Safeguard your driving privileges with the 5 best DUI lawyers in Newcastle
One ordinary night out in Newcastle ended with a drink-driving arrest and a trip to the police station. What started as a quick decision to drive home turned into formal charges, a possible licence ban, and the real risk of a criminal record.
That’s the moment when searching for a DUI lawyer in Newcastle stops being a casual Google search and becomes urgent. The consequences are immediate—court dates, insurance implications, and the possibility of disqualification.
Because the stakes are that high, choosing the right legal representation matters. So we have compiled this list to help you find someone who can respond quickly and handle the technical details properly.
How much does a DUI lawyer charge in Newcastle?
DUI lawyers in Newcastle typically charge between £800 and £1,500 + VAT for a straightforward guilty plea at the Magistrates’ Court. Meanwhile, contested hearings or trials can range from £2,000 to £5,000+, depending on complexity.
1. David Gray Solicitors
Address: Old County Court, 56 Westgate Rd, upon Tyne NE1 5XU
Contact Details: +441912329547
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Established in 1979, David Gray Solicitors operates from Newcastle upon Tyne, with another office in South Shields. The firm has over 90 staff and 10 partners, and it is SRA regulated with Lexcel accreditation, which gives us confidence in its internal standards.
Their motoring law team takes a technical approach to drink-driving cases. They obtain custody footage and review police paperwork, including breath and blood test procedures, to determine whether the proper procedures were followed.
Fee transparency is a strong point here. Guilty plea drink-driving cases are usually £300–£750 including VAT, while contested matters start from around £800 + VAT, and a half-day trial is estimated at £1,200–£1,900 + VAT.
What’s included in the fixed fee is clearly defined. It covers reviewing prosecution evidence, Magistrates’ Court representation, and written advice on the outcome and appeal options.
Access is practical too, with a 24/7 emergency crime number and Zoom consultations after arrest.
The only issue is that the DUI defence sits within a broader multi-disciplinary firm rather than a niche motoring-only setup. This may matter for clients seeking a boutique-style specialist.
Professional, calm, and thorough
“I cannot thank James Rickerby and Josh Hart enough for the representation and support they provided me. From start to finish, they were professional, calm, and incredibly thorough. They took the time to explain everything clearly, guided me through what was an extremely stressful period, and ensured my case was presented fairly and properly. Their preparation and advocacy on the day made a huge difference, and I genuinely felt listened to and supported throughout. The outcome achieved has given me the opportunity to move forward with my life, and I will always be grateful for the care, judgment, and commitment they showed. I would thoroughly recommend them for any criminal matter to anyone needing strong, compassionate, and highly professional legal representation As a whole the company provided a professional and careful service throughout.”
- Paul Thompson, Google Review
Handled everything with professionalism
“I can’t recommend David Gray Solicitors enough, and I want to give special thanks to Hannah Mostoufi. Hannah handled everything with incredible professionalism, patience, and genuine care. She listened to all my concerns, explained everything clearly, and guided me through each step with attention to detail. Her support and dedication made a stressful process feel manageable and gave me real peace of mind. Hannah and the team are truly outstanding — excellent service from start to finish!”
- Jose Cabaluna, Google Review
2. Pearson Caulfield Solicitors
Address: Newgate Shopping Centre, Newgate Street, 1 Newgate St, upon Tyne NE1 5RE
Contact Details: +441912618878
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Pearson Caulfield Solicitors has over 40 years in practice, around 16+ staff, and holds Lexcel accreditation, which gives us reassurance about its management standards.
Their criminal department has more than 30 years of combined experience and is led by solicitor advocate Lewis Pearson. He can represent clients in both the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court, so cases do not need to be passed to an external barrister.
Fees are clearly set out. Guilty plea drink-driving cases start at £300 + VAT. Meanwhile, contested matters range from £600–£1,200 + VAT, and expert reports usually cost £150–£500.
Service runs from police station advice through trial, and clients deal directly with qualified solicitors. Also, costs are agreed in advance, typically around £250 + VAT per hour, and legal aid eligibility is assessed where possible.
The city-centre location makes attendance easy, especially for nearby court dates. We like the continuity of representation and the transparent pricing structure, though trial cases with experts can push total costs much higher, affecting budgeting.
Fast, friendly, and reliable service
“Pearson caulfield are a brilliant soliciters fast friendly reliable service was looked after start to finish of our house sale would definiately reccomend to others fantastic firm would use these guys again and highly reccomend to others.”
- Chantel Postello, Google Review
Dealt with queries quickly
“It was straightforward and easy to make initial contact, obtain a quote for fees and instruction this firm. They dealt with my queries quickly and fully. A special thank you to Jake and Rebecca for handing my matter. Loop”
- Joanne Blackwood, Google Review
3. Beecham Peacock Solicitors
Address: 2nd Floor, South, New England House, 10 Ridley Pl, upon Tyne NE1 8JW
Contact Details: +441912323048
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Beecham Peacock Solicitors has been operating since at least 1953 and is SRA regulated and Lexcel accredited. With over 180 years of combined team experience, we are confident in its structure and oversight.
Their motoring law team covers drink and drug driving, dangerous driving, and totting-up bans.
Consultations include reviewing breath-test evidence and police procedures, with representation in the Magistrates’ Court and higher courts when required.
We feel comfortable with their depth and courtroom coverage, although they are not a niche DUI-only practice, so drink-driving defence forms part of a broader service mix.
Nonetheless, they regularly served taxi and HGV drivers, whose incomes can be affected immediately by a ban. That focus on licensing impact and employer reporting shows practical awareness beyond just fines and points.
In addition, the firm has departments in employment and personal injury, which make support useful when a DUI charge is linked to job risk or a road traffic accident claim.
Professional, clear, and supportive
“I had an excellent experience with this firm handling my personal injury claim. From start to finish, the service was professional, clear, and supportive. I would especially like to thank Jane Ferguson, who kept me well informed throughout the process and handled everything efficiently and with great care. The claim was concluded successfully, and I felt confident that my case was in safe hands at all times. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone needing assistance with a personal injury claim or other legal matters.”
- Kristaps Bērziņš, Google Review
Handled the case with the utmost professionalism
“I needed urgent assistance in a sudden family law dispute. From the outset Beecham and Peacock were open and transparent about costs, incredibly clear with their recommendations and handled the case with the upmost professionalism. A huge thank you to Lauren and her team for guiding me through and ultimately succeeding with my case. I fully recommend this firm for their services and would not hesitate in utilising them again if needed.”
- Simon Pinkney, Google Review
4. Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
Address: Wellbar Central, 36 Gallowgate, upon Tyne NE1 4TD
Contact Details: +441912790096
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM – 6 PM
Irwin Mitchell Solicitors has over 110 years of history and is consistently ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
Their motoring law team handles drink-driving, failing to provide a specimen, and dangerous or careless driving. They also handle totting-up cases and driving without insurance, with representation from the first allegation through to trial.
Case preparation is structured and detailed too. They examine police conduct and prepare mitigation, often coordinating with specialist barristers for contested hearings.
However, fees are clearly positioned at the higher end. First hearings range from £1,650–£2,500, guilty pleas with mitigation can reach £2,000–£4,000, and trials may cost £6,000–£12,000, excluding VAT.
Even so, their funding options include private payment, legal expenses insurance, conditional fee arrangements, and legal aid, where available.
Additionally, having employment, immigration, and family teams in-house adds depth when a licence loss affects work or status.
Supported through the process
“Abigail and Esther supported us through the process of securing an EOTIS package for my 14 year old son. He had been out of school for 18 months and the LA were pushing us towards Tribunal. Considering the long waiting list, my son would have only one term left of school at this stage. School were saying they couldn’t do anything and the LA were refusing to engage with us. Irwin Mitchell sent a Letter Before Action to the LA which worked really well. We had a response within two weeks, offering everything we had asked for and to my shock we also received compensation for items in his EHCP which we my son had not received whilst he had been out of education. The compensation covered the legal costs and we are extremely happy with the outcome. Thank you Abigail and Esther!”
- Juliet Knight, Google Review
Handled everything compassionately and professionally
“From the very beginning our claim has been handled in a compassionate and professional manner. Our Solicitor has kept us up to date every step of the way. We have met our solicitor face to face as well as receiving phone calls and emails to update us on the progress of our claim. She has always had mine, and my wife’s, best interests at heart in everything she has done for us in the 15 months since my accident, and I cannot praise Irwin Mitchell enough. Without their help I would not have got half the help I have received.”
- Nick Stanley, Google Review
5. Emmersons Solicitors
Address: 137a Back High St, Gosforth, upon Tyne NE3 4ET
Contact Details: +441912846989
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Emmersons Solicitors is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, with another office in Sunderland. The firm has 25+ years of practice, an 11–50 person team, and is regulated by the SRA.
Their motoring department covers drink and drug driving, failing to provide a specimen, and dangerous or careless driving. They also deal with totting-up bans and licence or insurance offences, which often run alongside DUI cases.
Michael Robinson leads much of the motoring work and holds Higher Rights of Audience. With 25+ years’ experience, he represents clients in both Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, which keeps advocacy in-house.
Access to 24/7 free police station advice is a strong feature. Fixed-fee arrangements are offered for motoring cases, and special reasons arguments are used when clients are trying to retain their licence for work purposes.
We are genuinely comfortable with the courtroom experience and clear fee model. However, legal aid is rarely available for standard motoring offences, so most clients will need to pay privately.
Went above and beyond
“My brother and I have had the pleasure of using Emmersons to sell a house and to say they were excellent, wouldn’t do them justice. Our home buyer’s solicitors were difficult to deal with to say the least but Michael, Raj, Elle and Ellie have been fantastic, they didn’t let up on the completion date we were trying to achieve even though the other solicitors would not return calls or emails for a period of time but we got there. They went above and beyond in terms of correspondence to my brother and I, keeping us informed through the entire process. We would highly recommend Emmerson’s Solicitors to anyone. Thank you so much to the four of you and everyone else behind the scenes who has worked on our sale, we greatly appreciate everything and will definitely be in touch the next time we need your services. Take care, Andy and Bob.”
- Andrew Leask, Google Review
Incredibly helpful
“I used Emmersons Solicitors when I was buying my first home! Very good choice, I’d definitely recommend them. Micheal was lovely and handled my case very well. The whole process from making the offer to completion lasted just over 2 months and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Always had the chance to ask questions or for clarification, which was incredibly helpful as it was my first time doing this whole process.”
- Nicole Pfeifer, Google Review