DUI Defense
Most DUI defense in Memphis is handled on a flat fee. A first-offense DUI resolved in Shelby County General Sessions starts at $1,500. In the Bartlett, Germantown, and Collierville municipal courts it starts at $2,500. A first-offense DUI taken to a jury trial is $7,500–$10,000. We quote your exact flat fee after a free consultation, so you know the number before you decide anything. Call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973 or the office at (901) 324-5000.
DUI lawyer fees by court
| Situation | Our flat fee |
|---|---|
| First-offense DUI, Shelby County General Sessions (resolved) | from $1,500 |
| First-offense DUI, Bartlett · Germantown · Collierville | from $2,500 |
| First-offense DUI taken to a jury trial | $7,500–$10,000 |
Wondering what this will cost? See how much a DUI lawyer costs in Memphis — flat fees by court, and what a DUI trial runs.
These are attorney fees. Court costs, fines, bail, and the cost of any interlock device or alcohol program are separate and paid to the court or provider, not to us. A second or third DUI, or a case with aggravating facts, is quoted after we see it.
What drives the cost of a DUI
- First offense or repeat. Second and third DUIs carry escalating mandatory minimums and take more work to defend.
- Which court. Shelby County General Sessions and the suburban municipal courts run differently — see below.
- Resolved or tried. Most of a trial fee is preparation: the implied-consent hearing, the stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath or blood evidence.
- Aggravating facts. A high BAC, an accident, an injury, a child in the car, or a refusal all change the exposure and the defense.
- Your license. Getting a restricted license or dealing with an interlock requirement can be part of the work.
Why a DUI in Bartlett, Germantown, or Collierville costs more
The suburban municipal courts are simply harder jurisdictions for a DUI. Prosecutors negotiate less, judges are less inclined to see cases dismissed, and a suburban DUI usually takes more appearances to resolve than the same charge in Shelby County General Sessions. That extra work is why a first-offense DUI in Bartlett, Germantown, or Collierville starts at $2,500 rather than $1,500.
Flat fee, not an hourly meter
We quote one flat fee for a defined scope of work, so you are not billed by the hour for every call or question. It removes the fear that asking a question costs money, and it means a hard case does not turn into an open-ended bill. The free consultation tells you the number in writing before you commit. Se habla Español. If paying at once is a hardship, ask — we would rather find an arrangement that works than have you face a DUI without a lawyer.
Why the cheapest quote isn’t the whole story
A DUI conviction in Tennessee cannot be expunged, and it follows you — on your record, your insurance, and sometimes your job. A fee that is well below the market can mean a lawyer plans to plead it out quickly rather than look hard at the stop, the testing, and whether the case can be beaten or reduced. The right question is not only what the fee is, but what it buys and what a conviction costs you for years afterward. We will give you an honest answer to both. Learn more about how we defend DUI charges, or see what other criminal charges cost.
Talk to a DUI lawyer — free
Tell us where you were charged and we will tell you the fee. Call the office at (901) 324-5000, or call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973, for a free, confidential consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Memphis?
At Brooks Law Firm, a first-offense DUI resolved in Shelby County General Sessions starts at $1,500. In the Bartlett, Germantown, and Collierville municipal courts it starts at $2,500. A first-offense DUI taken to a jury trial is $7,500 to $10,000. These are attorney fees; court costs and fines are separate.
Why does a DUI in Bartlett, Germantown, or Collierville cost more?
Those municipal courts are harder jurisdictions for a DUI — prosecutors negotiate less, dismissals are rarer, and cases usually take more appearances than in Shelby County General Sessions. That additional work is why the fee starts at $2,500 rather than $1,500.
How much does a DUI jury trial cost?
A first-offense DUI taken to a jury trial is $7,500 to $10,000, because most of that fee is preparation — the implied-consent hearing, the traffic stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath or blood evidence.
Is the fee flat or hourly?
Flat. We quote one price for a defined scope, so you are not billed by the hour for every call or email. You get the number in writing after a free consultation.
Can a first DUI be expunged in Tennessee?
A DUI conviction generally cannot be expunged in Tennessee, which is one reason a first DUI is worth defending rather than pleading through. A charge that is dismissed or resolved without a conviction may be eligible. We can tell you what applies to your case.