DUI defense · Los Angeles County
DUI Attorney in Los Angeles
After a DUI arrest you have 10 days to ask the DMV for a hearing, or the license suspension goes ahead on its own. That deadline is separate from the court case. Call before it runs out.
- Answered 24/7
- One flat fee, in writing
- Super Lawyers 2025
15+years defending criminal cases in LA County
300+criminal cases defended
Super LawyersSelected 2025 · Rising Stars 2017–2024
Avvo 10.0Superb rating · State Bar member in good standing
What people ask us first
What is on your mind right now
Short answers to what we hear most on the first call. The full picture comes when we talk.
I blew over the limit. Isn't it already decided?
No. A breath or blood number is a test result, and tests can be wrong. Breath machines have calibration and maintenance records. Blood samples have a chain of custody and lab notes. We get all of it and check it.
The DMV paper says I have 10 days.
That deadline is real. Ask for the DMV hearing within 10 days and request a stay, and you can usually keep driving until the hearing is decided. Miss it, and the suspension starts with nobody arguing for you.
I need to drive for work.
Restricted licenses, ignition interlock devices and DUI program enrollment are timing questions. We plan for them alongside the court case, because waiting until sentencing shrinks your options.
or call (310) 881-2786, answered 24/7
Office: 3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90034, in West LA, a short drive from the Airport Courthouse.
Los Angeles County
How a DUI moves through Los Angeles
Every LA DUI runs on two tracks with two different deadlines. Here is what each one looks like.
Two separate cases
The DMV handles your license. The court handles the criminal charge. Winning one does not settle the other.
Who files the charge
Inside LA city limits the City Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor DUIs. The District Attorney handles felony DUIs and most cases in the rest of the county.
Where it is heard
Many central LA misdemeanor DUIs go to the Metropolitan Courthouse on South Hill Street. Westside arrests often go to the Airport Courthouse, and Valley arrests to Van Nuys.
How you were stopped
LAPD, CHP and the Sheriff all run DUI enforcement here, including checkpoints. Why and how you were pulled over is one of the first things we look at.
We take cases from across LA County, including
- Downtown LA
- Hollywood
- Koreatown
- West LA
- Santa Monica
- Venice
- Culver City
- Beverly Hills
- Inglewood
- Westchester
- Van Nuys
- North Hollywood
- Sherman Oaks
- Burbank
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- East LA
- Compton
- Torrance
- Long Beach
- San Pedro
- Santa Clarita
- Lancaster
Aaron P. McAllisterCriminal defense attorney, Los Angeles
Who you will talk to
You talk to Aaron. Not a call center.
Most firms hand your first call to an intake team. Here, the lawyer who picks up the phone is the lawyer who goes to court with you.
The first call is with Aaron
He hears the facts himself and tells you what he thinks. A team of four works your file, and you will know each of them by name.
Criminal defense, nothing else
No divorces, no injury claims. More than fifteen years spent in Los Angeles County criminal courts.
One flat fee, written down
You get the number and the plan in writing before any work starts. No hourly meter running in the background.
Someone answers at 2 a.m.
The phone is answered around the clock. Online case reviews get a reply within an hour, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
After you reach out
What happens next
01
You call or send the form
Tell us what happened in your own words. The person you reach is part of the team that handles your case.
02
A straight answer
We go over the charge, what you are realistically facing, and every option, including the ones where you don’t need to hire anyone.
03
A plan and a flat fee
We read the police report, the body-cam and how the arrest was handled. You get the strategy and the fee in writing before anything is filed.
04
We see it through
Motions, negotiation or trial, depending on what the evidence supports. Nothing gets agreed to without your OK.
From the firm’s Avvo profile
What clients say
“Not only did he take me under his wing IMMEDIATELY and without hesitation after hearing my situation, he didn’t judge me, he was quick, and was the 1st attorney out of dozens whom I called, that didn’t interrupt me nor put me on the backburner.”
Christian, hired attorney · Avvo review · November 2021
“Attorney McAllister goes above and beyond. It is clear he is very passionate about his work and getting justice and the most favorable outcome for his clients. I have hired him personally and referred him to family and friends.”
Al, hired attorney · Avvo · March 2025
“Attorney McAllister exudes Professionalism and I felt as though I knew him personally starting on Day One. He listened intently and came up with a strategy to move forward and address our case.”
Hired attorney · Avvo · November 2024
“You can tell Aaron cares about his clients and will fight tooth and nail to get the best result. He explores every avenue in a defense looking for motions to file. I’m an attorney myself, Los Angeles native, and if any of my family members need help, I would trust them in Aaron’s hands.”
Givelle Lamano, criminal defense lawyer · Peer endorsement on Avvo
This testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Reviews are excerpted from the firm’s public Avvo profile; the peer endorsement is by a fellow attorney, as published on Avvo.
Why call now
The 10-day DMV clock does not wait for court.
If you are still inside the 10 days, we will tell you in the first minute of the call. That window cannot be reopened later.
Phone answered 24/7 · Online reviews answered within an hour, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Common questions
Answers before you call
Is a first DUI a felony?
Almost never. A first DUI where no one was hurt is a misdemeanor. It becomes a felony if someone was injured, if you have three or more prior DUIs in 10 years, or if you have a prior felony DUI.
What actually happens to my license?
Two separate things. The DMV can suspend it on its own, which is what the 10-day deadline is about. The court can also suspend it if you are convicted. Settling one does not settle the other.
Can a DUI be reduced?
Sometimes. The usual reductions are a wet reckless (VC 23103.5) or a dry reckless (VC 23103). Whether either is possible depends on the stop and the test result. A wet reckless still counts as a prior DUI for 10 years.
Do I have to take field sobriety tests?
If you are 21 or older and not on DUI probation, the roadside tests and the handheld breath test are voluntary. The chemical test after a lawful arrest is not, and refusing it has its own penalties.
How long does a DUI stay on my record?
For sentencing, a DUI counts as a prior for 10 years. It stays on your criminal record, and it stays on your DMV driving record for its own set period.
What should I bring to the first call?
Nothing is required. If you have them: the citation, the pink temporary license, the police agency and report number, and your own notes from that night.