Your Future Is Our Present Concern®

We trademarked this phrase because we mean it.

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Knoxville, TN DUI Lawyer /
Knoxville DUI Attorney

Please take a minute to listen to a message from Steve

Knoxville, Tennessee DUI attorney Steve Oberman is a nationally renowned DUI defense lawyer and author from Knoxville, Tennessee (TN). In 2006, Mr. Oberman became the first lawyer in Tennessee to be recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in the area of DUI Defense Law by the National College for DUI Defense. Mr. Oberman is the only Knoxville DUI lawyer to receive this honor. Steve was recently named a Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in the area of Criminal Defense: General Practice for 2020 and Lawyer of the Year in the area of DUI/DWI Defense for 2022.  Sara Compher-Rice was named Lawyer of the Year in the area of DUI/DWI Defense for 2021.

As you will see below, we defend a wide variety of criminal cases and have successfully defended cases involving everything from white-collar crimes such as price-fixing and fraud to violent crimes such as homicide/murder and sex offenses.  We are proud to be recognized by so many of our peers and legal organizations as extraordinary lawyers and will continue our hard work and volunteer service as long as the firm exists.

The Oberman & Rice Law Firm
Regularly Represents Clients In
The Following Types Of Cases(We will be happy to refer you to another firm if your case is outside our area of expertise)

All Criminal Offenses Learn More
Assault Offenses Learn More
domestic violence offenses Learn More
DRUG OFFENSES Learn More
DUI OFFENSES Learn More
EXPUNGEMENTS Learn More
GUN/WEAPONS OFFENSES Learn More
PERSONAL INJURY CASES Learn More
PUBLIC INTOXICATION & UNDERAGE CONSUMPTION Learn More
SEX OFFENSES Learn More
THEFT & BURGLARY OFFENSES Learn More
TRAFFIC OFFENSES Learn More
UNIV. OF TENN. STUDENT CONDUCT VIOLATIONS Learn More
VEHICULAR ASSAULT & VEHICULAR HOMICIDE OFFENSES Learn More
WHITE COLLAR OFFENSES Learn More

Our law firm is dedicated to defending citizens accused of crimes in Tennessee. We focus our areas of practice to general criminal defense and DUI defense. By limiting our law practice to these two areas our lawyers pride themselves on using their experience and training to act as legal advocates for individuals who are fighting to protect their legal rights and freedom.

Our Tennessee Criminal Defense Lawyers can assist you with cases involving:

General Criminal Defense

Our Knoxville criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been charged with a variety of misdemeanor and felony crimes. A criminal conviction can negatively impact your future, including where you live and work. Even if you are not sentenced to jail or prison, a criminal conviction may impact your legal rights, including your right to vote and your right to possess (carry) firearms. If have been charged with a crime or you are being currently investigated by a law enforcement agency, we urge you to contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Our attorneys are available to speak with you 24/7. In no event should you discuss the details of your case with anyone without first consulting your attorney.

DUI and DWI Defense

Impaired driving may include driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs – even drugs that have been legally prescribed to you by a physician. DUI and DWI are serious charges that should not be downplayed as simple traffic violations. The immediate consequences of a DUI conviction may include expensive fines and court costs, significant jail time, revocation of driving privileges, and enrollment in a court-approved DUI education course. For subsequent DUI convictions, you could lose your vehicle and face penalties that increase in severity. Our DUI defense team represents clients charged with all matters related to drunk and/or drugged driving in Tennessee.

Expungement of Criminal Records

A criminal record can have serious, negative, and permanent implications for your future. A criminal conviction never automatically “drops off” of your criminal record. Therefore, future employers, colleges, landlords, and other individuals may access your criminal record and learn of the details surrounding your criminal conviction. However, some crimes may qualify for expungement – whether the criminal offense was dismissed or, in some instances, even if you were convicted of a Tennessee crime. Expungement removes any public record of the criminal conviction. Our Knoxville expungement attorneys can review your conviction to determine if it qualifies for expungement.

Forfeitures

A forfeiture proceeding is a civil action that is typically associated with a criminal charge. In some cases, you may be required to forfeit property that was used in the commission of a crime or property that is related to a crime. For instance, you may be required to forfeit your vehicle following a Tennessee DUI arrest or forfeit your personal property used in the commission of drug crimes. If your property is seized, it is imperative that you contact our Knoxville forfeiture attorneys immediately so that your rights to your property may be protected. If the proper procedures are not followed, you could lose all rights to your property, even if you are eventually acquitted of the charges, or the charges are otherwise dismissed.

Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender

As of July 1, 2019, the Tennessee Legislature repealed the Motor Vehicle Habitual Offenders Act (HMVO).  Although Tennessee offenders may no longer be declared Habitual Motor Vehicle Offenders, those who were declared HMVO prior to the change in Tennessee law are still not permitted to drive until their Tennessee HMVO status is lawfully terminated.

In order to reinstate an offender’s driving privileges, the offender should retain a Tennessee lawyer experienced in Habitual Motor Vehicle Cases to file the appropriate paperwork and petition the court for reinstatement of driving privileges.  Only after a reinstatement petition is granted, may the motorist obtain a valid Tennessee driver’s license from the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Other Crimes

Oberman & Rice also handle a variety of cases involving other crimes. Our Knoxville criminal defense lawyers have the experience, resources, and knowledge you need on your side as you defend yourself against felony or misdemeanor crimes in Tennessee. We understand the elements that the state must prove for a criminal conviction and how to craft a strong defense strategy.

Traffic Court Violations

Many people view traffic tickets as minor inconveniences. However, traffic citations can result in fines, probation, driver history points, and revocation of driving privileges. An important secondary consequence of a traffic ticket is a likely substantial increase in your vehicle insurance premiums. Our Tennessee traffic ticket attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding your traffic violation to determine if your legal rights were violated. In many cases, we are able to assist clients to minimize or avoid the consequences of a traffic citation.

More information about the types of cases the Knoxville criminal defense attorneys of Oberman & Rice handle can be found on our Practice Areas page. We have several links to the right of the page that provide additional information on some examples of the types of criminal case that our firm handles.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Tennessee, our lawyers want to assist you in working to bring about the best possible resolution based on the facts in your case. You should contact our law firm as quickly as possible after an arrest or if you have contact with a law enforcement officer so that our Tennessee criminal defense lawyers can conduct a prompt investigation of the circumstances surrounding the criminal charges. A prompt investigation by a trained team of criminal defense lawyers and our investigators increases your chance of obtaining the best possible outcome for your case.

Your Future Is Our Present Concern®

The vision for every lawyer in this firm is to provide clients with the very best client service and representation. We want clients to develop a long-lasting, trusting relationship with us.

We are proud to have built our reputation on hard work, not by buying billboards. As evidenced from the many volunteer educational presentations our lawyers make to the general public, defense lawyers, judges and even prosecutors, we are committed to servicing the people of our communities and the legal profession across the United States.

While lawyers are rightfully prohibited from promising results, Oberman & Rice does promise you that we will be easy to contact, readily available to discuss your case with you in person, and be not only prepared, but over-prepared to litigate your case. Unlike most law firms, all our lawyers confer regularly at a scheduled meeting to brainstorm about each case. In this manner, we are more likely to ensure nothing is overlooked and to develop innovative defenses.

The best results are obtained by working hard – not by chance. We are honored to be recognized by so many organizations as extraordinary lawyers and will continue our hard work and volunteer service as long as the firm exists.

The mission of our law firm is to zealously represent our clients, providing a thorough DUI defense while maintaining the highest standards of professional responsibility and ethics. Of equal importance, our Knoxville DUI attorneys and staff strive to provide exceptional service to our clients and pride ourselves on prompt and thorough communication with our clients.

Due in part to the work ethic and dedication of The Oberman & Rice law firm to our clients, Martindale-Hubbell™, the renowned organization which has offered attorney peer reviews for more than a century, has bestowed the firm with the highest rating for law firms. We are also proud that our Knoxville DUI lawyers continue to be honored with many awards from numerous other organizations.

As part of our commitment to providing the best possible DUI defense for our clients, Oberman & Rice endeavors to remain on the cutting edge of DUI defense techniques and strategies by attending and teaching at the most advanced DUI seminars in the country. Our firm also hosts a podcast, which highlights many issues surrounding Tennessee DUI cases, as well as the offense of driving under the influence in general. Please click here for more information about our DUI Law Podcast.

Unlike lawyers who use mass mailings to lists of people recently arrested, we limit the number of cases we accept to ensure we devote the necessary time and effort to provide each of our clients the personal attention they deserve. Our Knoxville DUI attorneys provide you detailed information about your Tennessee DUI charges, the associated Tennessee DUI penalties, as well as the court procedures. The Knoxville DUI attorneys of The Oberman & Rice Law Firm are readily available to answer your questions and concerns both while your Tennessee DUI case is pending and after your case is concluded.

awards and recognition

We are very proud to have been recognized by so many different premier organizations for our efforts and results. Candidly, though, we are never satisfied with our past successes. We are always expending the extra effort to fine-tune our defenses for the next client. Nonetheless, it is important to many potential clients to know that we are so well respected by other lawyers and past clients who have seen our work in court.

Our Knoxville, Tennessee DUI Defense Lawyers’ Qualifications

Knoxville, Tennessee DUI Lawyer Steve Oberman is the co-author of the national DUI treatise, Drunk Driving Defense, and author of DUI: The Crimes and Consequences in Tennessee, both of which are pictured below. He also regularly lectures to DUI attorneys across the country about criminal defense techniques. In particular, he teaches and writes about defending cases involving drunk driving, also known as DUI, DWI, and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants.

Tennessee DUI Attorney Steve Oberman regularly defends citizens accused of these crimes whether or not they consent to a blood or breath test. He is familiar with several breath testing devices, including the Intoxilyzer 5000 and DataMaster. In particular, Steve has closely studied and lectured about the Intoximeter EC/IR I and Intoximeter EC/IR II, both of which have been approved by the State of Tennessee for evidentiary breath testing. He also teaches DUI lawyers and attorneys about the errors inherent in both blood and breath testing techniques used by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, the Knoxville Police Department, as well as other police agencies in the State of Tennessee.

What Our Clients Say

Eternally GratefulEternally Grateful
11:11 18 Aug 21
If I could give six stars to Attorney Steve Oberman, it would still be insufficient to commend him for the brilliant job he did with my very difficult case. From beginning to end, at a very stressful time, he kept me informed and educated as to all possible contingencies, all while calming my fears and uncertainties (of which there were many). I am in awe of his incredible knowledge and expertise, and so appreciative of his professionalism and completely non-judgmental approach. I know he spent many, many hours on my case, and the end result was nothing short of miraculous in my book. I owe a debt of gratitude to Steve Oberman. In my opinion, he is the only attorney to call for anyone who finds themselves in the unfortunate need for representation in a DUI case.
JohnJohn
13:30 08 Aug 21
When searching on-line for representation, I located Steve Oberman. What caught my attention and set him aside from all the others was his depth of knowledge, years of experience, numerous accolades, and his passion to teach law in various schools. I called Steve’s office on a Sunday and left a message. Shortly after Steve called me back, we set up a meeting and he began to work. What I first noticed about Steve was his attention to the details with every question he asked and document he reviewed. Steve navigated through the legal system in a polished manner and made the journey though the case efficiently and extremely effective as the case was ultimately dismissed.
MSMS
13:27 07 Jul 21
Mr. Oberman and his team are fantastic. Very responsive and thorough. I made a mistake that could have ruined my life and destroyed my family. Steve and his team ensured that did not happen and got a favorable result under difficult circumstances. I would strongly recommend Mr. Oberman and his wonderful team.
Michael WilesMichael Wiles
18:12 17 Dec 20
The Oberman and Rice Law Firm is hands down the best choice for anyone in need of the very best legal representation. Steve and everyone there went the extra mile for me. My legal defense, to me, seemed insurmountable. That was not the case though, this firm relentless defended my case from all angles, were always there to meet my needs, and calm me through the toughest time in my life. The gratitude that I have for them is endless. It was the best decision I ever made in my life to retain there services.
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DUI Law Podcasts

We hope you find our podcasts informative and enjoyable. At Oberman & Rice, we believe that it is imperative for all clients to be well-educated about the laws and procedures that relate to their case. That knowledge is critical to assist clients in participating in their defense and obtaining the best possible result. We also find that by educating clients about how the law applies to the facts in their particular case, we are able to help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that accompanies being accused of a criminal offense.

It is our hope that the podcasts accessible below will help our website visitors to better understand the law and Tennessee Criminal Justice System. However, be mindful that only an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help a person accused of a crime understand how the laws apply to the facts in their case. It is also important to realize that laws and procedures are created and changed frequently. Accordingly, while the information on this website and in these podcasts are accurate at the time they are posted, they may not be accurate at a later date. Therefore, it is extremely important to consult with a lawyer who fully understands the facts of your case as well as the applicable laws in order to provide you with the best possible advice.

Featured Posts

Please visit our blog to learn more about recent news, changes in the law, and interesting issues relating to criminal laws including DUI laws driver’s license reinstatement.

June 11, 2024

Bail for a Felony Criminal Offense Just Became More Restrictive

Being arrested for any criminal offense is never a positive experience.  In Tennessee, two main genres of criminal offenses exist.  The first, is a Misdemeanor offense.  These offenses are typically considered less serious offenses (with some serious exceptions, of course).  […]

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May 11, 2024

Underage Consumption of Alcohol in Tennessee is more of a headache than you think.

As most folks should know, if you are under the age of 21 you are not allowed to consume alcohol in Tennessee (and all other states in the U.S.).  In fact, an underage person who has been drinking or is […]

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April 12, 2024

New DUI Law Alert–Work Release Requirement Update

The Tennessee Legislature passed several new laws that became effective on January 1, 2024.  One DUI related law involves the Tennessee Work Release Program.  Work release is a form of probation that may be used, in certain circumstances, after a person has […]

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Contact

Office

Oberman & Rice
550 Main Street
Suite 730
Knoxville, TN 37902

Phone Number
(865) 249-7200
(865) 540-1696 (fax)

GPS Coordinates
Long: 35.970504
Lat: -83.914776

contact us today for a free consultation

We reply to non-urgent after-hours requests for consultation within 24 hours. For after-hour emergencies, please call us at (865) 249-7200.

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