Alcoa Law Firm, PLLC

DUI/DWI

A DUI charge in Tennessee is not a simple traffic ticket you can handle by paying a fine; it is a serious criminal offense with severe, mandatory penalties that require immediate legal intervention. Even for a first-time offense, Tennessee law mandates a minimum of 48 hours in jail—which jumps to 7 consecutive days if your blood alcohol content is .20% or higher—along with a one-year driver’s license revocation, massive fines, and the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device.  Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is crucial because they know how to dismantle the state's case by challenging the legality of the initial traffic stop, exposing flaws in the administration of field sobriety tests, and questioning the calibration of breathalyzer machines. Without an attorney fighting to get your charges reduced to reckless driving or securing a restricted license so you can keep your job, you are walking into a system that is legally required to send you to jail and take away your right to drive.

Domestic Violence

A domestic assault charge in Tennessee is a life-altering crisis that you cannot handle alone, primarily because the decision to drop the charges rests entirely with state prosecutors, not your partner. Even if your partner wants to take it back, the State can and will aggressively push for a conviction, which carries up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and creates a permanent criminal record that can never be expunged. Beyond the immediate threat of jail, a conviction instantly triggers a federal lifetime ban on owning a firearm, severely damages your position in divorce or child custody disputes, and enforces strict "no-contact" orders that can lock you out of your own home. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is your only effective barrier against a system designed to punish you; they will challenge false police narratives, fight to modify restrictive bond conditions, and aggressively pursue strategies like self-defense claims or judicial diversion to protect your freedom and your future.

Felony and Misdemeanor Charges

Facing a general misdemeanor or felony charge in Tennessee—whether it is theft, drug possession, or a property crime—is a high-stakes crisis that can permanently derail your life if you attempt to handle it alone. While misdemeanors carry up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and felonies can result in years or even decades in prison, the most devastating consequence is often the permanent criminal record that destroys career prospects, housing options, and your reputation, especially since very few convictions are ever eligible for expungement in Tennessee. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is your only effective shield against an aggressive prosecution; they know how to dismantle the state's case by challenging illegal searches and seizures, exposing weak evidence, and negotiating fiercely on your behalf. Whether taking your case to trial for a full acquittal, fighting to get charges reduced, or securing "judicial diversion" to keep a conviction completely off your record, an attorney is essential to protecting your freedom and ensuring a single accusation does not define the rest of your life.