When you face legal charges, you need the services of a qualified attorney specializing in that particular domain. Picking the right lawyer to defend your case can tilt the results in your favour.
How to Find the Best DUI Lawyer
Devoting time to evaluate the credentials of potential legal representatives before hiring one is a worthwhile exercise. Driving under the influence (DUI) is considered a grave offence as it attracts hefty fines, driver’s license revocation, and possible jail time.
DUI cases are often complex and demand you to call an attorney who has a successful track record. A DUI attorney comprehends the seriousness of the charges levied and advises you on how to proceed.
Seek Professional Help
Every American state considers DUI a crime which is why a criminal court handles the corresponding charges. Without the requisite knowledge and experience, you cannot accurately assess the extent of your problems. Even your reputation is at stake as a DUI charge appears on your criminal record.
Such cases can extend for months. Hence, you need a legal aid you can trust implicitly and in whose skillset you have complete confidence. Your lawyer should make you feel comfortable, genuinely take an interest in your case and devote time to studying its every aspect.
Identifying the Best DUI Lawyer
Enumerated here are guidelines to help you identify a reputed and specialized DUI lawyer to defend your case:
Compile a List of Potential Candidates
You can ask your relatives and friends who utilized similar services in the past for their recommendations. Should you have hired an attorney earlier for a different matter, he or she may be able to recommend a DUI specialist.
Alternately, you can source valuable leads from reliable resources like DUI Defense associations and the National Association for criminal defence attorneys. Examine the official websites of promising lawyers and connect with them directly for further inputs based on which you can narrow your search down.
Evaluate the Attorney’s Credentials
After your preliminary research, closely assess the qualification and reputation of the lawyers you have shortlisted. Give preference to attorneys who are licensed to practice in the state where you reside. Call an attorney who is familiar with local DUI laws and has no history of malpractices.
Initiate an In-Person Consultation
A face-to-face consultation is critical to establish the expertise of your potential attorney. It helps you examine the lawyer’s communication skills and confidence levels. To develop trust and feel comfortable openly discussing all your relevant case details demands a personal interaction.
It is critical that the qualified party respects your privacy and shares a clear action plan based on the facts divulged by you. A lawyer representing you can only offer the best advice when you reveal all the facts and present supporting documents in your possession.
Review Charges
Weigh all your available options to figure out the most feasible of them all. A reputed attorney may levy a high fee but depute a junior and experienced associate to your case. Affordable charges may entice you, but you will not benefit if the lawyer cannot devote time or lacks experience.
At the outset, request a transparent break-up of the service charges and confirm the acceptable modes of payment. Make clear that no hidden charges will be entertained later. After comparing the fees levied by other reputed DUI attorneys, you can establish which quotations are fair.
Also, scan client reviews and connect with professional references for valuable inputs. You can make an informed choice only when you conduct your due diligence. Consult a seasoned legal team familiar with existing DUI laws and support you from start to end.