DUI/ Criminal

"A DUI arrest must be fought on two fronts: a civil hearing that deals with your driver's license suspension; and the criminal case against you. The right attorney can help you avoid problems on both fronts that can affect your wallet today and your credit rating, employment and ability to rent or buy a home or apartment for years to come."Jim Fisher

Meet Jim Fisher
James Fisher is our Phoenix Criminal and DUI attorney and has over twenty-three years of experience in the criminal law field. During the first half of his career he was a prosecuting attorney, first with the Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office and then with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He has practiced criminal defense for more than ten years. He has practiced in all of the municipal courts in the valley handling misdemeanor cases and the Superior Court handling felony cases.

Jim has "been on the other side," he knows the law, including the DUI law, and how the system works. He has also handled a wide variety of cases from simple shoplifting to attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a DUI attorney or criminal attorney?
A DUI attorney or criminal attorney can be of great benefit to you in handling your criminal case. A lawyer, experienced in criminal law, or DUI law specifically, usually knows what to expect and normally knows when the prosecution is being unreasonable. The lawyer can look at your case objectively and with legal reasoning. It is with this experience, objectivity, and reasoning that a lawyer best represents your interests.
Often a person charged with a crime does not fully understand the ramifications of being arrested or convicted. A conviction for a crime can effect your credit rating, your ability to rent or lease an apartment, your future college choices and your current or future employment. A conviction for some crimes precludes one from ever legally owning or possessing a firearm. Some of your rights can be affected merely by the arrest for a crime, without being convicted. An example of this is driver’s license suspensions associated with a DUI arrest. A DUI lawyer can advise you of these things.

Finally, the criminal laws change often and a criminal defense lawyer will know the changes in the laws. As an example, the DUI laws in Arizona have changed every few years and are about to be changed again.

How soon do I need a DUI lawyer / criminal lawyer?
The best time to hire a DUI lawyer or criminal lawyer is within the first few hours after you have been arrested.

If I hire you as my lawyer, what are your goals for me?
Our goal is to obtain the best resolution of your case whether that is a dismissal, an acquittal at trial, or a favorable plea offer. Our goal is to protect you interests, criminal and civil.

Will I have to go to court?
The short answer is yes, however, some courts allow the lawyer to appear on your behalf and you would not have to go to court until there is a trial or a resolution to your case.

Do I need to get a copy of the police report?
No, in most cases. Typically, your lawyer will get the police reports and our attorney makes sure you get a copy.

What does it mean if I was arrested, yet no formal charges were filed?
In Superior Court this is called a “scratch”, but a similar thing can happen in the Municipal courts. This could mean the prosecutor is requesting further information about the case and will file charges against you at a later time. A prosecutor has up to one year from the date of crime to file a misdemeanor charge and up to seven years to file the charge on most felonies. A lawyer can contact the prosecutor’s office and find out the reason for the case being “scratched” and help protect your interests.

Will it cost me any money to get started?
Yes. We can work out a payment plan with you; however, you will need a down payment or other collateral. We feel that our fees are reasonable and competitive.