Practice Areas

At The Law Offices of Richard Lawson, we have dedicated ourselves to defending those charged with DUI in Atlanta. If you find yourself charged with a DUI in Atlanta, life suddenly can seem overwhelming and scary. You need an experienced Atlanta DUI Attorney that has will fight aggressively on your behalf and has decades of experience behind him. After all, it is your freedom and future at stake.

At The Law Offices of Richard Lawson, we consider every detail important. We do not use a one size fits all defense but carefully craft a defense unique to your situation. After we fully investigate your case, we will provide you with honest and straight forward advice about your rights, options, and the best strategic approach to meet your goals. We invite you to contact us for a free consultation to see how hiring our Atlanta DUI Lawyers can make all the difference in your case.

Atlanta DUI Defense includes many different practice areas.

DUI Defense

A DUI charge is unique from most other criminal charges because a DUI charge invokes two separate processes: an administrative proceeding where you can have your driver's license suspended and a criminal proceeding where you face penalties of jail time and fines among other things if convicted. For first time offenders, the punishments can seem excessive and unfair, and it can be intimidating to go to court. Many people plead guilty because they don't think they have a chance of beating the charge.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Atlanta, we want to help you understand that there are defenses available to you! We firmly believe every DUI charge can be mitigated in some way. We will help you discover all of the possible outcomes to your Atlanta DUI charge and what the consequences might mean to you. Whether you desire less jail time, keeping your license, or keeping a conviction off your record, we can help. We will walk through your case with you and determine what the best strategy is. We will then obtain any evidence we need to make this possible. This includes police reports, witness testimonies, a trip to the scene, breath test records, or discussions with a medical expert. Pleading guilty to a DUI without seeking legal representation is a mistake!

With our top-rated Atlanta DUI Attorneys, the court system and trial process do not have to be intimidating. We have former DUI prosecutors on our team that know how to make the law work for you instead of against you.

There are a number of ways to defend your Atlanta DUI charge. Call us now to discover how we can assist with your case and avoid the severe penalties associated with an Atlanta DUI charge.

DUI Process

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Atlanta, remember that you have two cases you have to beat: the administrative license suspension through the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and the criminal case. Although the criminal and administrative cases are handled through separate courts, the overall strategy remains the same - use both to beat your Atlanta DUI.

With regard to the administrative license suspension (ALS), you must request a hearing within 30 days of your arrest, or else your license will be automatically suspended. This hearing is not a criminal hearing, but it feels and acts like one. Our experienced Atlanta DUI Lawyers know the rules and processes of both courts inside and out. We know how to protect your driving privileges at the ALS hearing and work out a deal with your arresting officer to let you keep driving!

During the ALS process and after it is resolved, rest assured we are working on your criminal case as well. We investigate whether any of your rights were violated during the arrest or anytime after. This includes evaluating the constitutionality of the stop, whether the field sobriety tests were administered properly, whether there was cause to arrest you for drinking and driving, making sure you were timely given your Miranda rights, and looking into the process for handling your breath or blood test. After this, we carefully examine all the evidence to see which defenses apply to your case. Every case is different and requires a carefully tailored strategy. We will work with you throughout this process keeping you apprised of every court date, every option, and how your case is progressing. We pride ourselves on being available to our clients whenever you need us - including nights, weekends, and holidays.

We understand the Atlanta DUI process can be scary and overwhelming. We are here to help! Don't wait to call; contact us today!

DUI Penalties

An Atlanta DUI arrest can have many consequences from criminal penalties, licensing implications to immigration issues. We are here to help educate you on the penalties a DUI can have on your life that you may not be aware of.

If convicted of a first DUI in Atlanta, a person can expect the court to impose jail time, fines, probation, community service, driver's license suspension, substance abuse counseling, as well as attendance of a DUI Risk Reduction School. If it is a second or subsequent DUI conviction in Atlanta, those convicted will face additional penalties such as license plate surrender, an ignition interlock device, declaration as a habitual violator, and more. The penalties for a DUI can extend beyond jail time and make it challenging to obtain housing, employment, financial aid, and credit.

DUI charges are not to be taken lightly! They come with serious repercussions, and you must hire an accomplished Atlanta DUI Attorney as soon as possible.

DUI Related Charges

If you have been arrested in Atlanta for a DUI, it is likely that you were cited for another traffic offense or a related charge. Some examples include failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, or speeding. That means that once you are arrested, you have to defend both your DUI charge as well as the other offense.

There are a plethora of related charges that you could be charged with. That is just one of the many reasons why it is critical to hire an experienced Atlanta DUI Lawyers. Because our lawyers have dedicated their practice to DUI defense and have handled thousands of cases, we fully understand what it takes to reach a successful outcome in your case. We can help you mitigate the punishment for a DUI as well as take care of the related offense.

Don't ever think your situation is too hopeless for help! We handle cases every day where cases are astounded by the outcome they receive. We understand that your life, future, and freedom are at stake and will use all of our resources to help achieve a great outcome for your case. No matter your charges, our DUI attorneys in Atlanta are ready to help!

DUI Collateral Consequences

An Atlanta DUI conviction carries with it serious penalties, including jail time, fines, license suspension, and community service that are dependent upon the circumstances of your case and your criminal record. Regardless of whether this is your first DUI charge or your fourth, the consequences are not to be taken lightly. The penalties are severe, but sometimes the collateral consequences that follow a conviction can be more serious that the court penalties. These penalties are significant because they affect the quality of your life for the rest of your life, not just while you are in jail or on probation.

There are numerous collateral consequences of an Atlanta DUI conviction that will have a lasting impact on your life. These consequences can include your social, financial, professional, or family life. Specifically, they can include difficulty receiving security clearance or maintaining your medical license as well as restrict you from owning a firearm, traveling out of the country, securing financial aid, or retaining your CDL license.

If you care about your reputation and career, you own it to yourself to fight the DUI charge. It is in your best interest to hire an attorney who is skilled in defending DUIs and has been practicing in Atlanta courts for years. Our Atlanta DUI Attorneys has over 50 combined years of experience defending DUI charges and has practiced in Atlanta for decades. Our expertise coupled with our ability to develop smart, aggressive defense strategies make our team your best option for Atlanta DUI defense! Contact us now and start your DUI defense based on facts and developed to protect your rights, freedom, and future.

Contact Us

Getting a DUI in Atlanta does not have to be the end of your license and your freedom. While a DUI is a serious criminal charge that can damage your reputation, it is a charge that our Atlanta DUI Lawyers frequently beat! There are lots of options after your arrest.  We can help you by reducing your charges, blocking the evidence against you, negotiating a lower sentence, or obtaining a dismissal of your case. We understand that you have many questions after being arrested. Will you go to jail? Will you be able to keep your driver's license? How much will it cost? That is why we are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We believe that you should be able to get answers whenever you need them and not have to wait until Monday morning or regular business hours. So if you or a loved one has received a DUI in Atlanta, contact our office today. We have over 50 combined years of experience and are prepared to help you today!