Do I need a lawyer for a 1st time DUI?

Since a DUI triggers both a civil and criminal case it it advisable to have legal counsel.  For one thing this is a highly technical area of the law and an attorney may be able to have the charge dismissed.  At the very least they may be able to have the charge reduced.  Additionally, they may be able to arrange for first-time offender status, which in essence could leave you with a clean criminal record.

Just try to hire one that practices in the area where all of this happened.  They will be able to utilize their local contacts to your fullest advantage.

Although I do not practice law in the  State of Washington, here are my initial impressions.  Many people think that they do not need an attorney for a first DUI, due to their eligibility for a first offender program.  I believe this is a big mistake.  If you hire an attorney, you give yourself the opportunity to preserve your first offender program and attempt to have the charges dismissed on the merits.  Having your first offender program available to you in the future is valuable, especially considering the likelihood that you may, at some point in your life, get pulled over again.  If that happens, and you have already used your first offender program, the criminal consequences will get increasingly severe.  Therefore, to preserve your future, I highly suggest hiring an attorney.