Tips for Hiring a DUI Lawyer
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Make the Decision at Home
Which brings us to the final tip. Don’t make a final decision about which lawyer to go within the moment. Take a moment to think it over at home and come to a final decision.
Comfort and Confidence
This question brings in that human touch the strongest. A DUI lawyer may be less confident in their ability to win the case but match your personality. They may be enthusiastic about your chances but rub you the wrong way.
Assessment of Case
Lay out the details of your case. Work honestly and bring all the paperwork you have access to. The lawyer can’t make a good recommendation on your chances if you are not honest.
Steps to Find the Right DUI Lawyer
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.
Determine Whether the Attorney is Qualified to Handle the Case
After your preliminary research is done you will then need to consider each attorney’s qualifications to make the best selection. You will want to find out the attorney’s educational background, what areas they specialize in, and if they are in good standing with their state bar.
Meet the Attorney for an In-Person Consultation
An in-person consultation will help you decide which attorney you feel most comfortable with and have the most confidence in. Below are some steps you should take to ensure the best consultation.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT DUI ATTORNEY?
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.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD DUI LAWYER
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.
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
Hiring a DUI Attorney
After meeting with the DUI DWI attorneys on your list, it’s time to choose one. If you only met with one, but the lawyer was clearly qualified-or you met with several, but one was the obvious choice-your search is over.
Legal Fees
Being arrested for DUI can be expensive. Possible outcomes could include loss of your driver’s license, increased insurance premiums, DUI school, fines, and possible jail time. And of course it costs money to hire a lawyer.
Case Management
DUI DWI attorneys use the term case management to describe how they handle your case. It’s important to know the logistics behind the scenes so that there are no misunderstandings. Some relevant questions to ask include.
Assessment of Your Case
Before DUI DWI attorneys can give you feedback about your options, they need to understand the charges and the evidence against you. Listen carefully to the questions the attorneys ask you, and answer them directly.