Shepard Law in Baltimore: DUI Defense With a Hands-On Attorney Model
Shepard Law is a solo criminal defense practice in Baltimore that focuses on drunk-driving charges, from misdemeanor breath tests to felony cases involving injury or repeat offenses. The firm handles the full scope of Maryland DUI law, including license suspension defense before the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), a separate proceeding that many drivers overlook.
What Shepard Law Actually Does
Shepard Law takes cases under the Maryland DUI statute (Transportation Article § 21-902), which distinguishes between impaired driving (0.04 to 0.07 percent BAC for non-commercial drivers) and DUI proper (0.08 percent and above). The practice also defends refusal charges, which carry steeper penalties than positive tests in some scenarios, and handles cases involving marijuana, prescription drugs, and other controlled substances.
The firm's scope extends beyond criminal court. After a DUI arrest, the Maryland MVA automatically suspends your license 45 days from the arrest date unless you request a hearing within ten days. That hearing happens separately from criminal court and requires a different legal strategy. Shepard Law pursues both tracks: it may challenge the admissibility of the breath or blood test result in criminal court while simultaneously arguing for license reinstatement or a work-permit restriction at the MVA.
Services and Fee Structure
Shepard Law operates on a flat-fee retainer model rather than hourly billing. For a first-offense misdemeanor DUI in Maryland, a typical retainer ranges from $2,000 to $3,500. Repeat offenses and felony cases (second offense within five years, third within ten years, or DUI causing injury) cost more and may require a $5,000 to $8,000 retainer. These figures cover representation through resolution, whether that is a negotiated plea, trial, or both. The MVA license suspension hearing is usually included in the flat fee.
Charges vary based on complexity: a case with a mandatory breath test, no accident, and a cooperating client costs less than a case involving blood draws, hospital records, accident investigation, or expert witness preparation. Discuss your specific circumstances before committing. Many Baltimore attorneys charge by the hour ($200 to $400 per hour for experienced criminal defense counsel), so flat fees at Shepard Law offer predictability if the case resolves without trial.
How Shepard Law Compares to Other Baltimore DUI Attorneys
Baltimore has a broad DUI defense market. Solo practitioners like Shepard Law typically charge flat fees and give cases personal attention from a single attorney. Law firms with multiple attorneys (such as those handling DUI within a general criminal practice) may assign junior associates, which can reduce cost but also personal continuity. Public defenders handle DUI cases for unrepresented clients, but they carry heavy caseloads and rarely have time for thorough investigation or negotiation in misdemeanor cases; felony DUI cases receive more resources.
Shepard Law's distinguishing feature is its focus. A general criminal defense firm might handle DUI as one of dozens of offense types; a solo DUI specialist studies the nuances of Maryland's breath-test protocols, MVA hearing procedures, and prosecutors' common leverage points. The trade-off is that a smaller practice may have fewer connections or less clout with courts than a firm with a long history in Baltimore or one known for high-volume settlements. Choose a solo specialist if you value direct communication with the attorney handling your case; choose a larger firm if you want perceived institutional weight or if your case is unusually complex (multiple victims, professional license at stake, significant injury).
Who Shepard Law Suits and Who It Does Not
Shepard Law is a fit for drivers arrested in Baltimore or Baltimore County who want a single attorney to manage both the criminal and MVA proceedings without the overhead of a large firm. First-time offenders and drivers with employment or insurance concerns benefit from the practice's focus on minimizing collateral consequences (license loss, employment background checks, insurance rating hikes).
Shepard Law is not a fit for drivers requiring courtroom celebrity or those arrested in jurisdictions far from Baltimore, where the attorney would need to travel frequently. It is also not a fit for corporate or high-net-worth clients seeking a well-known name on the letterhead for credibility in negotiations; you pay for that representation elsewhere.
What the First Appointment Involves
Initial consultations at Shepard Law are free and typically 30 to 45 minutes. Come with your arrest papers, any breath or blood test results, the citation, and the MVA suspension notice. The attorney will review the traffic stop (whether the officer had reasonable suspicion), the testing procedure (whether the breath machine was calibrated within state standards), and your prior record. If the case is strong for plea negotiation (poor stop, testing errors, favorable prior history), the attorney will explain realistic outcomes and fee structure.
The first billable work usually involves obtaining the traffic stop video from the Baltimore Police Department (or county sheriff, depending on jurisdiction), the breath-testing machine's maintenance records, and the prosecutor's discovery package. This takes two to four weeks. The MVA hearing will be scheduled separately and, if you request a hearing, must occur within 20 days of your request. Plan on a hearing decision within two weeks after that.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
Verification note: Shepard Law's hours and office location change periodically. Check the firm's website or call ahead before visiting. The practice operates by appointment; drop-ins are not accommodated. Most case work is done via email, phone, or video call, so you do not need to visit the office repeatedly.
Court appearances happen in Maryland District Court (misdemeanor and less-than-three-prior-offense felony DUI) or Circuit Court (three or more priors, or felony DUI with injury). Baltimore District Court is located at 100 North Calvert Street, with free parking available in the courthouse garage. County courts vary by district; your attorney will coordinate logistics.
Why Shepard Law Holds a Spot in Baltimore's DUI Defense Landscape
Shepard Law offers flat-fee transparency and single-attorney focus at a scale that matches most first and second DUI cases in Baltimore. It fills the gap between overloaded public defenders and large-firm pricing, without sacrificing the specialist knowledge required to navigate Maryland's breath-test science and MVA suspension process.
