William C. Makler
Top rated DUI-DWI attorney in Santa Barbara, California
Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C.
Practice areas: DUI-DWI, Criminal Defense; view more
Licensed in California since: 1996
Education: University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 Call today:
805-790-8380
Free Consultation Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C.
140 E Figueroa StSanta Barbara, CA 93101 Visit website
William C. Makler is the founder of the Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C., in Santa Barbara, California. He focuses his practice on DUI defense and criminal defense. He has represented thousands of individuals facing DUI charges and is skilled in all areas of defense strategy – motions, jury trials, appeals and DMV hearings.
For nearly three decades, Mr. Makler has defended clients against a wide range of criminal charges. His experience includes cases involving homicide, assault, domestic violence, drug crimes, sex offenses, theft and gun charges. He has also built a strong reputation in alcohol-related cases, including underage drinking, fake ID and furnishing alcohol to minors.
Mr. Makler completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego, before earning his law degree from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. While in law school, he received honors in trial advocacy. He has worked in the criminal justice system since 1989 and has practiced law in California since 1996. He is licensed to appear in every state court in California, as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Central Districts of California.
Before establishing his firm, Mr. Makler worked with the University of California Police Department, Palo Alto Police Department, the ACLU and Death Penalty Focus. He also served with the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Sacramento and worked as a felony deputy public defender in Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties.
Mr. Makler is active in many professional organizations, including the California Public Defenders Association, the Santa Barbara County Bar Association, the Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Bar Association, the National College for DUI Defense and the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. He has received an AV Preeminent peer-review rating* through Martindale-Hubbell and has a 10/10 rating on Avvo for his noteworthy work in the legal field.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal DefenseFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Debt, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Failure to Pay Child Support, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Overdrawn Bank Account, Parole, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations
- 70% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 30% Criminal Defense
First Admitted: 1996, California
Professional Webpage: https://sbdefenselawyer.com/about-us/
Bar / Professional Activity
- National College of DUI Defense, Member, 2020
- California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Member
- National College for DUI Defense, Inc., Member
- Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of California, Member
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- State of California
- Santa Barbara Defenders, 2020
- California Criminal Justice Association, Member, 2018
- California Public Defenders Association, Member, 2020
- Santa Barbara County Bar Association, Member
- California DUI Lawyers Association, Member, 2020
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Successfully litigated, with others, a challenge to Santa Barbara City's gang injunction. My client was the only one of the 11 named (and alleged) gang members to be found no longer affiliated. The injunction failed and Santa Barbara remains free of an injunction which sought to place many law abiding Latino youths on quasi-probation., 2014
- Successfully litigated a class action as lead class counsel through trial and appeal against the California Highway Patrol. Attorney's fees were awarded for having prevailed against a government entity for its failure to abide by its statutory legal duties to remove arrest record entries affecting persons who did not face criminal charges due to weak evidence. John J. Schmidt v. CHP., 2016
- Not guilty verdict reached in felony threat (in a rap song) charges in People v. Anthony Murillo in Santa Maria, California., 2017
Pro bono / Community Service
- With others, I devoted hundreds of hours of my time to successfully challenging Santa Barbara City's gang injunction., 2014
Educational Background
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science conferred by Muir College, UC San Diego., 1991
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Numerous lectures given to Judges, Lawyers, law students and college students on topics ranging from DUI Defense, to Scientific Evidence, to knowing one's rights., Law Professor, Faculty, Santa Barbara College of Law, 2006
- “Know Your Rights”, Embarcadero Hall, Hosted by Associated Students at UCSB, October, 2012.
- “DUI From a Defense Perspective”, Santa Barbara College of Law, guest lecture in a course on the law of Driving Under the Influence, July 2010.
- “Know Your Rights”, Embarcadero Hall, Hosted by Associated Students at UCSB, October, 2009.
- “Know Your Rights”, Embarcadero Hall, Hosted by Associated Students at UCSB, October, 2008.
- “Know Your Rights”, Embarcadero Hall, Hosted by Associated Students at UCSB, October, 2007.
- “Law of Evidence”, Santa Barbara College of Law, Law School Course, October, 2006 May, 2008.
- “Avoiding and Minimizing DUI Consequences”, Bench & Bar Conference, given at Santa Barbara City College for MCLE credit for lawyers and judges, January 2006.
- “Scientific Evidence in DUI Defense”, Santa Barbara College of Law, guest lecture in Advanced Evidence, Fall 2005.
- “DUI Defense”, Santa Barbara College of Law, Guest Lecture, Summer 2005.
- “Know Your Rights”, Embarcadero Hall, Hosted by Associated Students at UCSB, October, 2004.
- Gave an hour long lecture to local judges and lawyers on Elements of a DUI/Cannabis, testing., Lecturer, Bench & Bar Conference, Legal Profession, 2019
- One of many lectures presented to deputy public defenders on how to defend DUI cases., Lecturer, Defense of DUI cases, Santa Barbara Public Defender's Office, 2016
- One of many lectures presented to deputy public defenders on how to defend DUI cases., Lecturer, Defense of DUI cases, Santa Barbara Public Defender's Office, 2016
Honors
- Recognized for outstanding trial skills., Honors in Trial Advocacy, McGeorge School of Law
- Rated A-V “Preeminent” by Martindale Hubbell
- Rated a 10.0 out of 10.0 and “Superb”
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
