The Coffey Firm: The First Woman in the Country Board Certified in DWI Defense

TO OUR READERS: This profile is independent editorial content produced by Awesome Attorneys. The Coffey Firm did not pay for, commission, sponsor, or review this article, and inclusion in this series cannot be purchased. Nothing here is legal advice, an endorsement, or a recommendation to hire any lawyer; readers should evaluate counsel independently and may verify any Texas attorney’s license and discipline history through the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. Facts are drawn from the sources identified in the Methodology section and were verified as of August 2026.

AT A GLANCE

I. The First Woman in the Country Board Certified in DWI Defense

Mimi Coffey holds a specific, documented historical distinction: she was the first woman in the United States to earn Board Certification in DWI Defense from the National College for DUI Defense. That is a checkable fact about the certification’s history, not a marketing superlative, and it is paired with her subsequent election as Dean of the NCDD itself, the organization’s leadership position, reflecting sustained standing within the national DWI-defense specialty bar rather than a single credential earned once.

II. Co-Author of the Reference Text on Texas DWI Law

Coffey co-authored “Texas DWI Defense: The Law and Practice,” a genuine reference publication in the field, alongside articles published in The Champion and The Voice, national legal publications. She has also appeared as a legal commentator for CNN and Fox News on DWI-related stories, a form of media recognition distinct from self-published marketing content.

III. Practice Areas

• DWI/DUI defense (misdemeanor through felony)
• Boating While Intoxicated (BWI)
• Assault and family violence
• Drug possession and theft
• Expunctions and orders of non-disclosure
• Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearings

IV. Case Outcomes

The firm cites more than 350 trials across Coffey’s 29-plus years of practice, a specific, documented trial volume rather than a vague experience claim, but this profile did not locate an itemized, case-by-case published results list with specific outcomes as of this research date; that gap is disclosed here rather than filled in.

V. The Client Voice

A peer review from a fellow senior attorney described Coffey as “one of the premiere DUI attorneys in the country,” specifically praising that she “truly cares about her clients” while being “brilliant, always prepared, and a formidable opponent in the courtroom,” calling her “the go to DUI attorney in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.” The firm holds a 4.6-5.0 rating across its Martindale-Hubbell reviews. No pattern of negative or unresolved reviews was located for this firm as of this research date.

VI. Community and Local Presence

Coffey served on the Texas State Bar Jury Service Committee and sits on the Texas Tech School of Law Foundation Board, institutional roles distinct from her individual casework. She has been a frequent speaker at both national and statewide legal seminars, reflecting sustained professional teaching engagement within the DWI-defense specialty.

VII. Credentials and Recognition

Mimi Coffey is Board Certified in DWI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense, a genuine, rigorously earned specialty credential the firm’s own materials describe as “not easily or freely earned,” and is the only NCDD Board Certified DWI Defense attorney documented in North Texas per the firm’s materials. No Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification was located for Coffey as of this research date, distinct from the NCDD credential; that specific distinction is disclosed rather than conflated.

VIII. The Texas Legal Backdrop

In Texas, a first-offense DWI is generally a Class B misdemeanor, escalating with aggravating factors under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. Boating While Intoxicated, part of Coffey’s documented practice, is governed by a separate statutory framework under the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code and Penal Code, distinct from standard vehicular DWI. Following a DWI arrest, drivers generally have a limited window to request an Administrative License Revocation hearing to contest an automatic license suspension. None of this is legal advice; consult a licensed Texas attorney about your specific situation.

IX. The Awesome Attorneys Assessment

The Coffey Firm’s structural strength is a genuinely singular credential: the first woman in the country board certified in DWI defense, later elected Dean of the certifying organization itself, backed by a co-authored reference text and national media commentary experience. For a Dallas client facing a DWI charge specifically, especially one with scientific or forensic complexity, that combination of specialized certification and documented national standing in the field is a real, checkable differentiator most general criminal defense firms cannot offer.

The honest limitation is one worth naming directly: Coffey’s specific specialization is DWI defense, and a client facing a more general criminal matter outside that specialty should confirm the firm’s specific experience with that particular charge type during a consultation.

X. Methodology & Sources

This profile was researched and written independently by Awesome Attorneys in August 2026 without the participation, sponsorship, or payment of The Coffey Firm. Primary source: the firm’s website mimicoffey.com (home, Dallas criminal attorney page, contact). Verification sources: National College for DUI Defense attorney directory listing (career history, certifications); Martindale-Hubbell attorney profile (peer reviews, office address); Avvo attorney profile (career history, media appearances). Statutes cited in Section VIII were verified against the Texas Constitution and Statutes database (statutes.capitol.texas.gov).

Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice

Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal-directory publisher. This profile was not paid for by The Coffey Firm, and inclusion in our editorial coverage cannot be purchased. Awesome Attorneys may separately offer premium sponsored placements to attorneys and firms; sponsorship status, where it exists, is always disclosed and does not alter the editorial content of a profile such as this one. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice or an attorney referral.