If you've been arrested or charged in San Antonio, what you do first can shape the whole case. The Bexar County firms below defend DWI, felony, and misdemeanor charges — from a first DWI to federal and appellate matters. Most offer a free consultation and flat-fee pricing, so you know the cost before you commit.
As early as possible — ideally before you say anything to police. You have the right to remain silent and to a lawyer, and using them is not a sign of guilt. Texas divides crimes into misdemeanors (Class A, B, and C) and felonies (state-jail up through first-degree and capital). Even a Class A misdemeanor can carry up to a year in the Bexar County jail, and a felony stays on background checks for life. Early counsel can sometimes stop charges from being filed.
DWI is the most common case these San Antonio firms handle, and it moves on two tracks at once: the criminal case in Bexar County court and a separate license fight through Administrative License Revocation (ALR). You generally have just 15 days after a DWI arrest to request the ALR hearing, or your license is suspended automatically. That deadline slips past a lot of people who assume the criminal case is the only thing happening.
Texas also lets many records be cleared later through expunction (erasure) or an order of nondisclosure (sealing), depending on the outcome. San Antonio's large military community has an added wrinkle: a conviction can carry security-clearance and service consequences a civilian wouldn't face, so how a case resolves can matter well beyond the courtroom. Several firms below handle both the defense and later record-clearing.
High-volume, highly reviewed San Antonio DWI and criminal-defense firm. Concentrates on impaired-driving charges and the related license fight, plus general criminal defense. A leading first call for a Bexar County DWI.
A San Antonio institution with roughly seven decades of practice from the historic Tower Life Building. Gerry Goldstein and Cynthia Orr are both board-certified in criminal law and criminal appellate law. The firm to consider for federal charges, white-collar matters, and appeals.
San Antonio defense firm covering DWI and general criminal cases, with experience where a criminal charge overlaps a family-law matter such as a protective order. A solid comparison option for a Bexar County misdemeanor or felony.
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee. Listings are editorial; firms do not pay to appear.
Most Bexar County defense lawyers charge a flat fee by the charge. A misdemeanor or first-time DWI commonly runs $2,500-$6,000; a contested DWI with the license hearing and motions costs more.
Felony defense is more variable — often $7,500-$25,000, higher for serious or federal cases that may go to trial. Hourly billing, where used, runs about $250-$450/hour, and board-certified or federal specialists charge at the upper end.
Flat fees keep the price predictable: you know the cost of the defense before hiring. A later expunction or nondisclosure is usually a separate flat fee, often $1,500-$3,500.
A misdemeanor or straightforward DWI often resolves in 3-8 months through negotiation, a pretrial-diversion program, or a plea. The ALR license case runs faster, which is why moving quickly matters.
Felony cases in Bexar County usually take 6-18 months, and federal cases in the Western District of Texas can run longer, as the defense reviews evidence, files motions, and negotiates.
Record-clearing happens after the case ends and any waiting period passes, typically adding a few months from petition to order once you're eligible.
Tell us briefly what's going on. We route a confidential request to the best-fit San Antonio firm in our directory.