I am Joel Brand, a California DUI defense attorney. California DUI defense is not part of my practice. It is my practice. I am a fanatic about the art and science of DUI defense, and I represent people charged with driving under the influence throughout California. When you call my office, you reach me, the attorney who will actually handle your case, not an intake operator or an answering service.
A practice focused entirely on DUI defense
DUI law sits at the intersection of criminal procedure, chemistry, and a parallel DMV process with its own deadlines. I have built my practice around that specific combination. Because I handle DUI cases day in and day out, I know where these cases tend to break: the lawfulness of the stop, the way field sobriety and chemical tests were administered, the calibration and maintenance records behind a breath or blood result, and the strict timelines on the DMV side.
Experience and results
I have represented countless people accused of DUI in California, and I have been exceptionally successful at getting cases dismissed and charges reduced. Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result, but I bring the same thorough, aggressive preparation to each one. The early work, preserving the DMV hearing, examining the stop and the testing, and building the defense before the first court date, is where outcomes are shaped.
Experience on both sides of the courtroom
Before I built my DUI practice, I served as a volunteer assistant district attorney in San Francisco. I have also accepted dozens of court appointments to represent indigent defendants in Contra Costa County. Having worked on both the prosecution and the defense of criminal cases gives me a clear, practical view of how the government builds a DUI case, what it relies on, and where those cases can be challenged. I use that perspective for my clients.
Recognition
I have been selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2025 and 2026, and I have received the Avvo Clients' Choice Award in 2024, 2025, and 2026, with a 5.0 Superb Avvo rating. Recognition is not a guarantee of any outcome, but it reflects a reputation built case by case.
Education and admissions
I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. I earned my Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and I hold a Master of Laws (LLM) from New York University School of Law. I am licensed to practice law in California (Bar #317042). I am admitted before all California state courts, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
How I work with clients
I try to make a hard situation as manageable as possible:
- You usually never set foot in court. In most cases I make your appearances for you, so your daily routine is not interrupted and no one has to know you were arrested.
- Up-front, fixed-fee pricing. My DUI representation is reasonably priced and fixed-fee, so you know the cost from the start. I also accept Klarna, which lets you pay over time on affordable plans.
- A direct line to your attorney. You work with me directly, and I am available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer your questions.
Press and publications
I write about California criminal law and answer journalists' questions.
- Cybernews. In August 2026, I was quoted as a California criminal defense attorney on Senate Bill 1130, which would penalize wearable device recording in a business area where someone reasonably expects privacy. I explained that, unlike existing Penal Code language, the bill requires no intent to invade privacy, and that explicit consent likely requires more than a posted sign and silence.
- Misdemeanor DUI needs a mental health diversion exception. In the Daily Journal, California's legal newspaper, I argued that the Legislature should create a carveout so Penal Code section 1001.36 can be considered in misdemeanor DUI cases, which Vehicle Code section 23640 currently forecloses.
- RadarOnline. In August 2026, I was quoted as a California criminal defense attorney explaining that the Final Order of Forfeiture in the federal case against Sean Combs was closing paperwork, not a new development.
- Man convicted of driving under the influence in Mission District. In June 2024, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office announced the jury verdict in a DUI case I prosecuted as a Volunteer Assistant District Attorney, with convictions under VC 23152(a) and VC 23152(b).
Talk with me directly
If you are facing a California DUI, the sooner we talk, the more I can do. I represent clients in DUI matters throughout California, in both English and Spanish. Use the free written case analysis below, or call me directly at (888) 271-6644. It is completely free to speak with me, with no obligation. You can also see representative case results or browse the DUI library.