How to choose an OUI defense lawyer in Boston
Most people charged with OUI have never hired a criminal defense lawyer. This page explains what to check and what to ask, so you can compare firms on the same terms. It does not recommend any lawyer.
Last reviewed · Information, not legal advice
Why the choice matters
An OUI charge in Massachusetts runs on two tracks at once: a criminal case in court and a license case at the RMV, each with its own deadlines. The most urgent is the 15-day refusal hearing if you refused a breath test. A lawyer who handles OUI cases regularly will know both tracks and the local courts.
Check the license first
Every lawyer practicing in Massachusetts is registered with the Board of Bar Overseers (BBO). Its website has an attorney lookup that shows whether a lawyer is in good standing and whether they have any public discipline. It takes a minute and is worth doing for anyone you are considering.
Read ads with care
Lawyers can advertise in Massachusetts, but the Rules of Professional Conduct set limits:
- Rule 7.1 bars false or misleading statements about a lawyer's services.
- Rule 7.2(d) requires an ad to name at least one lawyer or firm responsible for its content.
- Rule 7.2(c) limits claims of being a certified specialist: the certifying organization has to be named and must be approved by a state authority or accredited by the ABA, unless the ad says it is not.
- The comment to Rule 7.2 says directory listings that list lawyers by practice area are not recommendations.
On this site, paid placements are labeled as attorney advertising, and unclaimed listings show only facts each firm publishes itself.
Questions to ask in a first call
- How many OUI cases do you handle, and in which courts? Ask specifically about the Boston Municipal Court division or district court on your paperwork.
- Who will handle my case day to day? Some firms assign cases to associates.
- Do you handle the RMV side? Ask whether the fee covers the refusal hearing, a hardship license hearing, or a court appeal of a suspension.
- How do you charge? Flat fee or hourly, what the fee covers (arraignment, pretrial, motions, trial), and what costs are extra, such as expert witnesses.
- What are the realistic options? A good lawyer will explain the range of outcomes, including a 24D disposition, without promising a result.
- Do you speak my language? Several Boston-area firms list Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or other languages.
Be wary of anyone who guarantees a result. No lawyer can promise how a judge or jury will decide.
What to bring
- the citation, complaint, or any court paperwork
- the refusal notice or breath test suspension notice
- your bail paperwork
- your license, if you still have it, and your driving record if you have it
- names of any witnesses, and notes you made about the stop
Out-of-state drivers
If you live elsewhere, ask whether the firm can appear for you at some court dates and how your home state's licensing agency will treat a Massachusetts OUI.
Free and low-cost help
If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court at arraignment about appointed counsel through the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Mass.gov's "Finding a lawyer" page describes other ways to find legal help.
The directory
The attorney directory lists Greater Boston firms that say on their own websites that they handle OUI defense. It is a starting point for your own research, not a recommendation. Laws and court practices change; confirm anything that matters to your case with a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Who you will deal with
Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers – attorney lookup
Committee for Public Counsel Services
More offices, with notes, are on the local resources page.
Find local help
Listings come from public records or from the business itself. A listing is not a recommendation.
Common questions
Does DUIBoston.com recommend lawyers?
No. The directory lists firms that handle OUI cases, in alphabetical order, from each firm's own website. Paid listings are labeled as attorney advertising. We do not rank, endorse, or vouch for any lawyer.
What does "board certified" mean in a lawyer's ad?
Massachusetts Rule 7.2(c) lets a lawyer say they are certified as a specialist only if the certifying organization is named and is either approved by a state authority or accredited by the American Bar Association, or the ad says the organization's standards are not regulated by a state authority or the ABA. Ask which organization certified the lawyer.
What if I cannot afford a lawyer?
Ask the judge at arraignment to be assessed for appointed counsel. The Committee for Public Counsel Services provides public defenders in Massachusetts.
Sources
Official sources checked on October 29, 2026.