You might be able to get a public defender for a low cost or free. The eligibility and provision for a public defender depends on the state and county where you live. For example, in Los Angeles County, you can get a public defender for a drunk driving case if you are low income; the court will still charge you a fee. In New York state, however, there is no public defender because a DUI is not a criminal case. Indeed, in most places, public defenders are not assigned to DUI cases.

Keep in mind that a public defender will only be able to help you with whether or not you get jail time, not license suspension or DMV fees, which are civil matters. If you have a private DWI lawyer, however, he or she can help you with the entire case, including the civil portion.

DUI laws are quite strict in most states. A good DUI lawyer can represent you in court and argue your case to save you jail time and other penalties. For example a DUI lawyer might be able to get you community service time instead of jail time. If you try to handle your case yourself, you might end up getting put in jail simply because you’re not as well-acquainted with all the different DUI or DWI  laws.

If you decide to go with a DUI lawyer, ask if they have a payment plan. You can also look for a DUI lawyer who does pro bono work for clients with no money, or community low-cost legal programs who offer consulting for a lower price than a traditional lawyer. A courthouse facilitator may also be available to help you do paperwork. For referrals, ask your county courthouse or county bar association.