Do I Need A DUI Lawyer?
You've been jailed on a DUI charge. Now what do you do? Most individuals will advise that you hire an attorney to represent your finest interests many people do not do so, typically because of pity and shame. Whether you hire an attorney can have a huge influence on your case so you may wish to think thoroughly prior to making a decision. If you do decide to work with a DUI lawyer there are numerous things to think about so that you find the best attorney possible to represent you.
Depending on where you live you might not be able to find a great legal representative that practices DUI law specifically, but look for a lawyer who spends at least half of his or her time dealing with DUI cases. It might be appealing to hire your local attorney who deals with a range of concerns such as DUI's, divorce, wills, and personal bankruptcy, etc. however DUI law is substantial and continuously changing so you will likely be much better hiring a specialist in DUI.
Before you employ a DUI legal representative, or any other kind of legal representative, meet with him or her first. The majority of legal representatives will not charge you to meet with them while you're looking for someone to handle your case. Having a face to face meeting with your attorney prior to employing him or her benefits both the customer and the lawyer. You'll wish to work with someone you feel comfortable working with. A face to face meeting helps you identify whether or not you feel comfy. It likewise assists the legal representative choose if she or he feels comfy dealing with you and wishes to take on your case.
Before going to any consultations with attorneys (and you ought to consult with a minimum of 2 legal representatives prior to deciding) do some research study. The yellow pages is a good location to try to find a lawyer but keep in mind that the DUI attorney with the most significant advertisement is not always the very best legal representative for you to employ. He or she is just the individual with the greatest advertisement. You want a lawyer with DUI proficiency and experience.
The library is another excellent location to do research study. Your public library ought to have a copy of the Martindale Hubbell law directory. The directory does its finest to list every lawyer in the United States along with his/her location( s) of specialized. You can browse the directory site by either place or area of law each lawyer handles. The directory site is likewise offered online. People you know can likewise be an excellent source of info regarding a good legal representative.
Create a list of concerns you wish to ask each attorney during the assessment so you can compare each legal representative similarly before deciding who you want to employ to represent you.
A few questions you might wish to have on the list you make are:
1) What percent of the cases you deal with are DUI or impaired driver? (Remember that you desire somebody who is extremely familiar with the current laws in your state.).
2) What do you charge and what is your cost structure? (You'll would like to know the most you'll have to pay as well as just how much you need to pay upfront. Numerous DUI lawyers charge a flat cost, which is a set quantity for your case whether or not it goes to trial. Some lawyers charge a per hour charge. Others have staggered fee structures that break things into stages. They may charge a flat fee up till trial. If the case goes to trial then there's another charge to pay. If the entire fee is needed upfront but you are economically not able to pay it all upfront ask website if a payment plan can be worked out. It can't hurt to ask. The worst response you can get is "no.").
3) What costs besides lawyer charges will I be responsible for? (In addition to lawyer costs you may be responsible for things like court expenses and filing charges).
4) Will you be the lawyer managing my case or will another person in the firm be the main attorney on my case? (This question is specifically essential if you are consulting at a company with a number of lawyers. Some individuals have actually been very disappointed when they discovered the lawyer they sought advice from wasn't the attorney who handled most of their case.).
These are just a few of the questions you'll likely wish to ask about before choosing which DUI lawyer is right for you.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 734-8500