Arrested in Fresno? You may have only 10 days to act.
If you were arrested for DUI in Fresno, the clock on your driver's license starts immediately: you have just 10 days to request a DMV hearing or your license is suspended automatically. Criminal cases are filed in Fresno County Superior Court, and the right lawyer can shape the outcome long before trial. The 10 firms below all have verifiable Fresno criminal practices.
Fresno criminal defense covers DUI, drug charges, domestic violence, theft, assault, and serious felonies in both Fresno County Superior Court and, for federal matters, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Several of the attorneys below are former prosecutors or State Bar certified criminal law specialists, a credential held by only a few hundred lawyers statewide.
How we picked these firms: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell), Avvo and Justia ratings, state-bar certifications, published verdicts and settlements where available, and client review patterns. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
These 10 firms were drawn from Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, and Expertise listings and cross-checked against State Bar certification records and former-prosecutor backgrounds. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and an experienced Fresno defense lawyer can challenge the stop, the search, the testing, and the charging decision itself.
Practice focus: State and federal criminal defense, white-collar, serious felonies, DUI
Why they made the list: Jeffrey T. Hammerschmidt is a former state prosecutor and a State Bar of California certified criminal law specialist, a distinction held by fewer than 350 attorneys statewide, with about 32 years of experience across Central Valley counties and federal court.
Practice focus: Serious felonies, homicide, drug crimes, DUI, federal defense
Why they made the list: Mark W. Coleman has been named one of the top criminal defense attorneys in Northern California by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys. The firm reports more than 100 years of combined experience across the Central Valley.
Practice focus: DUI defense, criminal defense, DMV hearings
Why they made the list: Both attorneys are former Fresno County deputy district attorneys. The firm holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating and a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 listing, with 40-plus years of combined experience.
Practice focus: DUI, drug charges, theft, domestic violence, felonies
Why they made the list: More than 20 years focused on criminal defense, with a Superb Avvo rating. Office at 2140 Merced St, Suite 105.
Practice focus: Serious felonies, DUI, drug crimes, criminal appeals
Why they made the list: David Mugridge has been listed as a California Super Lawyer in criminal law since 2009 and is a State Bar certified criminal law specialist.
Practice focus: DUI, criminal and traffic defense, expungements
Why they made the list: More than 24 years of skilled, affordable defense work in Fresno, with a practice built around DUI and criminal matters.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUI, felony and misdemeanor charges
Why they made the list: A respected Fresno criminal and DUI defense attorney with offices at 191 West Shaw Ave, Suite 209.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUI, family law
Why they made the list: Founding attorney Yan Shrayberman has 19-plus years of experience and a 2026 Super Lawyers selection, handling criminal defense alongside family law.
Practice focus: DUI, misdemeanors, traffic, and criminal matters
Why they made the list: A long-running Fresno defense practice focused on accessible, affordable representation for DUI and lower-level criminal charges.
Practice focus: DUI, drug offenses, theft, criminal defense
Why they made the list: An established Fresno criminal and DUI defense practice listed in Avvo and Justia directories with a focus on local Fresno County court experience.
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Request Free Consultation →DUI has two separate cases. A Fresno DUI triggers both a criminal case in Fresno County Superior Court and a DMV administrative case over your license. You must request the DMV hearing within 10 days of the arrest or the suspension takes effect automatically. Many of the firms above handle both tracks.
The legal limit and the law. California's DUI statute is Vehicle Code §23152. The standard limit is a 0.08% blood-alcohol level, lower for commercial and underage drivers. A first offense is usually a misdemeanor, but prior convictions, injuries, or high readings can escalate the exposure quickly.
Reform laws can help. California's Proposition 47 reduced several drug and theft felonies to misdemeanors, and Penal Code §1203.4 allows expungement of many completed convictions. A good Fresno lawyer will tell you early whether you qualify for reduction, diversion, or later expungement.
Local knowledge matters. Charging patterns, diversion programs, and plea practices vary by courthouse and by the deputy DA assigned. Former prosecutors and lawyers who appear in Fresno County daily know how specific judges and prosecutors handle specific charges.
Criminal defense in Fresno is usually billed as a flat fee for a defined stage (arraignment through resolution, for example) or hourly for complex felonies. Ranges below reflect typical Fresno-market pricing; serious felonies and trials cost substantially more.
| Matter type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Misdemeanor DUI (first offense, no trial) | Roughly $2,500 to $7,500 flat fee in the Fresno market. |
| Misdemeanor (non-DUI, resolved by plea) | $1,500 to $5,000 flat fee is common. |
| Felony defense (through plea or dismissal) | $7,500 to $25,000+ depending on charge severity. |
| Jury trial | $15,000 to $50,000+ for misdemeanors; far more for serious felonies. |
| DMV hearing representation (DUI) | Often $750 to $2,000, sometimes bundled with the criminal fee. |
Most Fresno firms that show up on Google for criminal defense work are competent. A few are exceptional, and a handful are volume shops. Three checks separate them.
Scope match. A solo who handles your exact situation week in and week out is often a better fit than a large firm that will hand your file to its most junior associate. Match the firm's size and focus to the size and stakes of your matter.
Direct contact. Get the lawyer who will actually do the work on the phone before you sign. If you cannot reach them before they have your signature, that is the level of access you will have for the whole case.
Written terms. Every firm here will give you a written fee agreement. Read it. The fee, the scope, who does the work, and what happens if you switch firms are all in there. Ambiguity on paper is ambiguity for the rest of the matter.
1. Arrest and the 10-day clock. For a DUI, request the DMV hearing within 10 days. Your lawyer can handle that filing and start reviewing the police report, body-cam footage, and any chemical-test records.
2. Arraignment. The first court appearance in Fresno County Superior Court, where charges are read and a plea is entered. For many misdemeanors your lawyer can appear without you.
3. Pretrial and motions. Your lawyer challenges the stop, the search, and the evidence, files motions to suppress where the law supports it, and negotiates with the deputy DA over charges and diversion.
4. Resolution. Most cases resolve by a negotiated plea, a reduction, diversion, or dismissal. A strong defense often shifts the result well before trial.
5. Trial and aftermath. If the case goes to a jury, preparation and local experience matter. Afterward, your lawyer can advise on expungement under Penal Code 1203.4 once you qualify.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a recovery, a dismissal, or an approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior name at intake, then never speak to them again and a junior or paralegal runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. A reputable firm hands you the agreement in writing and lets you read it at home. High-pressure intake is the mark of a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. Look for verdicts, settlements, bar certifications, or peer recognition you can check. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing, not evidence.
Vague fees. Every legitimate Fresno lawyer gives you a written fee agreement stating the structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you change firms.
Most firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring written questions, write down the answers, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Hiring the lawyer is the start, not the finish. The firms that earn their reputation in Fresno share a few habits worth holding yours to. They return calls and emails within a day or two, even if the answer is "no news yet." They explain each step before it happens, in plain language, so you are never guessing what comes next. They put the important things in writing, including the fee agreement, the strategy, and any settlement offer, so nothing rests on a hallway conversation you might remember differently later.
Your job matters too. Keep one folder, paper or digital, with every document, bill, letter, and photo connected to your matter. Write down dates and names as things happen, because memory fades and details win cases. Tell your lawyer the bad facts as well as the good ones; surprises that surface later are far more damaging than anything you disclose up front. And do not post about your situation on social media, because the other side will look, and a careless post can undercut an otherwise strong case.
If the relationship is not working, you are allowed to change firms. The rules let you switch counsel, and the fee is sorted out between the lawyers rather than charged to you twice. A good fit should leave you feeling informed and in control of your own decisions, not kept in the dark and pushed toward whatever closes the file fastest.
Ten days from the arrest to request a DMV hearing. Miss that window and your license is suspended automatically, regardless of the criminal case.
Usually it is a misdemeanor. It can become a felony if there was a serious injury, a death, or prior DUI convictions within the lookback period.
Most charge a flat fee: roughly $2,500 to $7,500 for a first-offense misdemeanor DUI, and $7,500 to $25,000 or more for felony defense. Trials cost more.
Many completed convictions can be expunged under Penal Code 1203.4, and some felonies can be reduced to misdemeanors. Ask your lawyer whether you qualify.
Fresno public defenders are skilled but carry heavy caseloads. A private lawyer can devote more time to your file, but the public defender is a real option if cost is the barrier.
An attorney certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in criminal law, a credential held by only a few hundred lawyers statewide. Several firms above hold it.
For many misdemeanors your lawyer can appear for you. Felonies and certain hearings generally require your presence.
Immediately. The 10-day DMV deadline and early charging decisions both happen fast, and early defense work often shapes the entire case.
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