Is it worth paying the big bucks for a experienced lawyer to defend a 3rd DUI charge? If so, who is in Pittsburgh?

Yes! You are facing a possible one year mandatory jail sentence! You need experienced counsel. I recommend William Jones in Wexford. Hire the counsel of your choice immediately- it could make all the difference.

Short answer, yes. An attorney will be able to assess your case for any weaknesses that may lead you to decide to go to trial. In addition, some counties including Allegheny have speciality courts and alternative to jail programs. An attorney can help to explain these possible outcomes in greater detail. Most attorneys and firms including ours offer a free initial consultation.
I suggest you contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss possible strategies and solutions for your 3rd DUI.

You can hire any Pa lawyer to handle this situation. I highly recommend hiring a private attorney. You should check out the websites of any attorney you are considering.

Allow me to echo the responses of my learned colleagues from around the state. Having qualified criminal defense counsel working for you makes all the sense in the world. Whether it's a matter of "big bucks" or not is obviously a matter of perspective. Lawyer fees for handling criminal cases is almost never publicly available for review and comparison by the consuming public. There are actually good and reasonable explanations for why legal services and the charges for them are not subject to ready inspection like the price of a gallon of gasoline for your car. Legal fees vary to a significant extent among lawyers practicing in the same area, and the only way to get a sense about actual fees is to discuss the matter with counsel. Most lawyers who participate here, myself included, will provide an initial consultation without charge to you. Take advantage of that opportunity to speak privately and confidentially with suitable counsel. Good luck.

Absolutely. You are facing significant jail time, license suspension, and fines. If money is a concern, perhaps you should use AVVO to find a local attorney who gives free consultations. This way you can speak with someone and then you can make an informed decision on whether to hire an attorney or not.

It is worth finding an attorney that is experienced and that you feel comfortable with, which may or may not be the most expensive attorney. But you should definitely hire an attorney immediately, because you have a lot to lose.