If it is the first time you are charged for DUI, the best option for you is to get legal advice from an experienced lawyer, to get more options for your defense. Indeed, because the chances of winning a DUI case are very little with a public defender, if you have the opportunity to do so, you should hire a private lawyer.
Full Answer
There are two ways to generally beat the rap on a D.U.I. Taking the case to a trial and winning a not guilty verdict (or having the case dismissed on a legal ruling such as the officer conducting an illegal traffic stop).
The short answer is: yes, you should definitely hire a DUI attorney to defend you because if you're not familiar with California DUI law, it will be difficult for you to properly defend yourself. The DUI Attorneys at The H Law Group have extensive experience defending those who have been charged with drunk driving.
In short, a DUI attorney helps their client understand the specific charges they are facing, help them to decide on a legal strategy, handle any administrative tasks involved with the case, and represent their client in court.
nine days in jail. While jail time is usually the most concerning aspect of a DUI charge, jail time is not the only punishment that may come of a DUI conviction. Along with possible jail time a DUI conviction may also lead to a loss of license, participation in drug and alcohol classes, court fees and expensive fines.
For a first-time misdemeanor DUI, a DUI attorney generally costs in the ballpark of $1,500 to $5,000. A California DUI Lawyer Association (CDLA) Specialist often starts at $2,500 – $4,500. Immediately get a free online DUI attorney consultation form – click now for a $1,000 Discount.
* How much does a DUI cost? California DUI fines range from $390 to $5,000 plus penalty assessments & fees that can raise the total cost to $18,000, depending on your DUI charge. DUI with injury or property damage may also require you to pay injured parties.
Between $1,800 – $18,000 in penalties and fines. 3-year mandatory license suspension. Mandatory 120 day to 1-year jail sentence. Mandatory Ignition Interlock Device installation.
For a first-offense DUI in California, consequences for conviction generally include three years of informal probation, fines of $390 plus “penalty assessments” (totally approximately $2000, and completing a first offender alcohol program that consists of a 30-hour class, at a cost of about $500.
Many people who are charged with DUIs in Pennsylvania wonder whether they should hire private defense lawyers or instead be represented by the public defender’s office.
A public defender is a lawyer who works for the County Public Defender’s office. While some people mistakenly believe that public defenders are not real attorneys, they are. Like other lawyers, public defenders must attend law school, graduate, pass the bar exam, and be licensed to practice law.
As previously stated, both public defenders and private lawyers are licensed attorneys who are legally authorized to represent people in criminal court. However, public defenders are not allowed to handle related issues outside of the criminal court system.
The primary differences between public defenders and private attorneys include their levels of experience and the size of their caseloads. Public defenders cannot control the sizes of their caseloads, and many public defender’s offices are not sufficiently funded.
If you are facing DUI charges and want to learn more about your options and whether you should retain a private DUI defense lawyer, you should schedule a consultation with DiCindio Law.
Public defenders face significant obstacles. They are typically overworked. Because there are so many people who cannot afford a lawyer, public defenders often balance hundreds of cases at any given time.
Private lawyers largely rely on client referrals for continued business. They must work hard for positive outcomes. They often have far fewer clients than public defenders. However, they can also ask other associates or partners for assistance with the case. They can connect clients to expert witnesses who can help substantiate legal defenses.
They both are licensed attorneys and both can legally do the same things in the criminal court system. However, a Public Defender does not handle issues outside the criminal court system in a DUI such as the DHSMV driver's license suspension or obtaining a hardship license .
As state above they are both licensed attorneys, but the private attorney can handle matters outside of the criminal court system that the Public Defender cannot. The main difference between a Private Lawyer and Public Defender is usually experience and the case load.
A public defender is a lawyer who is assigned by the court to provide legal representation for your DUI case if you can prove that you are unable to afford a private defender. Prior to assigning a public defender the court will ask for financial information which proves you do not have the means to hire your own DUI defense lawyer. If the court determines you have sufficient resources and income, they will refuse to assign public counsel and you will have to hire your own DUI private defender.
There are several benefits of hiring a private DUI lawyer. First, you will not be assigned a lawyer by the court but can interview several attorneys and decide who is best for you. A private lawyer will also have more time to focus on your case and is not rushed or encouraged to push for a plea. Most private DUI lawyers will only take 10 to 50 cases at one time. With resources such as the internet attorneys will also have to work harder than ever to make sure they are meeting the needs of their clients and bad news travels fast. If they do poor legal work they may find it hard to find clients. What is the main drawback of a private lawyer? The main one, and maybe the only one, is the cost. A private lawyer can cost thousands of dollars. And some DUI defendant simply do not have the money to hire a private lawyer.
The main benefit of hiring a public defender will be the cost. Depending on your states laws, you may have to subsidize part of the cost of the public defender; in other states you may not. If you cannot hire your own private DUI lawyer, having a public defender help you with your case is preferable to attempting to defend yourself. Additionally, many public defenders have developed a strong rapport with the courts and judges which can benefit you and your DUI case. The biggest criticism of public defenders is they are overworked, handling dozens or hundreds of cases at one time, which does not allow them much time to focus on your case. Public defenders, in contrast to a private defender, also may not specialize in specific types of criminal law cases. Private defender who only defend DUI cases will have developed specialized knowledge that a public defender may not have developed. Finally, it is likely that if you are assigned a public defender they will have little time to focus on your case, which can be critical to implementing a strong DUI defense. In fact, because they are paid a salary they may have very little incentive to take a strong DUI case to trial and may instead argue for a plea (which may not be in your best interest).
You might not know this but many lawyers do start their career as public defenders. Contrary to popular belief, public defenders are licensed attorneys. However, the reality is that hiring a private attorney will get you higher chances of winning your case or of having it archived. The bad news is that hiring a private attorney can be rather expensive, even if you are only on your first offense. This is why public defenders are often an attractive option.
When you plead guilty, the court will enter a conviction, which is virtually the same outcome you would have gotten if you went to trial with a guilty verdict. DUIs are considered as misdemeanor criminal offenses, meaning that they can be converted into felonies if the defendant has a history of other offenses or convictions for the same crime or if the DUI involves deaths or injuries.
Most of the time, if you decide to self-represent yourself, you will have low chances to win your case.
According to the federal and state law of Illinois, if you can't afford to hire one yourself, the court will appoint a public defender, which is an attorney at the expense of the government. The word used to describe a defendant who is not able to afford a lawyer is indigent.
Indeed, because the chances of winning a DUI case are very little with a public defender, if you have the opportunity to do so, you should hire a private lawyer.
Let's be realistic: with a public defender, your chances to win your DUI case are very little, which is why, if you can, it is always better to hire a private attorney.
People classified as indigent will automatically be assigned a public defender to represent them in court. However, there are many stereotypes associated with public defenders who generally have a bad reputation.