Steven F. Groce began practicing law in 1984, which means he was defending DWI cases in Missouri when Ronald Reagan was president, building courtroom experience that now exceeds 39 years in criminal and drug-related defense. The office is located at 1705 N. Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65803, telephone (417) 883-4950. Groce holds bar admissions in Missouri, Texas, federal courts, and the United States Supreme Court, a combination that extends his practice far beyond the jurisdictional reach of most Springfield defense attorneys. He is a lifetime member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a lifetime member of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Both memberships reflect long-standing professional positions on criminal defense and drug policy, not recent additions. His national recognition includes placement among the top 200 cannabis lawyers in the country and among the top 100 criminal defense attorneys nationally. In 2018, a professional organization recognized him as one of the 10 best DUI/DWI lawyers in Missouri. Fees are structured reasonably with flexible payment plans.
The scope of what the firm handles extends from standard DWI cases through marijuana law, controlled substances charges, federal drug crimes, license suspensions, hardship licenses, reinstatement proceedings, and expungement. That range reflects a career spent in the intersection of criminal defense and drug policy, developed over four decades in Missouri courts.
Practice Areas
Steven F. Groce’s practice covers DWI/DUI defense, marijuana law, drug intoxication charges, controlled substances cases, federal drug crimes, and all associated licensing consequences.
DWI/DUI Defense: Missouri prosecutes driving while intoxicated under statutes that carry consequences ranging from license suspension and fines to jail time, depending on the circumstances and prior record. Defense of these charges requires scrutiny of the traffic stop, the field sobriety testing procedures, the breathalyzer calibration records, blood test chain of custody, and the officer’s training and compliance with required protocols. An attorney who has been doing this work since 1984 has encountered the full range of evidentiary problems that arise in DWI cases and knows which challenges are viable and which are not.
Marijuana Law: The legal landscape for marijuana has shifted significantly in recent years, with Missouri joining states that have enacted some form of legal marijuana policy, while federal law continues to treat cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance. Groce’s dual membership in NORML and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, combined with his national recognition as a top cannabis attorney, positions him at the intersection of this evolving legal area. Charges involving marijuana possession, distribution, or cultivation, and their interaction with federal law, require current knowledge of how state and federal standards are applied.
Drug Intoxication Charges: Being under the influence of a controlled substance while operating a vehicle is a separate basis for DWI charges distinct from alcohol impairment. Drug impairment testing involves blood analysis, drug recognition evaluations, and scientific questions about the relationship between drug presence and actual impairment at the time of driving. These evidentiary issues are contestable with proper knowledge.
Controlled Substances Cases: Possession, distribution, and manufacturing charges for controlled substances carry serious felony penalties in Missouri. The defense of these cases involves constitutional challenges to searches and seizures, questions about constructive possession, and in some cases challenges to the laboratory analysis of substances.
Federal Drug Crimes: Federal drug prosecutions trigger the federal sentencing guidelines, which frequently produce substantially longer sentences than state courts impose for comparable conduct. Federal cases require admission to the federal bar, which Groce holds. His admission to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar further extends his capacity to pursue issues to the highest level of federal review.
License Suspensions and Hardship Licenses: A DWI arrest in Missouri triggers automatic licensing consequences through the state Department of Revenue, separate from any criminal proceedings. Contesting these consequences requires prompt action after the arrest. For drivers who need to drive to maintain employment or to fulfill family obligations, hardship license applications may allow limited driving privileges during the suspension period.
License Reinstatement: After a license suspension or revocation, the process of reinstatement involves meeting specific requirements that vary depending on the nature and length of the prior action. The firm handles reinstatement proceedings to ensure clients navigate the process correctly.
Expungement: Missouri law allows certain criminal convictions to be expunged from the record after a waiting period and upon meeting qualifying criteria. Expungement removes the conviction from most background checks, which can meaningfully affect employment, housing, and licensing. The firm evaluates each client’s eligibility and handles the expungement process.
Attorney Profiles
Steven F. Groce has practiced criminal defense law in Missouri since 1984. His 39-plus years in the field span significant changes in DWI law, drug policy, and criminal procedure, and his practice reflects an attorney who has stayed current through decades of change rather than resting on dated knowledge.
His bar admissions include Missouri, Texas, federal courts, and the United States Supreme Court Bar. The breadth of these admissions is meaningful in a practice that handles federal drug crimes, because federal cases require federal bar admission that many state-court attorneys do not hold. Supreme Court admission positions him to pursue issues at the highest level when cases warrant it.
The national recognition is specific: top 200 cannabis lawyers nationally, top 100 criminal defense attorneys nationally, and one of 10 best DUI/DWI lawyers in Missouri for 2018. These designations reflect assessments by professional organizations rather than self-reported claims.
Lifetime membership in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers reflects a sustained professional identity as a defense advocate. Lifetime membership in NORML reflects a long-standing position on marijuana law reform that predates the recent wave of state legalization and positions him as an attorney who has thought seriously about marijuana law for decades.
The firm offers reasonable fees with flexible payment plans, reflecting recognition that criminal defense clients are often facing financial pressure alongside the legal consequences of their charges.
Location and Service Area
Steven F. Groce’s office is located at 1705 N. Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65803. The telephone number is (417) 883-4950.
The firm handles cases in Springfield, Greene County, and Christian County as the primary service area, while also taking cases throughout Missouri in city, state, and federal courts. Federal matters can arise anywhere within the applicable federal district, and Groce’s federal bar admission means he can practice in federal courts without geographic restriction.
Springfield is the third-largest city in Missouri and the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area. The Greene County court system handles a substantial volume of DWI and criminal cases, and Groce’s 39-plus years in Springfield courts provides familiarity with local practices, judges, and prosecutors that is built through decades of appearances rather than occasional practice.
Client Focus
The clients at Steven F. Groce’s firm face criminal charges or licensing consequences that can affect employment, professional licenses, immigration status, and long-term records. DWI charges, even at the misdemeanor level, carry consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom, including increased insurance rates, mandatory treatment programs, ignition interlock requirements, and employment complications for commercial drivers or those with professional licenses.
Marijuana and controlled substance clients include people caught in the gap between state legalization trends and continuing federal prohibition, as well as those facing traditional state-level drug charges. The ongoing evolution of marijuana law means clients benefit from an attorney who has tracked the law’s development over decades rather than learning it recently.
Federal drug clients face a distinctly more severe legal environment, with mandatory minimum sentences and sentencing guidelines that operate differently from state court. Having a lawyer with active federal court admissions is a baseline requirement for federal representation.
Expungement clients are often people who resolved a charge years earlier and are now confronting its continuing effects on their record. The ability to expunge a qualifying conviction and approach future opportunities without that record is significant, and the process requires accurate assessment of eligibility and careful navigation of the procedural requirements.
The flexible payment plan structure reflects awareness that criminal defense clients are not always in a financial position to pay substantial retainers immediately, particularly when they are also facing fines, court costs, and the income disruption that can accompany a criminal arrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a state DWI case and a federal drug case?
A state DWI case is prosecuted in Missouri state courts under state statutes, with penalties and procedures set by Missouri law. A federal drug case is prosecuted in federal district court under federal law, with penalties determined by the federal sentencing guidelines, which typically produce longer sentences than state courts impose for comparable conduct. Federal cases also involve different rules of procedure and evidence and require an attorney admitted to the federal bar. Steven Groce holds both Missouri and federal bar admissions and handles matters in both court systems.
If I am arrested for DWI in Missouri, what happens to my license?
A DWI arrest in Missouri triggers an administrative action by the Department of Revenue that is separate from the criminal prosecution. The officer will typically issue a notice of license suspension, and you have a limited window to request an administrative hearing to contest that suspension. An attorney can advise on the timing and process for requesting that hearing. If no hearing is requested, the suspension will proceed automatically.
What is expungement and who qualifies for it in Missouri?
Missouri law allows certain criminal convictions and arrest records to be expunged after a waiting period. Expungement removes the record from most background checks conducted by employers and landlords. Eligibility depends on the nature of the offense, the length of time since the conviction, and whether the person has subsequent offenses. Not all convictions are eligible. An attorney can evaluate the specific conviction and history to determine whether expungement is available and what the process involves.
Does marijuana being legal in Missouri mean I cannot be charged with a marijuana offense?
Missouri has enacted provisions for legal marijuana use, but there are restrictions on the quantity, form, and circumstances of possession and use. Federal law continues to treat marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, which creates ongoing federal exposure in certain circumstances. Additionally, use while driving or other specific circumstances remains prohibited. The intersection of state legalization and federal prohibition is an active legal area, and charges can still arise even in a legalization environment depending on the facts.
How long has the firm been handling DWI cases in Springfield?
Steven F. Groce has been practicing law since 1984, with a practice focused on DWI and criminal defense. That career spans more than four decades in Missouri courts, with the Springfield area as the primary venue.
Closing
Forty-plus years of practice is not a guarantee of quality, but it is evidence of a particular kind of credibility: sustained presence in Missouri courts across DWI and criminal defense that reflects thousands of cases evaluated, negotiated, and tried. Steven F. Groce’s national recognition, his dual lifetime memberships, and his bar admissions across state, federal, and U.S. Supreme Court jurisdictions represent a practice built over decades rather than assembled recently. For clients in Springfield and across Missouri who are facing DWI charges, marijuana offenses, controlled substance cases, or federal drug prosecution, the firm at 1705 N. Jefferson Avenue offers experience that accumulates only over the kind of career that began in 1984 and is still running. Contact the firm at (417) 883-4950 or visit attorneydwi.com/ for more information.