How to Find A Good DUI Attorney
Driving under the influence is a serious crime, with serious consequences if you are caught. There is a very real possibility of jail time if you are convicted, and at a minimum you can expect some hefty fines and to have your license suspended. There are also the consequences of having a DUI conviction on your record, every time you go looking for a job it is going to show up. The best way to avoid a drunk driving conviction is to hire a good DUI attorney to defend you. Unfortunately most people charged with a DUI have no idea how to find a good lawyer. By asking a few simple questions you can ensure that you get an attorney who can help you beat that drunk driving charge.
In most cases the biggest factor in choosing a DUI attorney is cost. Lawyers are expensive so if you are charged with drunk driving be prepared for it to cost a small fortune. There is a huge variation in how much lawyers charge so you may have to visit a few before you find one that you can afford. Some DUI lawyers will charge a flat fee while others charge by the hour, it’s usually better to pay the flat fee since you will know in advance how much you will be paying. There will also probably be some extra fees involved in preparing your case, to pay for things like expert witnesses. Before you sign a contract make sure you know what all of the fees involved are going to be.
If you have been charged with driving under the influence it is usually a good idea to seek out a lawyer who specializes in defending drunk drivers. A lot of lawyers, especially criminal lawyers will defend people charged with driving drunk but a specialist DUI attorney will have the expertise to put up the strongest defence possible. Before deciding on an attorney you should make sure that you find out how long he has been in practice and just how much experience he has in defending drunk drivers.
In big law offices it is quite likely that the person you talk to at your initial consultation and the person who actually represents you will not be the same. In a lot of law firms the senior partners job is to bring in new clients and then pass the actual work of defending you on to one of the more junior members of the firm. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but you should make sure that you know who will be handling your case and that you are comfortable with them.
If you have been charged with drunk driving there is no time to waste, you need to hire a DUI attorney right away. People charged with driving under the influence usually go to trial fairly quickly and your lawyer is going to need time to prepare your case. It is important that you find a lawyer immediately after you are arrested for drunk driving. The earlier you hire a lawyer the more likely it is that he will be able to get you a good result.