Do you need to find a drunk driving attorney? How to pick the best one, especially if you are feeling rushed and stressed is important to know. Being charged with a DUI or DWI offense is extremely serious and can result in jail time, loss of your driver's license and expensive fines. And those are not even all the penalties you may face, so picking the best attorney to represent you is critical to your immediate future.
What is important to you?
When you pick an attorney, you are hiring an educated, licensed professional who hopefully has experience dealing with DUI cases but it is not just that simple. Before you begin your search, take a minute to write down what is important to you as this will help you make a decision and feel comfortable that you have made the best choice. Are you willing to use an attorney with less experience because they charge considerably less for their service? Or, are you the type who will work with anyone that Uncle Bob recommends?
Step 1
Step 1 is to identify two to three attorneys who are experienced with DUI in your area. The three quickest and easiest ways to do so are to:
- ASK: If you know someone who has been in the same situation you're in now, ask them about their attorney and if they would recommend that you use him or her
- CALL: Contact your state's bar association; tell them you are looking for an attorney that specializes in DUI defense. They will either be able to refer you to several attorneys in your area or they can point you to another referral organization
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LOOK UP: Advertisements in the phone book or on the Internet for attorney who specialize in DUI
Step 2
Make sure there is a Step 2 in your search! Don't settle on the first name you find in the phone book. Take the time to call two to three attorneys and briefly interview them, which you can do while you are telling them about your DUI problem.
Ask each attorney (including the one Uncle Bob recommended!) to tell you:
- How much experience they have with DUI cases (is it their main focus? What percentage of their practice is DUI?)
- How long have they specialized in DUI?
- What exactly is their fee structure? (You probably won't get a firm price, but you should know up front what their rates are for all the services they offer)
- What is their track record with DUI cases they have been involved in? What is their win/loss ratio?
- Will you represent me, or someone on your team?
- Can you recommend a drug or alcohol treatment program?
Legal Help
Taking the time to ask prospective attorneys these few questions will help you decide which DUI attorney is the best one for you. Consider their answers, and who instilled the most confidence. You will be depending on your attorney for a great deal in the months to come!
