Arrested in Orange County? The first 10 days matter for your license.
A criminal charge in Orlando moves fast, and a DUI arrest starts a 10-day clock to protect your driver's license. The firms below handle DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, and federal cases in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and several include former prosecutors or board-certified specialists. Most charge a flat fee per charge and offer a free first consultation.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced Avvo, Super Lawyers, Justia, Best Lawyers, Expertise.com, and Florida / Missouri Bar listings. Firms that appeared across at least two independent sources, with verifiable peer recognition or board certifications, made the list. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Criminal defense in Orlando is usually priced as a flat fee per charge rather than by the hour, so you know the cost before you commit. What you are really buying is judgment: which cases to fight, which to plead, and how to handle the prosecutor and judge assigned to your case. That is why local experience and, where possible, board certification or a prosecutor background matter more than advertising.
If you were arrested for DUI, act quickly. Florida gives you only 10 days to request a formal review of your license suspension through the DHSMV. The firms below are recognized across Avvo, Super Lawyers, Justia, and Expertise for Orange County criminal work.
Practice focus: DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, expungements
Orlando's top-rated DUI and criminal defense firm by Yelp for seven consecutive years, with attorneys carrying more than 60 years of combined prosecutor and defense experience.
Why they made the list: Heavy local recognition and a DUI-focused bench.
Practice focus: DUI, drug crimes, criminal defense
Founding partners David Katz and James Phillips are two of only four board-certified DUI defense experts in Florida, and personally review the police report and video in every case.
Why they made the list: Rare board-certified DUI specialization and partner-level attention.
Practice focus: DUI, felonies, white-collar, sex crimes
Orlando defense firm founded by former state prosecutors Andrew Moses and Jay Rooth, handling both state and federal criminal matters.
Why they made the list: Ex-prosecutor insight into how the state builds and charges cases.
Practice focus: DUI, traffic, felonies, misdemeanors
Central Florida criminal and injury firm whose team includes former prosecutors, with a high volume of Orange County cases.
Why they made the list: Deep familiarity with Orange County's courts and prosecutors.
Practice focus: Serious felonies, DUI, criminal trials
Founded by nationally known Orlando trial lawyer Mark O'Mara, a former president of the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers with decades of high-profile trial experience.
Why they made the list: Trial pedigree for serious or high-exposure charges.
Practice focus: DUI, drug crimes, criminal defense
Orlando defense team that includes a former judge and a board-certified criminal trial specialist, with more than 1,000 five-star client reviews.
Why they made the list: Former-judge perspective and a strong client-review record.
Practice focus: DUI, felonies, misdemeanors
Orlando criminal defense firm consistently listed among the city's top ten, with reviewers praising attorneys Ken Eulo and Luz Root for clarity and responsiveness.
Why they made the list: Accessible, well-reviewed defense for everyday charges.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, federal crimes, DUI
Mark NeJame's full-service Orlando firm with a long-running criminal and trial practice and broad local recognition.
Why they made the list: A well-resourced firm for complex or high-profile matters.
Practice focus: DUI, drug charges, theft, violent crimes
Statewide Florida criminal defense practice with an Orlando office handling DUI and felony matters.
Why they made the list: Single-focus criminal defense with transparent flat-fee pricing.
Practice focus: Serious felonies, federal defense, appeals
High-profile Florida criminal defense firm founded by Jose Baez, known for complex felony and federal trial work.
Why they made the list: A trial-heavy reputation for the most serious charges.
Every firm above clears the basic bar: real track record, real recognition, real Orlando presence. The differences between them are narrower than the marketing suggests, and the right pick depends on your specific facts. Use the free consultation to test three things before you sign with anyone.
Direct experience with your exact issue. Ask how many cases like yours the firm has handled in the past three years — not over a career, three years. You want a number, not a slogan.
Who actually does the work. At larger firms, the lawyer at intake is not always the lawyer on your file. Ask, in writing, who your day-to-day attorney will be and whether you can reach them directly.
How they communicate. DUI & Criminal Defense matters drag on for months. A firm that replies within a day while courting you should commit to a response-time standard after you retain. Ask what that standard is and what happens when it slips.
After an Orange County arrest, you are booked and given a first-appearance hearing (usually within 24 hours) where bond is set. Arraignment follows in a few weeks. A misdemeanor often resolves in 2 to 6 months; a felony commonly takes 6 to 18 months through discovery, depositions, and motions. DUI cases run on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate license-suspension case at the DHSMV, where you have just 10 days from arrest to demand a hearing.
Orlando criminal defense is typically flat-fee. A first-time DUI commonly runs $3,000 to $7,500. Other misdemeanors fall in a similar $2,500 to $7,500 range. Felonies generally run $10,000 to $40,000 or more depending on severity and whether the case goes to trial. Most firms offer a free consultation and will quote the fee, what it covers, and whether trial is billed separately, in writing.
Orlando criminal cases run through the Ninth Judicial Circuit at the Orange County Courthouse. Florida's DUI penalties escalate quickly: a first conviction can mean up to 6 months in jail, a $500–$1,000 fine, 50 hours of community service, a six-month license suspension, and ignition-interlock requirements for higher readings or repeat offenses. Theme-park-area arrests — theft, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and drug possession — are common in Orange County.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a settlement, a dismissal, or an approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior name at the pitch, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who handles your file day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. A reputable firm hands you the engagement letter, gives you time to read it, and lets you take it home. High-pressure intake usually signals a volume mill.
Vague fees. “Don’t worry about cost” is a warning sign. Get the fee structure, what it covers, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you switch firms — all in writing.
Most Orlando criminal defense is flat-fee. Misdemeanors commonly run $2,500–$7,500 and felonies $10,000–$40,000+ depending on severity and whether the case goes to trial. A first-time DUI is often $3,000–$7,500.
Request a formal review hearing with the Florida DHSMV within 10 days to challenge the automatic license suspension. Missing that window usually forfeits your chance to keep driving while the case is pending. A DUI lawyer can file it for you.
For most charges, yes — a flat fee tells you the cost up front and removes the incentive to run up hours. Ask whether trial is included or billed separately, and get the answer in writing.
Sometimes. Depending on the breath/blood evidence, the stop, and the testing, charges are occasionally reduced to reckless driving or dismissed. Board-certified DUI lawyers focus on exactly these issues, but no honest lawyer guarantees a result.
Often yes. Even a misdemeanor conviction creates a permanent record that affects jobs and housing. A lawyer can pursue diversion, a withhold of adjudication, or dismissal that a self-represented defendant may miss.
A withhold of adjudication means the judge does not formally convict you, which can preserve eligibility to seal the record later. It is a common goal in Florida cases and a key point to discuss with your lawyer.
Tell us what happened and we’ll match you with vetted criminal defense attorneys in Orlando. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.