Three Types of Seattle DUI Attorneys. What Type Do You Want?

I was talking to a potential client today and I began telling him about my theory of the three types of Seattle DUI attorneys that exist in the world. Although it is possible to move between the three tiers, any specific Seattle DUI attorney probably falls squarely within one of the tiers at any given time. So, what are the three tiers? Terrible, good, and excellent. But how do you tell the difference? Read below to figure it out.

Terrible DUI Lawyers

The first tier, the terrible Seattle DUI attorney, as you might expect, isn't very good and probably isn't someone that you want on your team. While the good and the excellent DUI attorney will often be able to get you the same result, the terrible DUI attorney is usually interested in one thing - getting your money.  The terrible Seattle DUI attorney exhibits several qualities. 

Little Experience Fighting a DUI

First, they are usually new to the practice of law.  By new I mean practicing less than 2 years.  When you've been practicing that short amount of time you simply haven't had exposure to all that you need.  But, there are exceptions to that requirement.

They are Cheap

Second, you often find the terrible attorneys don't charge that much money. This may seem like a good thing to you at the time, but if your Seattle DUI attorney is only charging you $1,000 for your entire case, that means he is having to take on many more cases than the good or excellent Seattle DUI attorney and will not be able to devote all the time he needs to to your case.  Would you rather spend an extra $1,500 to $2,000 and have the peace of mind that you are getting at least adequate help.

They May Promise the World

Third, the attorney will either promise you the world or not sound like they know what they are talking about at all.  If you have a feeling in your gut that they aren't doing the right thing or things sound a little fishy, then they probably are.  You deserve someone you feel comfortable with, and you shouldn't settle for someone because they push you into signing up with them.

Good DUI Lawyers

The second type of DUI attorney in Seattle is the good attorney.  This person exhibits a lot of the qualities of the excellent DUI lawyer but is lacking in a couple of areas that make them qualify for excellent status.  The good DUI attorney is usually very qualified. They have at least 2 years of criminal defense experience.  They are well dressed, well mannered, and understand the law.  However, the good Seattle DUI attorney probably has fewer than 10 DUI trials under thier belt.  They make lack some of the experience and bravado (and the reputation with the prosecutors) that the excellent DUI attorneys have.

Good DUI Lawyers are Reasonably Priced

The great thing about good Seattle DUI attorneys is that they don't charge excellent fees.  These people are in the middle of the road when it comes to fees.  They aren't outrageously high, but they aren't dirt cheap either.  This is because you are paying for the added value they are providing over the terrible attorney and get a discount because they haven't yet received excellent status.  For the most part, people tend to fall into needing this category of lawyer at a minimum.  This is also where I would categorize myself.

The Best DUI Lawyers: Excellent

Finally, the excellent lawyer.  The excellent lawyer, as has already been described, is at the top of his or her game. They are recognized by peers as having most of the tools needed to kick butt in the courtroom (both in trial and at a motions hearing) and they have the experience and proven results to ask for the much higher fees.  These attorneys should be consulted for the case that must be one or resolved favorably.  Though they can't promise success, they can provide the most expertise possible for your case.

The Conclusion is You Get What You Pay For

In the end, your choice of attorney shouldn't come down to price.  You are usually going to get what you pay for (particularly on the lower end).  Try to find someone you can trust, that seems competent, and that at least meets the "good" Seattle DUI attorney criteria.