how to choose dui attorney

How to Choose a DUI Attorney

1. Always make sure the lawyer you are hiring and meeting with is the one that will actually be handling your case personally ...
2. If the DUI attorney cannot give you his cell phone number or return calls within 48 Hours, he or she is too busy for you ...
3. Your Retainer Agreement should have a clear statement of the price of the representation that includes trial ...

Full Answer

What Should You Look for When Choosing a Lawyer for Drunk Driving?

Is It Worth Going to Trial for a DUI Legal Case?

What to ask an attorney about on the phone?

Once you have attorneys on the phone, ask them about legal costs in your case. You want an attorney who is transparent about costs. Do not work with attorneys who are vague on this point since you may end up with an attorney you cannot afford.

Why are there a few attorneys who stand out?

Once you have done your research, there may be a few attorneys who stand out because they seem to get strong testimonials, have years of relevant experience, are highly-regarded by their peers and take part in professional associations. Create a list of these most promising attorneys.

Is The Attorney A Recognized Author In DUI Defense

In choosing a DUI Lawyer it is important to choose an attorney who keeps up with the case law and the statutory changes relating to DUI, not only in California but also throughout the country as issues that arise in other states may eventually make their way to our state.

Is The Lawyer Rated By Recognized Professional Groups

It is equally important to determine whether the attorney you are considering has been “rated” by organizations that evaluate the competency of the attorney, such as Martindale-Hubbell, or ” Who’s Who In American Law “.

What is the most important thing to know about a DUI?

Choosing the right lawyer in the beginning may be the single most important factor in determining the outcome in the end. In fact, choosing the right DUI lawyer will likely be the most important single decision you make in the entire case.

Do DUI lawyers win?

Many DUI lawyers claim lots of “wins.” But many may claim a “win” on what is actually a split verdict, where the person is found not guilty of some but not guilty of others. This might mean that what they claim as a win is actually a loss. Therefore, it’s probably important inquire as to the attorney’s recent complete dismissals and acquittals, and the specific circumstances under which they were obtained.

Do DUI lawyers use marketing?

Marketing is a reality of DUI law practice these days. Almost all DUI lawyers, therefore, even the best ones, engage in some marketing. But lawyers who conspicuously rely on cheesy TV commercials, radio spots, big bus wraps, boisterous billboards, or other gimmicks, might be doing so because they are having trouble finding clients. In fact, in certain cases you may actually want to think of those as advertisements for precisely not the lawyers you want.

Can a DUI lawyer be a prosecutor?

There are many good DUI lawyers who never served as prosecutors. But almost everyone agrees that maybe the single best training for a successful DUI lawyer is a stint early in his career as a DUI prosecutor. That’s because DUI prosecutors, even those doing it for only a couple of years, handle hundreds or even thousands of cases. There is no substitute for that kind of experience and training. You can’t buy it. Or get it at a seminar. In fact, it takes many lawyers decades to try as many cases as DUI prosecutors try in two years. And let’s not forget that former DUI prosecutors have been on both sides, know the system, and tend to get along well the prosecutors and judges. That can’t hurt either. For that reason former DUI prosecutors are often highly prized and somewhat rare.

Do you have to go to law school to become a DUI lawyer?

You don’t have to be at the top of your law school class to be a great DUI lawyer. But it sure can’t hurt. Lawyers who graduated with highest honors, for example, from good law schools are, usually, at the least, smart and hardworking. For one, it takes an incredible amount of hard work to graduate at the top of the class from almost any law school. For that reason alone it may be likely that such a lawyer at the least has a proven work ethic: If so, it might be more likely that he works hard at his practice and will work hard on your case. Chances are he is also smart. By the way, it also means that he can probably write well, which can be surprisingly crucial to success as a DUI lawyer (See below). On the other hand, lawyers who don’t list what law school they went to, or maybe list a law school you never heard of, or how they did, might merit a degree of due diligence, or at least a polite inquiry.

Things That You Should Consider Before Choosing a DUI Lawyer

Before selecting a DWI / DUI attorney with extensive experience in Naperville there are a few things that you should consider. Before making your decision you should make use of all available research tools that are available for you.

Red Flags When Looking For a DUI Attorney

Now that you know what to consider when choosing the right lawyer for your case, you should also be aware of what not to consider in a DUI case. Here are some of the red flags that you should be on the lookout for when you are in the process of choosing a DUI attorney.

Questions to Ask a Criminal Defense Attorney

When you attend an initial consultation, as a prospective client you should prepare questions to ask your attorney. You should ask questions revolving around their:

Choose an experienced Attorney

It would be best if you chose an attorney with a lot of experience in cases with DUI or felony drunk driving situations. Remember that when you get arrested for DUI, you only have a little time to act. That is why you need an attorney to work with this kind of atmosphere and act quickly without hesitation.

Knows how to defend you at all cost

The DUI attorney must know how to refute the mentioned issue thrown at you no matter how apparent the crime is. He must defend you and look for ways to get you off the hook. For example, the attorney might come up with defenses like stating that the arresting officer failed to use the BAC properly. There are times when drivers refuse a BAC test.

Knows how to interact

Some lawyers tend to avoid building rapport with their clients to focus on their job and always be objective. You have to avoid those kinds of lawyers and look for a DUI attorney that will interact with you. The interaction will allow you to know how your attorney works, or your attorney can give you tips to prevent any crime from happening again.

Meet up with them first

It is important to give a face to face interview with your DUI attorney and let them know you well. You can also get to know him/her more and open up your questions to him/her. It is also essential to question the lawyer regarding the number of clients he represents at a time. You have to know if he can give his full attention to you.

Have a gameplan

Both of you must have your gameplan if you wish to win the case. It would be best if you cooperate with your attorney. Both of you must know every detail and give instructions like listing down what actually happened, why the officer stopped you, not missing a tiny bit of detail.

What Should You Look for When Choosing a Lawyer for Drunk Driving?

While you should not delay obtaining legal counsel from an experienced Orange County DUI attorney, you should not rush your decision, either. Take your time and find a DUI lawyer who offers the skill, resources, and experience you would expect from a seasoned defense attorney. Ask the lawyer how they interpret your case from a professional standpoint and what they expect to unfold as your case progresses. A few key traits to look for in an Orange County DUI attorney include:

Is It Worth Going to Trial for a DUI Legal Case?

A DUI conviction can lead to many negative outcomes , including fines, jail time, license suspension, and even professional consequences for some individuals. Every American citizen accused of a crime has the right to fight the charges against them, especially when they have evidence that proves their innocence or that the prosecution has failed to make a clear and convincing case for conviction.