Do I Need A DUI Lawyer?
Whether or not you hire an attorney can have a big impact on your case so you might desire to think carefully prior to making a choice. If you do decide to hire a DUI attorney there are numerous things to think about so that you find the best lawyer possible to represent you.
Depending on where you live you may 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 lawyer who deals with a variety of problems such as DUI's, divorce, wills, and personal bankruptcy, and so on however DUI law is extensive and continually changing so you will likely be much better employing a professional in DUI.
Prior to you work with a DUI legal representative, or any other type of legal representative, meet with him or her. Having a face to face meeting with your lawyer before hiring him or her is good for both the client and the attorney. It also helps the attorney choose if he or she feels comfy working with you and desires to take on your case.
Prior to going to any assessments with legal representatives (and you need to seek advice from a minimum of 2 legal representatives prior to deciding) do some research study. The yellow pages is an excellent place to look for a lawyer but remember that the DUI lawyer with the biggest ad is not necessarily the best lawyer for you to hire. He or she is just the person with the biggest ad. You want a lawyer with DUI expertise and experience.
The library is another great location to do research. Your local library should have a copy of the Martindale Hubbell law directory site. The directory site does its finest to list every lawyer in the United States along with his/her location( s) of specialized. You can search the directory by either location or location of law each legal representative handles. The directory is also readily available online. Individuals you understand can also be a good source of information relating to an excellent attorney.
Develop a list of concerns you wish to ask each legal representative throughout the consultation so you can compare each lawyer equally prior to choosing who you wish to hire to represent you.
A few concerns you may wish to have on the list you additional info make are:
1) What percent of the cases you manage are DUI or impaired chauffeur? (Remember that you want someone who is extremely acquainted with the current laws in your state.).
2) What do you charge and what is your charge structure? (You'll need to know the most you'll need to pay in addition to how much you have to pay upfront. Many DUI lawyers charge a flat cost, which is a set amount for your case whether it goes to trial. Some attorneys charge a hourly cost. Others have staggered charge structures that break things into stages. They might charge a flat charge up until trial. If the case goes to trial then there's another cost to pay. If the entire charge is needed upfront but you are financially not able to pay everything in advance ask if a payment plan can be worked out. It can't harm to ask. The worst answer you can get is "no.").
3) What expenses besides lawyer fees will I be responsible for? (In addition to legal representative charges you might be responsible for things like court costs and filing fees).
4) Will you be the legal representative managing my case or will someone else in the company be the main attorney on my case? (This question is specifically important if you are consulting at a company with numerous lawyers. Some people have actually been really disappointed when they found out the attorney they talked to wasn't the attorney who handled most of their case.).
These are simply a few of the questions you'll likely wish to ask about before choosing which DUI attorney is right for you.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 734-8500