Hiring a DUI Lawyer in Louisiana
What a first DUI can cost in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be in a writing signed by the client, and the client must get a copy or duplicate original when it is signed. It must state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated, and any expenses the client owes whether or not they win. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on a divorce or the amount of alimony, support or property settlement. |
|---|---|
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Louisiana State Bar Association's Lawyer Fee Dispute Resolution Program handles minor attorney fee disputes between lawyers and clients (or between lawyers) through volunteer arbitrators. The LSBA charges a nominal administrative fee and may decline disputes that are too complex, involve many issues or parties, are pending elsewhere, or fall under a statutory scheme such as succession or workers' compensation. LSBA staff cannot give legal advice. Contact: (504) 619-0153 or (504) 619-0143. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The LSBA Client Assistance Fund compensates clients who lose money or property due to a lawyer's dishonest conduct (not incompetence or failure to act), reimbursing up to $50,000 for thefts by a lawyer; interest and consequential damages are not paid, and fees are reimbursable only in limited cases, such as when the lawyer did no work. You must show the money or property reached the lawyer. Applying is free and no lawyer is needed; deadlines apply, so apply promptly. The fund also advises filing a complaint with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Contact: 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130-3427; (504) 566-1600 or (800) 421-5722, ext. 107. |
Louisiana rules to know first
| First-offense DUI penalties | First offense: fine of $300 to $1,000 and 10 days to 6 months in jail. The sentence may be suspended only if the offender is placed on probation and serves 48 hours in jail (or performs at least 32 hours of community service), completes a court-approved substance abuse program and a driver improvement program, and does not drive for at least 6 months of probation unless the vehicle has an ignition interlock. With a BAC of 0.15 or more, at least 48 hours must be served without probation or suspension and the license is suspended for two years; at 0.20 or more the fine is $750 to $1,000. The OMV's administrative suspension after a first failed test (0.08–0.14, age 21+) is 180 days. The OMV suspensions page also lists a 365-day suspension for a first DWI conviction (2 years at 0.20+); the statute now sets a two-year suspension at 0.15 or more for a first offense. |
|---|---|
| Refusing a breath test | Refusing an approved chemical test after a DWI arrest leads to an administrative suspension of 365 days for a first refusal and 730 days for a second or later refusal (arrests on or after Sept. 1, 2009). Reinstatement requires SR-22 proof of insurance for 3 years from the arrest date and a fee; an ignition interlock is required if there was a crash with moderate or serious injury, a child 12 or younger in the vehicle, or a prior alcohol violation on the record. |
| Hardship license | The OMV refers to a restricted hardship license being available in some suspension cases. For alcohol-related suspensions that require an ignition interlock, the interlock must be installed upon reinstatement or upon issuance of a restricted hardship license. A driver whose license is suspended must have served the suspension or be eligible for and obtain a hardship license to enter an OMV installment plan. Eligibility rules for a hardship license were not found on an official page read for this record. Source: Louisiana OMV, Suspensions |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Louisiana State Bar Association's Find Legal Help portal does not describe a statewide LSBA referral line; its Find an Attorney directory can locate a local lawyer referral program for certain cities, and its Modest Means Directory lists attorneys who charge reduced fees to people who meet income requirements. LSBA phone: (800) 421-LSBA (5722) or (504) 566-1600. |
|---|---|
| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's lawyer search lets you look up attorneys by name, city and status. Each result shows the date admitted, a status code (such as ELIG for eligible to practice, SUS suspended, DIS disbarred, INA inactive), public disciplinary actions with dates, and current administrative status. It does not show complaints, investigations or private discipline; full disciplinary history can be requested separately. Discipline history request: https://www.ladb.org/Account/DataRequest.aspx |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Louisiana lawyers must be in writing to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), using the Ethical Conduct Complaint Form or a letter describing what the lawyer did or failed to do, with the lawyer's contact details, dates and copies of documents. Mail to ODC, 4000 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 607, Baton Rouge, LA 70816; phone (225) 293-3900 or (800) 326-8022. Anyone may file. ODC screens the complaint, may send it to the lawyer for a response (which you usually see), and may dismiss, issue a private admonition or file formal charges. You may appeal a dismissal in writing within 30 days. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Louisiana's LSC-funded legal aid organizations, Acadiana Legal Service Corporation and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The LSBA also points people to the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator (free legal information, court forms and legal aid referrals), LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org (online answers from volunteer attorneys for eligible adults), LouisianaLawHelp.org, and court self-help centers. LSBA page: https://www.lsba.org/goto/FindLegalHelp |
|---|
All legal help in Louisiana · 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.