Rebecca Pirius

Attorney

Rebecca Pirius is a Legal Editor at Nolo with a focus on criminal law. She has worked in the area of criminal law since 2003, most recently as a senior policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). For 12 years, Rebecca was a legislative analyst and an attorney in the Minnesota House of Representatives, providing nonpartisan legal research and drafting services to the 134 members. Right out of law school, she clerked for a judge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rebecca earned her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Minnesota, where she graduated magna cum laude and served as a law review member. She is a member of the Minnesota State Bar.

Nolo. In 2017, Rebecca began freelancing with Nolo and writing articles on criminal law, traffic laws, and impaired driving. She started full time at Nolo in 2019 as a Legal Editor. She writes primarily for CriminalDefenseLawyer.com and Nolo.com.

Prior career. Working at the Minnesota Legislature and NCSL, Rebecca conducted extensive research and analysis of laws and legislation on criminal law, public safety, corrections, and courts. Her roles required her to break down complex legal concepts for a broad audience, including policymakers and constituents, and allowed her to work with both sides of the political aisle. At NCSL, her policy work took her around the country to work with local and state policymakers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, former offenders, young adult offenders, crime victims, and criminal justice experts. 


Articles By Rebecca Pirius

Minnesota's Implied Consent Laws: Refusing DWI Chemical Testing
Read about Minnesota's implied consent laws and the penalties you'll face for refusing to take a blood, breath, or urine test after being arrested for a DWI.
Minnesota's Underage (Under 21) DUI Laws
Underage consumption of alcohol is a serious issue, and alone, constitutes a crime. The crime becomes more serious when an underage person chooses to drink and drive. This article discusses Minnesota’s laws and penalties that apply to underage drinking and driving. (“Underage” refers to persons
Minnesota's DWI Laws and Penalties
Learn about the penalties for a DUI/DWI conviction in Minnesota.
First-Offense DWI in Minnesota
Read about the consequences of a first-offense DWI in Minnesota.
Minnesota's Drugged Driving Law
Driving while impaired (DWI) (sometimes called “DUI”) is most often associated with driving under the influence of alcohol. But the law also prohibits “drugged driving”—that is, driving under the influence of drugs or hazardous substances.
Felony DWI in Minnesota
Read about the consequences of a felony DWI in Minnesota.  
Third-Offense DWI in Minnesota
Read about the consequences of a third-offense DWI in Minnesota.
Second-Offense DWI in Minnesota
Read about the consequences of a second-offense DWI in Minnesota.