Charged with a crime in Kern County? What you do in the first days matters most.
A criminal charge in Bakersfield can put your freedom, your job, and your license at risk - but a charge is not a conviction. The right Kern County defense lawyer can challenge the evidence and often get charges reduced or dropped.
If you have been arrested or charged in Bakersfield, the smartest thing you can do is stay quiet and call a lawyer. Cases here run through the Kern County Superior Court, and local prosecutors have a reputation for charging aggressively, so experienced local counsel matters.
A DUI runs on two tracks at once. There is the criminal case in court, and a separate license case with the California DMV - and you have only ten days after a DUI arrest to request a DMV hearing or your license is suspended automatically. Missing that window is one of the most common and costly mistakes drivers make.
Every firm and attorney below has a verifiable Bakersfield criminal practice and appears across Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, and Expertise.com. We do not accept payment for placement. Build a short list, then call two or three before you decide who to trust with your case.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Bakersfield-area dui / criminal defense practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: DUI/DWI defense, DMV hearings, felonies, misdemeanors
A Bakersfield DUI and criminal defense firm widely regarded in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The firm has been named among the Top 100 DUI lawyers in America.
Why they made the list: Mr. Middlebrook is a Southern California Super Lawyer, AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating.
Practice focus: DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, drug and theft offenses
A Bakersfield criminal defense practice led by attorney Bo Koenig, handling DUI and serious criminal charges across Kern County.
Why they made the list: Koenig holds a 10.0 'Superb' Avvo rating and is listed among the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Practice focus: Violent and serious felonies, murder, domestic violence, narcotics offenses, misdemeanors
Led by attorney Tony V. Lidgett, with more than two decades of criminal defense experience handling some of Kern County's most serious felony cases.
Why they made the list: Featured on Expertise.com for Bakersfield criminal defense, with a focus on serious felonies.
Practice focus: Felony and misdemeanor defense, manslaughter, robbery, fraud, battery, vandalism
Attorney Monica L. Bermudez has practiced criminal defense for more than a decade, serving Bakersfield and the rest of California across a wide range of felony and misdemeanor charges.
Why they made the list: Featured on Expertise.com for Bakersfield criminal defense.
Practice focus: Felonies, misdemeanors, serious and violent crimes, DUI
Attorney Kyle Humphrey has defended criminal cases in Kern County for roughly three decades, handling serious and violent felony charges.
Why they made the list: Recipient of Super Lawyers recognition and a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 award.
Practice focus: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, drug offenses
A Bakersfield criminal defense attorney handling felony and misdemeanor charges throughout Kern County.
Why they made the list: Holds a 10/10 Avvo rating reflecting a strong professional and ethical record.
Practice focus: DUI and DWI defense, DMV hearings, misdemeanors
A Bakersfield attorney focused on DUI defense and the Kern County drunk-driving prosecution process.
Why they made the list: Carries a 10/10 Avvo rating for his DUI defense work.
Practice focus: DUI defense, criminal defense, DMV hearings
A highly rated Bakersfield firm concentrating on DUI and criminal defense for Kern County clients.
Why they made the list: Member of the National College for DUI Defense and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
Practice focus: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, drug charges
A Bakersfield criminal defense firm representing clients facing felony and misdemeanor charges in the Kern County Superior Court.
Why they made the list: Published Bakersfield criminal-defense practice listed across directories.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUI, misdemeanors, felonies
A Bakersfield criminal defense and DUI practice serving Kern County clients across misdemeanor and felony charges.
Why they made the list: Bakersfield criminal and DUI practice with a published local office.
Tell us what you are charged with and we will match you with vetted Bakersfield criminal defense attorneys. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Match the lawyer to the charge. A DUI specialist and a serious-felony trial lawyer are different. Ask each firm how many cases like yours - same charge - they have handled in Kern County in the last three years.
Protect the 10-day DMV deadline. After a DUI you have ten days to request a DMV hearing. A lawyer who does not raise this immediately is not focused on saving your license.
Ask about local experience. Kern County prosecutors and judges have their own tendencies. A lawyer who is in that courthouse weekly knows how cases like yours tend to resolve.
Get the flat fee in writing. Most Bakersfield criminal defense is flat-fee per charge. Confirm what it covers and whether a trial or an appeal costs extra.
Bakersfield criminal defense is usually billed as a flat fee that scales with the seriousness of the charge:
Trials add cost because they add hours. Ask whether the flat fee covers trial, and what happens to the fee if the case resolves early with a plea.
Most Bakersfield criminal cases move on this rough schedule:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most dui / criminal defense matters, gather:
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Yes. A first DUI carries possible jail, a license suspension through the DMV, fines, and a record. A lawyer can challenge the stop and the chemical testing and often reduce the charge or the penalties.
After a DUI arrest in California, you have ten days to request a hearing with the DMV to fight the automatic license suspension. Miss it and the suspension takes effect by default. This is separate from the court case.
In the Kern County Superior Court. Local prosecutors are known for charging aggressively, which is why experience in that specific courthouse matters.
Often, yes. Many cases end in a reduction or dismissal after a lawyer challenges the evidence, files motions, or negotiates with the prosecutor. Much of the work happens before any trial.
Misdemeanors commonly run $2,000 to $5,000 flat, a first DUI about $2,500 to $7,500, and felonies $7,500 and up. Hourly rates are roughly $250 to $450.
Be polite, give your name, then say you want a lawyer and stop talking. Do not explain yourself or consent to searches. Anything you say can be used against you.
Many California convictions can later be expunged once probation is completed, but rules vary by offense and some serious charges cannot be. A lawyer can tell you whether your charge is eligible.
A misdemeanor carries up to a year in county jail; a felony can mean state prison and longer-term consequences. Some California charges are 'wobblers' that can be filed either way, which is where a defense lawyer can make a real difference.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.