Choosing an OWI lawyer in Ann Arbor

Do you need a lawyer?

The law does not require you to have one, and you can represent yourself. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can ask the court to appoint one. A Michigan OWI can run on two tracks at once:

• the Department of State side: a 14-day deadline to request a hearing if you refused the chemical test (14-day hearing guide), and license sanctions after a conviction (license sanctions guide); and
• the criminal case, usually in the 15th District Court or a 14A or 14B District Court (how the case moves).

A lawyer you hire can handle both.

If you cannot afford a lawyer

In Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw County Public Defender handles appointed cases; the office's number is (734) 222-6970, and the 14A court tells defendants without a lawyer to call it as soon as possible with their case number. Ask at your first court appearance, and keep going to every court date on your paperwork while you wait.

Finding a private lawyer

Our directory. The attorney listings are firms with offices serving Ann Arbor that list OWI or drunk driving defense on their own websites, shown in alphabetical order and labeled unclaimed until the firm verifies them. A listing is not a recommendation.

Check the license. The State Bar of Michigan's member directory shows whether a lawyer is licensed in Michigan.

What an OWI lawyer looks at

Michigan's OWI and implied consent statutes set out specific steps, and a lawyer will check whether they were followed. These are the kinds of questions the law raises:

• The stop and arrest. Did the officer have reasonable grounds, and were you placed under arrest? Those are issues at the refusal hearing too.
• Your rights. Were you advised of your chemical test rights as the statute requires?
• The test. Was the breath, blood, or urine test done properly, and does the result support the charge (for example 0.17 for High BAC)?
• The priors. Are the prior convictions on the complaint accurate, and do they fall inside the 7-year window, or count toward a felony?
• The license side. What sanctions will follow, and is a restricted license or a sobriety court program possible?

None of this means a case will be dismissed. It is what a lawyer will review.

Questions to ask before you hire

• Do you regularly handle OWI cases in the 15th District Court or a 14A or 14B District Court?
• If I refused the test, will you file my hearing request inside the 14 days?
• What is your fee, what does it cover, and what costs extra (for example a trial or a license hearing)?
• Who will actually appear for me?
• What will I need to attend in person?

Get the fee agreement in writing. A lawyer who promises a specific outcome is promising something no one can guarantee.

What to bring to the first meeting

Most lawyers offer a short first call or meeting before you hire them. You will get more out of it if you bring:

• the citation or ticket, with the court name and first court date;
• your bond paperwork and any release conditions, such as no alcohol or testing;
• every notice about your license, including the paper the officer gave you in place of your license, with the date it was served;
• the name of the arresting agency and, if you know it, the officer's name;
• a short written timeline: where you were, what you drank or took and when, when you were stopped, and what tests you were asked to take;
• a list of any prior traffic or criminal cases, in any state; and
• your work and family needs, especially if you must drive for work.

Write down your questions before the call. It is easy to forget them once the conversation starts.

How fees usually work

Fee arrangements differ. Some lawyers charge a flat fee for a stage of the case, such as everything up to a plea or trial, and some bill by the hour. Ask what the fee covers: the license hearing, motions, a trial, expert witnesses, and any appeal may be priced separately. Ask for the agreement in writing before you pay, and ask what happens to the fee if the case ends early. This site does not set or recommend fees.

About this directory

The lawyers in our directory are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked. An unclaimed listing means the details were taken from the firm's own website and the firm has not reviewed them. A listing is not a recommendation, and no site can promise an outcome. Do your own checking before you hire anyone.