FRAIBERG & PERNIE
Choosing a Michigan OWI or criminal-defense lawyer involves more than searching for the “best” attorney online. Look for a lawyer who handles your specific charge, practices in or understands the relevant court, explains the evidence and process clearly, communicates expectations honestly, and does not promise a dismissal, reduced charge, or particular result.
Criminal and OWI cases can affect a person’s freedom, driver’s license, employment, professional licensing, education, family, and record. The right lawyer for one case may not be the right lawyer for another, so it is important to ask informed questions before deciding whom to hire.
Criminal cases differ substantially. A lawyer who handles general legal matters may not regularly handle the specific issue you are facing.
During a consultation, ask whether the lawyer has experience with the type of matter involved, such as:
Michigan OWI or DUI allegations
First-offense or repeat OWI charges
High-BAC or alleged drugged-driving cases
Felony or misdemeanor charges
Domestic-violence allegations
Assault, drug, theft, weapons, or traffic offenses
Probation-violation proceedings
Driver’s-license restoration or expungement matters
Ask how the lawyer evaluates the specific legal and practical issues raised by your case. The answer should be direct and should not involve a promise of a particular result.
Michigan criminal cases are handled in different district and circuit courts. Local procedures, scheduling practices, prosecutor offices, and judicial expectations can vary.
A lawyer should be able to explain:
Where your case is pending or likely to be filed
The next scheduled court date
What happens at arraignment, pretrial proceedings, hearings, or trial
Whether a bond, no-contact order, testing requirement, or driving restriction applies
What deadlines may affect your case
What information or documents you should preserve
A lawyer does not need to claim special influence with a court or prosecutor to be helpful. What matters is whether the lawyer understands the process and can explain it clearly.
A criminal charge is an allegation. The evidence should be reviewed rather than assumed to be accurate or complete.
For an OWI or DUI matter, that review may involve:
The reason for the traffic stop
Police reports and dispatch records
Dash-camera or body-camera footage
Field-sobriety-test observations
Breath, blood, or other chemical-test records
Laboratory records and testing procedures
Witness statements
Medical information or alternative explanations
Potential constitutional or procedural issues
For other criminal cases, relevant materials may include surveillance video, digital communications, forensic evidence, witness accounts, search-warrant materials, or police interviews.
Ask the lawyer what records they expect to request and how they identify issues that may need further investigation.
You should understand how the attorney-client relationship will work before hiring a lawyer.
Useful questions include:
Who will handle my case day to day?
How and when can I expect updates?
Will I communicate directly with the attorney, staff, or both?
What is included in the fee agreement?
Are there possible additional costs, such as experts, investigators, transcripts, or other case expenses?
What does the lawyer need from me before the next court date?
A clear written fee agreement and straightforward communication can help prevent misunderstandings.
No attorney can ethically guarantee that charges will be dismissed, reduced, or resolved in a particular way. Criminal outcomes depend on the evidence, the law, the court, the prosecutor, the client’s history, procedural issues, and many other facts.
Be cautious if a lawyer promises:
A dismissal
A reduced charge
No jail
No license consequences
A specific sentence
A guaranteed court outcome
A responsible lawyer can discuss possible paths, explain risks, identify issues to investigate, and give an informed assessment after learning the facts. That is different from promising a result.
Before hiring a Michigan lawyer, verify that the attorney is licensed and review reliable professional information.
You can:
Search the attorney through the State Bar of Michigan
Review independent legal-directory profiles, such as Avvo or Justia
Read reviews carefully and look for patterns rather than relying on one comment
Confirm the attorney’s office location, practice focus, and contact information
Ask about the attorney’s experience with the specific charge and court involved
Professional profiles can provide useful background, but a consultation is still important. It gives you an opportunity to ask questions about your facts, your court date, and the lawyer’s process.
Bring or preserve information that may help the lawyer understand the situation:
Tickets, appearance notices, bond paperwork, and court documents
Police paperwork or chemical-test documents
A timeline of what happened
Names and contact information for possible witnesses
Relevant photos, videos, messages, or other records
Information about employment, professional licensing, driving needs, or immigration concerns where relevant
Do not alter, delete, or post about potential evidence. Follow every court, bond, no-contact, testing, or driving condition while the case is pending.
Fraiberg & Pernie is a Birmingham, Michigan criminal-defense law firm representing clients in OWI/DUI, felony, misdemeanor, and related criminal matters in Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, and other Southeast Michigan communities.
Matthew A. Fraiberg is a Michigan criminal-defense attorney, Managing Partner of Fraiberg & Pernie, former city prosecutor, and former judicial clerk. Eric L. Pernie is a Michigan criminal-defense attorney and former law-enforcement officer.
If you have been arrested, charged, or contacted by law enforcement in Michigan, preserve your paperwork, follow applicable conditions, and seek legal advice promptly about your specific situation.
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 to request a confidential consultation. Do not send confidential details through an unsecured web form, text message, voicemail, or email.
Related Michigan DUI Resources
Ultimate Guide to Michigan DUI Law
Michigan DUI Penalties
Best DUI Lawyers in Michigan
Call: 248-986-2682
Reviewed by:
Eric L. Pernie – Criminal Defense Attorney
Matthew Fraiberg – Criminal Defense Attorney
Fraiberg & Pernie
Last Legally reveiwed: August, 2026