DUI Defense
What to Do After a DUI Arrest in Utah
The moments after a DUI stop can determine the strength of your defense — including a 10-day window most people don't know about.
Salt Lake City Criminal & Civil Attorney
Straightforward, efficient legal representation for criminal and civil matters. Jim Tily handles your legal problem directly — with courtroom experience, personal attention, and phone calls returned the same day.
Are you receiving legal papers, letters, or contact from management or an attorney threatening your housing? Whether you are a tenant or an owner, you have rights — but these cases move fast, and delay can cost you your home.
Jim Tily handles eviction defense and housing disputes throughout the Salt Lake area. Same-day service is available when the situation requires it. The eviction attorney on the other side knows the law. He is paid to remove you. The single best thing you can do is get your own attorney on the phone immediately.
Call Now — (801) 641-0883What you do in your very first encounter with law enforcement can shape the rest of your case. Officers are trained to gather evidence. They may act friendly. They are not your friend in that moment — they are building a case.
About Jim Tily
Jim Tily is a Salt Lake City attorney with a background spanning federal and state litigation, labor and employment law, criminal defense, and civil matters. He practices independently and handles every case personally.
Raised along Philadelphia's Main Line, Jim graduated from Pennsylvania State University and earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, he worked in the legal department of the Communications Workers of America, a national labor union in Washington, D.C. He started in the law library and, when Westlaw replaced print subscriptions, moved into legal work: arbitration and mediation, labor and employment litigation in federal court, class action wage and race discrimination cases, sexual harassment, ADA and FMLA matters, unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, collective bargaining enforcement, and litigation arising from the 1980 AT&T breakup ordered by Judge Harold Greene.
After Georgetown, Jim joined Anderson & Karrenberg in Salt Lake City, where he focused on pre-trial motion practice in federal and state courts. He worked on significant commercial disputes including matters for Novell, Inc., and participated in the Stenovich shareholder class action — a breach-of-fiduciary-duty case arising from First Security Corporation's merger with Wells Fargo. His civil work included employment discrimination, real property disputes, construction litigation, personal injury, discovery and depositions, demand letters, judgment collection, and business litigation.
Jim served as a public defender in Washington County (St. George), Utah, representing indigent adults and juveniles in state court across the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including felony jury trials. After a period in Oregon coaching competitive tennis, he returned to Salt Lake City and now runs his own practice.
His current practice covers criminal defense — felonies, DUIs, misdemeanors, sex crimes, domestic violence, and protective orders — in state courts throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah (Provo), and Juab counties, as well as civil litigation including defamation, breach of contract, landlord-tenant disputes, divorce (including flat fee uncontested divorces), child custody, DCFS/APS/CPS proceedings, victim rights representation, civil stalking injunctions, post-judgment relief, and pre-trial motion practice and discovery in federal court. Jim has extensive actual courtroom experience and has appeared before nearly every judge in Salt Lake County and surrounding counties. He gives personal attention to every case — telephone calls and emails are returned the same day.
What We Handle
Whether you're facing criminal charges or dealing with a civil dispute, Jim Tily provides experienced, focused representation in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah — straightforward and efficient.
A DUI arrest doesn't mean a conviction. Jim challenges traffic stops, breathalyzer accuracy, field sobriety tests, and procedural errors to protect your license and your record.
From simple possession to distribution charges, Jim builds defense strategies that scrutinize the evidence — including the legality of searches and seizures — to pursue the best possible outcome.
From serious felonies to misdemeanor charges, Jim provides committed defense that high-stakes cases demand. Every charge is taken seriously because every charge matters.
Accusations of sex crimes carry devastating consequences even before a verdict. Jim provides discreet, vigorous defense — protecting your rights, your reputation, and your future at every stage.
Jim handles uncontested divorces for a flat fee of $500 plus the $325 court filing fee — all paperwork drafted and filed. For contested divorces, custody disputes, and other family law matters, Jim provides direct, practical representation with clear guidance at every step.
From breach of contract to defamation to post-judgment motions, Jim handles civil litigation with the same direct approach he brings to criminal defense — straightforward advice, practical solutions, and actual courtroom experience.
A criminal record follows you everywhere — jobs, housing, loans, background checks. Utah law allows many offenses to be expunged. Jim handles the entire process: eligibility analysis, BCI applications, petitions, and court hearings.
Why Tily Law?
Every client deserves focused attention, honest advice, and a real fight. That's what you get with Tily Law LLC.
Jim handles every case himself. You'll never be handed off to a paralegal or a junior associate. Telephone calls and emails are returned the same day.
Felony jury trials, contested hearings, motion practice in federal and state courts. Jim has appeared before nearly every judge in Salt Lake and surrounding counties.
No vague reassurances or legal jargon. Jim tells you where you stand, what your options are, and what to realistically expect.
Jim brings a life shaped by resilience and perspective. He understands that people are more than their worst moments — and he defends them that way.
Legal Insights
From the Blog
The moments after a DUI stop can determine the strength of your defense — including a 10-day window most people don't know about.
Even simple possession is usually a felony in Utah. Knowing your Fourth Amendment rights can make or break your case.
Affordable doesn't mean inadequate. Here's what to look for, what to ask, and how attorney fees actually work.
When police are talking to you, they are gathering evidence against you. Here's what to say — and what never to say.
You have 21 days to respond. Here's what that means, what goes in your Answer, and what happens if you do nothing.
An eviction notice can feel impossible. Know who's suing you, what your defenses are, and how much time you actually have.
A criminal record affects jobs, housing, and more. Learn about Utah's Clean Slate law, petition-based expungement, eligibility, and the step-by-step process.
Get in Touch
Don't wait. The sooner you have an attorney, the better your options. Consultations are free and confidential — call or send a message and Jim will get back to you promptly.