Criminal Defense Attorneys in Salt Lake City, UT
Facing a criminal charge in Salt Lake City, from DUI to assault to a drug offense? Salt Lake County prosecutors are thorough. A Utah-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Salt Lake City will review your case for free.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with an Utah attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Salt Lake City criminal defense case review
A Utah attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
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How we match your Salt Lake City criminal defense case
When you submit a Salt Lake City criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.
Case type
A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.
Size and complexity
Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.
Jurisdiction and licensing
Your matter is decided under Utah law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Utah who regularly appears where your case would be heard.
Capacity and fit
Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.
Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.
DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.
Criminal Defense cases in Salt Lake City
More about legal help in Salt Lake City →Criminal cases in Salt Lake City, including DUI, drug possession, assault, theft, and domestic violence charges, are prosecuted in Salt Lake County courts, the busiest in Utah. Utah’s DUI laws are among the strictest in the country, and a conviction can affect employment, professional licenses, and immigration status. Early representation lets an attorney address bail, review the evidence, and negotiate before positions harden. DearLegal matches you with a Utah-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Salt Lake City, and the review is free.
- Charges arising in Salt Lake City are handled in Salt Lake County district court or the city’s justice court.
- Utah’s strict DUI threshold makes alcohol-related stops near downtown and on I-15 a frequent source of charges.
- A large university and tourist population means many defendants are students or visitors unfamiliar with Utah courts.
Utah criminal defense rules at a glance
Salt Lake City cases run under Utah law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Utah page.
Read the full Utah criminal defense guide →- Felony Statute of Limitations
No limit
No limit for capital felonies, aggravated murder, murder, manslaughter, aggravated sex offenses; 8 years for rape, object rape; 4 years for most other felonies (Utah Code § 76-1-301 et seq.)
- Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations
2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (§ 76-1-302)
- Sentencing Structure
Capital
Capital, First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree felonies and Class A/B/C misdemeanors under Utah Code § 76-3-203; indeterminate sentencing with Board of Pardons and Parole controlling release; mandatory minimums for firearms enhancement (§ 76-3-203.8), drug, and sex offenses
- Expungement / Record Sealing
7 years
Utah Code § 77-40a-101 et seq.; Utah Clean Slate Act (HB 35, 2019) — automatic expungement of many misdemeanors after 5-7 years (Class C/infraction 3 years, Class B 4 years, Class A 5 years); Plea in Abeyance dismissal eligible for expungement immediately
- Bail / Pretrial Release
Bail
Bail under Utah R. Crim. P. 7B; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Utah Const. Art. I, § 8); HB 206 (2021) bail reform replaced traditional cash bail framework with risk-based assessment
- Typical attorney fee
Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee
Exhibit D
How much do Salt Lake City criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Utah · Criminal Defense
Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
Criminal Defense matters in Utah are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Utah work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Utah R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Utah Indigent Defense Commission and county legal defenders (Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, Utah County, others) represent indigent defendants.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit F
Salt Lake City criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Utah attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Utah
Same Utah rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
