How to Find a DUI Attorney

A DUI charge can land the driver with serious fines and even jail time. Finding a good DUI attorney is essential to having the sentence reduced. Having a lesser sentence on their record will help the driver's future job outlook, especially if they only have one DUI charge. Multiple offenses can cause employers to overlook the individual for a job and insurance companies also will drop the person from coverage or refuse to cover them altogether.

How to find a good DUI attorney
The best way to find a DUI attorney is to turn to friends and family members. Finding someone you trust will normally come from a recommendation. Friends and family members can inform you about the DUI attorney's experience and their demeanor. Using a resource will help you select an honest, skilled, affordable, and reliable DUI attorney.

Some people scour the yellow pages looking for a DUI attorney; this is not recommended because anyone can easily take out an advertisement. Not all DUI attorneys are seeking the best option for their client; instead they may be interested in getting a nice payday out of the individual.  The local listings in the phone book will help you narrow down your local DUI attorneys. Once you have a list, contact each of them and meet with them. Although the yellow pages aren't a great way to find a DUI attorney, most people still turn to this method. Find an advertisement for a DUI attorney that you are familiar with and go from there.

Online search engines and directories can also help you browse for DUI attorneys in your area. Several web sites also have information about past clients experience with the DUI attorney and this information will be helpful when you are searching for a good DUI attorney. Some DUI attorneys do not place advertisements in the yellow pages, so you will find a larger listing online. Check the web sites of the DUI attorney and find out what type of experience they have.

A DUI attorney must practice DUI law. An easy way to judge the experience of the DUI attorney is to ask them what percentage of their case load is DUIs. Some DUI attorneys will tell their clients they handle DUI cases all the time, when they actually only have a 25% case load of DUIs. A good DUI attorney will have a 50% case load of DUIs. The reason you want a DUI attorney with a larger case load amount is because the DUI laws are constantly changing and it is important to hire an attorney that is up to date with the new laws. Some DUI attorney's only take on DUI cases, which is a large benefit to their clients because they will have excellent experience in the DUI field.

It is also important to hire a DUI attorney that it is your local area. Hiring a DUI attorney that practices in the county where you received the DUI will be a great asset. These DUI attorneys will have experience dealing with certain judges, police officers, and the way the judge runs their courtroom. A DUI attorney with previous experience with the judge will be able to make the entire process easier. They will be able to structure the case around the judge and they also may have experience dealing with the prosecutors. If the DUI attorney has worked with the prosecutors in the past, they will be make the negotiation process easier and the overall case will be simpler.

When you meet with a DUI attorney, ask them about their knowledge of the new DUI laws. Since the laws are constantly being updated, the DUI attorney needs to handle DUI cases on a consistent basis. A good DUI attorney will have memberships to the National College for DUI Defenses and they may be involved in your state's DUI Defense Lawyers group. Good DUI attorneys will also attend training seminars and will join mailing lists that inform them with new information pertaining to DUI laws.

Contact the attorney's office and arrange a meeting with the DUI attorney. Some DUI attorneys will get on the phone with you right away and discuss your case. The faster the DUI attorney gets back to you, the easier it is to determine if the attorney really does want to help you. Most attorneys will provide free consultations and discuss information about your case. Ask a lot of questions in the consultation and talk to their staff members. It is important to be comfortable with the DUI attorney and their staff members as you will be working with them a lot. These individuals must demonstrate the ability to work for you and will be able to get back to you immediately if you have any questions. During the consultation, ask them how much they will charge and what type of billing they do. Discuss the DUI attorney's win/loss percentage of DUI cases and ask them about their ability to keep up with the new DUI laws.

The cost for a DUI attorney varies with each case. Be up front about your financial situation before you hire the DUI attorney. Ask for a copy of their fee schedule. Some attorney's fees will pay for the court costs, investigation fees, and their legal time. Make sure there are no hidden fees. Find out if the fees will cover the actual trial. If the DUI attorney makes a motion to dismiss or repress, you will be looking at additional costs. Always set your amount in writing before the DUI attorney starts working on your case.

After you have met with several DUI attorneys, you need to narrow down your list and select your DUI attorney. An easy way to do this is to create a list of the DUI attorneys you met with and compare their experience, prices, wins and losses, and personality. You may find a DUI attorney that has less experience, but works with you easier than one with more experience. After comparing all the information, you can easily select the right DUI attorney for your case.

Finding a good DUI attorney is the most important step you will take toward reducing the charges held against you. Meeting with all the DUI attorneys may take a long time, but it will be worth it in the long run. A good DUI attorney is willing to put their reputation on the line to protect the rights of their clients. Most states will threaten suspension of the DUI attorney's license if they have a poor win/loss percentage. This will help you determine if you have hired the right DUI attorney to represent you in a court of law.

How can a DUI attorney help?
Individuals are charged with a DUI if the police officer tests their blood alcohol content using a breathalyzer and finds that the individual is over the legal limit of .08%. Police officers will also conduct a series of field sobriety tests that help them determine if the individual is intoxicated. The evidence gathered by the police officer will be used against the individual in court. A good DUI attorney will evaluate the evidence and look for things that a police officer may have done wrong. Some DUI attorneys are able to have some of the evidence thrown out and therefore can help their client receive a lesser sentence. The DUI attorney will look at the calibration and maintenance of the breathalyzer and analyze the blood samples that were collected at the scene. If the DUI attorney finds that the machine had not been maintained properly or that the police officer conducted the test improperly, they can have the evidence thrown out. While the DUI charge may still remain in tact, the DUI attorney will still be able to negotiate for a lesser sentence.

If there were blood samples collected on site, the DUI attorney can question the blood technician that processed the samples. If anything was handled improperly, they can have the evidence thrown out. The prosecution of a DUI conviction weighs heavily on the evidence that is collected at the scene.

A DUI is seen as a common law offense, unless the individual has multiple offenses. Drivers may be looking at jail time if they have even two offenses on their record. A skilled DUI attorney will negotiate with the prosecution and judge to reduce the sentence or search for other punishment methods like community service or alcohol rehabilitation.

A DUI charge normally will require two or more appearances in court. There is also additional appearances and out of court obligations that must be fulfilled. DUI attorneys will hire investigators to look over the information and will come up with a case for their clients. Once the DUI attorney is ready to proceed with the case, the accused individual should go over everything with them. Most DUI attorneys will push for negotiation, which helps their client avoid taking the stand. The accused person must make their court appearances. Anyone that skips bail and misses their court date will be sought after and re-arrested. If they posted bail, they will automatically forfeit this money to the state. The DUI attorney's chances of reducing the sentence will be harder because the individual has already demonstrated that they will not cooperate with the law.