The State Bar of Georgia points people to GeorgiaLegalAid.org for a complete directory of civil legal assistance programs, and to the Pro Bono Resource Center (co-sponsored by Georgia Legal Services Program and the State Bar) at 404-527-8763. The Bar warns that many businesses advertise "legal aid" online, so ask whether a service is free. Bar page: https://www.gabar.org/public/legal-aid---pro-bono-resource-center Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees; State Bar of Georgia, Legal Aid/Pro Bono Resource Center

Free legal aid

Georgia's LSC-funded legal aid organizations are Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program, which give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The State Bar of Georgia points people to GeorgiaLegalAid.org for a complete directory of civil legal assistance programs, and to the Pro Bono Resource Center (co-sponsored by Georgia Legal Services Program and the State Bar) at 404-527-8763. The Bar warns that many businesses advertise "legal aid" online, so ask whether a service is free.

Bar page: https://www.gabar.org/public/legal-aid---pro-bono-resource-center

Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees; State Bar of Georgia, Legal Aid/Pro Bono Resource Center

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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.