Protecting your work and livelihood
Can I Keep My Job?
For some clients, the first worry after a DUI is the next shift. For others, it is a company vehicle, a professional credential or a background check. Your defense should account for the work you need to keep doing.
- Former prosecutor
- Free consultation
- Flat-rate fees
Kaylind N. Landes
Criminal defense attorney · Former Tulsa prosecutor
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The short answer.
A DUI allegation does not automatically answer whether you can keep your job. Your role, employer policies, reporting duties, driving needs and the final disposition all matter. We review those concerns early so they can inform the defense and your evaluation of any plea offer.
Read the actual policy
An employer may distinguish arrests, pending charges and convictions. Professional reporting rules can be different again.
Plan lawful transportation
The license process can affect commuting or work driving before the criminal charge is resolved.
Flag commercial driving early
CDL consequences follow special rules and may arise from an incident in a personal vehicle.
Make employment part of the case review
Bring the relevant handbook provisions, licensing-board notices or application questions to your attorney. A requirement to report an arrest is different from a question about convictions. A pending case, accepted plea or deferred judgment may matter even before a final sentence. Do not assume a particular label excuses a required disclosure.
We also discuss the practical demands of court appearances, release conditions, treatment, testing and any possible sentence. Work schedules and caregiving obligations can help identify what to ask about when reviewing an available resolution. Employers, insurers and licensing authorities make their own decisions, so no lawyer can guarantee continued employment based solely on a criminal-case outcome.
Driving for work requires a separate plan
For noncommercial driving, the criminal case and driving-privilege process must both be addressed. Any IDAP participation, interlock restriction or other authorization needs to be compatible with the driving you actually do. Do not assume a company vehicle is exempt or that a court appearance determines your current license status.
Commercial drivers need specific advice before entering any plea. Federal disqualification rules can apply even when the incident occurred in a personal vehicle, and the federal definition of conviction can include accepted pleas despite deferred or suspended treatment. IDAP or permission to drive a personal vehicle does not restore disqualified commercial privileges. Preserving a CDL requires reviewing both the underlying allegation and the separate licensing consequences.
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A little more clarity
Common questions.
Get answers, then talk through the facts of your case with an attorney.
Do I have to tell my employer about an arrest?
That depends on the applicable policy, contract, job and reporting rules. Review the exact requirement with counsel promptly. Do not assume everyone must report or that nobody needs to disclose a pending case.
Will a deferred sentence protect my professional license?
It may not. A board or employer may consider the underlying conduct or an accepted plea under its own rules. Review those consequences before treating a deferred judgment as a complete solution.
Can a DUI in my personal car affect my CDL?
Yes. Federal commercial-driver disqualification rules can apply to qualifying incidents in a personal vehicle. The precise allegation, disposition and administrative record need review before you decide how to resolve the case.