A DWI charge in Carteret County can start almost anywhere. A checkpoint on Highway 70 during summer beach traffic. A stop near the bars in Atlantic Beach. A Boating While Impaired citation out on the Intracoastal after a long day on the water. However it happens, the next 48 hours matter. What you say, who you call, and how fast you get a lawyer working the case can shape whether you lose your license for a month or a year.
Here are six firms in Carteret County that handle DWI cases regularly, so you know who to call before you’re standing in front of a judge without one.
Bottom Line
Cummings & Kennedy is the top DWI defense firm in Carteret County right now. Founding attorney Joe Kennedy spent years as a prosecutor before switching sides, giving him a working knowledge of how the state builds a DWI case and where it tends to fall apart. His wife Natalie Kennedy serves as the firm’s chief medical advisor and investigator, a real advantage in DWI cases that often hinge on toxicology reports and field sobriety test accuracy. The firm has represented more than 10,000 clients and pulled in over 700 five-star reviews. Five more firms below also handle DWI defense across the county, and each one brings something different depending on your situation.
Carteret County DWI Firms Compared
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Standout Feature |
| Cummings & Kennedy | First offense to aggravated DWI, boating charges | 17+ years, 10,000+ clients | Former prosecutor leads the defense strategy |
| Walter Evans Kistler IV, Attorney at Law | DWI cases tangled up with a divorce or custody matter | Licensed in North Carolina | Handles criminal defense and family law together |
| Law Office of Justin P. Enecks | Straightforward DWI and traffic defense in Morehead City | Licensed in North Carolina | Family-run practice covering both criminal and family law |
| Law Office of Philip J. Clarke III | DWI clients wanting a Morehead City-based solo attorney | North Carolina Advocates for Justice member | Focused criminal and traffic defense practice |
| Bevin Wall, Attorney at Law | DWI cases in Newport and northern Carteret County | 35+ years serving Carteret and Craven Counties | Newport native with deep community ties |
| Law Office of Carolyn Barnett Brady | DWI charges that overlap with a family law matter | Carteret County Bar Association member | Handles both criminal defense and family law cases |
1. Cummings & Kennedy
A DWI arrest often comes down to details most people never think to question, like whether a breathalyzer was calibrated correctly or whether an officer had legal grounds for the stop in the first place. Joe Kennedy’s background as a prosecutor means he knows exactly what the state needs to prove and where those details tend to break down. His Beaufort office also takes on Boating While Impaired cases, a charge that shows up often in a county built around the water, plus drug charges and felony and misdemeanor matters. The firm regularly represents service members from Camp Lejeune and MCAS Cherry Point, whose careers can end over a conviction that a civilian might treat as a minor setback.
Best for: DWI and BWI charges where the toxicology or field sobriety evidence needs a close look.
Address: 613 Cedar Street, Suite A, Beaufort, NC 28516
Website: https://www.encattorneys.com/
2. Walter Evans Kistler IV, Attorney at Law
Before law school, Walter Kistler worked as a sports writer for the Carteret County News-Times, giving him deep roots in the Crystal Coast community he now represents in court. He graduated fifth in his law school class and built a practice on Arendell Street in Morehead City that handles criminal defense, including DWI and traffic ticket cases, alongside a full family law practice covering divorce, custody, and military divorce matters. That combination helps a client whose DWI arrest complicates an ongoing custody case or a pending divorce.
Best for: a DWI charge that overlaps with a divorce or custody dispute already in progress.
3. Law Office of Justin P. Enecks
Justin Enecks runs a Morehead City practice covering DWI, criminal defense, and traffic tickets, with the office also handling family law and estate matters through a related attorney at the same address. That combination can help a client whose DWI arrest lands in the middle of a divorce or custody situation, since both sides of the case can be tracked by attorneys working out of the same office.
Best for: Morehead City clients who want a DWI defense that can also coordinate with a family law matter.
4. Law Office of Philip J. Clarke III
Philip Clarke practices criminal and traffic defense out of Morehead City, holding membership in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, a statewide group of trial attorneys focused on courtroom representation. His practice covers DWI charges alongside general criminal defense and traffic ticket matters, giving Carteret County clients another Morehead City option outside the larger multi-attorney firms.
Best for: clients who want a solo Morehead City attorney focused specifically on criminal and traffic defense.
Address: 534 N 35th St Ste I, Morehead City, NC
5. Bevin Wall, Attorney at Law
A native of Newport, Bevin Wall has served Carteret and Craven Counties for more than three decades, building a practice that mixes DWI and criminal defense with real estate and bankruptcy work. That local, multi-generational presence matters for clients in the northern part of the county who want an attorney who already knows the community and the local courts, not just the Beaufort or Morehead City legal scene.
Best for: DWI clients in Newport or northern Carteret County who want a longtime local attorney.
6. Kirkman Whitford Brady Berryman & Gordon, P.A.
Carolyn Barnett Brady practices out of Morehead City and holds membership in both the North Carolina Bar Association and the Carteret County Bar Association. Her practice spans criminal defense, including DWI charges, and family law matters, a combination that can matter when a DWI arrest complicates an existing custody arrangement or triggers a review of parental fitness in a pending case.
Best for: a DWI charge that intersects with an active family law case.
Website: https://www.kirkmanwhitford.com/
What to Ask Before You Hire
A DWI case moves fast, and North Carolina gives you a short window to request a hearing on your license before an automatic suspension kicks in. Ask any firm how quickly they can file that request, and ask how many DWI cases they’ve actually taken to trial versus settled with a plea. A lawyer who’s only ever negotiated pleas may not push back hard enough when the evidence against you is weaker than it looks.
FAQ
How much does a DWI lawyer cost in Carteret County?
Many firms charge a flat fee for a first-offense DWI, often a few thousand dollars, while aggravated or repeat charges cost more due to added preparation and court time. Ask for a written fee structure upfront.
How long will I lose my license after a DWI arrest in North Carolina?
A first DWI typically triggers a 30-day civil license revocation, though you may qualify for a limited driving privilege after 10 days. A conviction adds a longer suspension on top of that, depending on the DWI level.
What determines whether my DWI is charged at a higher level?
North Carolina looks at your blood alcohol content, any prior DWI convictions, whether a child was in the vehicle, and whether the stop involved an accident or injury. These factors push a charge from Level 5, the least severe, up toward Aggravated Level 1.
Should I still hire a lawyer if I know I was over the limit?
Yes. An attorney can often challenge how the stop was made, how evidence was collected, or negotiate a reduced charge that protects your license and your record, even when the underlying facts aren’t in dispute.
Can a DWI conviction be removed from my record later?
North Carolina generally does not allow DWI convictions to be expunged, unlike some other charges. This makes fighting the charge at the outset, rather than assuming a quick guilty plea is easiest, especially important.