Steps to Find the Right DUI Lawyer
More than 1.28 million drivers were arrested in 2012 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.1 This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 165 licensed drivers in the United States. While a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrest is a stressful event for anyone to undergo, it is important to face the situation head on and be as prepared and informed as possible. Hiring an experienced DUI attorney can help take some of the stress away. An attorney can help determine whether to plead guilty or take the case to court. If the case is especially complicated an attorney can help navigate the complex legal system.
All states have DUI laws that deem “per se intoxicated” any driver with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) above a set limit (now .08 in all states). Additionally, the state may charge the individual for violating more than one law. A DUI attorney can help better understand the charges against you and advise the best way to proceed with your case
A DUI can have an immediate impact on your day-to-day life. It can affect your driving privileges, your employment, and it may even mean possible jail time. As such, it is necessary to find out your options as soon as possible.
Come Up With a List of Potential Attorneys
There are a number of resources out there to help you in your search for the best DUI attorney. By seeking out personal recommendations and researching National Associations and State Bar Associations you can start filling up your list with some great attorneys to meet with. Like most major decisions in life, you will want to do your due diligence and research your options before choosing the right DUI attorney.
Personal recommendations: A good place to start your search is by soliciting personal recommendations from people you trust. A recommendation from someone who previously used the attorney’s services is probably the best way to go. Your trusted friend or colleague can give you some good information about the overall process, how the attorney performed, and what the outcome was. You can also get an idea of what the total costs were in the end. Keep in mind that not every DUI case is the same and the information you receive from your friend is subject to change based on the facts of your case.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT DUI ATTORNEY?
When you are facing a DUI charge you have a lot on the line. Your reputation, criminal record, driver’s license, even your freedom are all at stake. You need an attorney that has experience and specialized training on your side. DUI law is an ever changing area of the law with continually evolving case law, complex scientific testing devices and voluminous data and law enforcement training manuals available. In short, there is a lot of information to know and apply when it comes to properly defending a DUI charge
National College of DUI Defense:
College Members represent the most experienced DUI Defense attorneys in the county. The National College of DUI Defense is an invite only non-profit organization aimed at improving the criminal defense bar and to educating the public about DUI defense law as a specialty area of law practice
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Certification:
DUI defense lawyers that have participated in this training are certified to administer and interpret the standard filed sobriety tests to NHTSA standards. Less than 1% of practicing attorneys have received this specialized training. The NHTSA program is the exact same program that law enforcement officers take. The certification takes 21 classroom hours to obtain and encompasses in depth training on the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) Test, Walk and Turn Test and the One Leg Stand Test.
Science of Breath Testing Course Certificate:
DUI defense attorneys that have participated in this course have spent time working with the equipment law enforcement uses to administer breath tests on drivers suspected of DUI. If your lawyer has participated in this training then they have an advanced knowledge of how breath test machines work, what faults the machines have, what maintenance the machines require and what protocols an officer must follow to correctly administer the test.
American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys:
Members of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys have received advanced level training on the strategies that win the most DUI cases at trial and are also used to get DUI cases successfully resolved for the defense prior to trial. Members of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys also have access to the resources and tools that are used to win and successfully resolve DUI cases. The resources and tools AAPDA members have, only a very small percentage of DUI attorneys have access to and use including law enforcement manuals, testing protocols and validation studies.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD DUI LAWYER
No matter what type of legal issue you are facing, you always have to be smart about it and hire a professional lawyer to help you out. Of course, depending on the issue you need to hire a lawyer who has the most experience in that field. That’s why when you are facing some DUI charges you should hire a private DUI lawyer who has a lot of experience.
The one thing that you have to be careful when hiring a private lawyer is to find one who has a lot of experience and who is considered to be a good lawyer. A lot of people don’t understand how to find a good lawyer, well I can help you out with that because I had some previous experience
REPUTATION
Definitely, the first thing that you want to follow when searching for a good DUI lawyer is the reputation. If you have ever wondered how to find a good DUI lawyer, we will give you all the information that you need. People never think about having a lawyer ready at all times, they go searching for one when it is time to deal with the issue. Depending on the penalty you are facing, you might not have a lot of time to spend on searching, so you better be prepared at all times and find yourself one now.
If you want to hire a good DUI lawyer, you have to ask other people and search online to see if they have a good reputation or not. This way you can easily point out which lawyer is good or not. This method will save you a lot of time, money and stress.
AFFORDABILITY
One of the important things that you have to be careful with when hiring a lawyer is to make sure that you hire one that you can actually afford. In order to avoid having to deal with a situation where you cannot pay the lawyer, you have to first ask him how much does he charge.
Questions to Ask When Interviewing a DUI Attorney
The secret to finding a good attorney is in the questions you ask before you hire one. If the police have recently arrested you for driving under the influence, or DUI, of alcohol or drugs, you need to find a good DUI attorney. This article can help.
The criminal justice system moves a lot faster than a civil lawsuit would. You need to find a DUI attorney quickly. Asking the right questions will help you do that
Many attorneys are willing to meet you briefly to introduce themselves and discuss your case. This is where you can conduct an interview to see if you have found the right lawyer for you
This article will suggest a number of questions. Do not feel obligated to ask them all, but pick and choose among them. You may even add some of your own as you see fit.
After you get the name of a DUI attorney or two, call to set up an appointment for that first meeting. Your goals for this meeting are to:
Learn about the DUI attorney’s background and experience
Discuss your options and possible strategies
Most importantly, determine whether this is the lawyer you want representing you
DUI Law: How To Choose the Right DUI Lawyer
So you need a good DUI lawyer but aren’t sure what you should be doing to get the best deal for the drink driving offense you’re facing? What are some of the things you need to do – and who are some of the lawyers you can check out to see who might be best for you?
DUI Legal Fees
You can’t tell what any lawyer might charge for handling DUI cases, but watch out for the high up-front cost that is followed by a guilty plea at the end of the day. Similarly, you need to watch out for a low up front charge, followed by an endless progressioin of fees for the work.
Make sure you have an agreement showing exactly what you are getting and how much you’re paying. Remember that you should not need to pay fees for precedents and law that is resolved and known from other cases. Your “case” for a good defense also rests upon having an experienced attorney who has handled DUI cases and appeals, rather than someone who needs to research every legal point.
The Lawyer’s Reputation
Make sure you do some checking about the drunk driving lawyer’s reputation by asking about, doing some online checking. Find out what sort of reputation he or she has with the judiciary and the prosecutors, which can be vital if you are seeking the best possible result for the charges you face.
DUI Knowledge
Ensure your lawyer knows exactly what you’re likely to be receiving in terms of penalty. Does he or she know the sentencing options for the locality where you’re going to go to Court? Do they know the options and requirements? Do they know the criminal and sentencing guidelines that need to be followed? You need local knowledge here.