Do I Need A DUI Lawyer?
You've been arrested on a DUI charge. Now what do you do? Most people will advise that you work with a lawyer to represent your finest interests lots of people do not do so, frequently due to the fact that of pity and embarrassment. Whether or not you work with a legal representative can have a big influence on your case so you may want to believe carefully prior to deciding. If you do decide to employ a DUI attorney there are numerous things to consider so that you find the very best legal representative possible to represent you.
Since DUI laws differ amongst each state, you should hire an attorney that has competence with the laws in the state where you were arrested. You ought to also work with a legal representative that specializes in DUI cases. Depending on where you live you might not have the ability to discover a good attorney that practices DUI law solely, however try to find a lawyer who spends at least half of his/her time managing DUI cases. It might be tempting to hire your regional legal representative who handles a variety of issues such as DUI's, divorce, wills, and insolvency, and so on however DUI law is substantial and continually changing so you will likely be far better employing a professional in DUI.
Prior to you hire a DUI lawyer, or any other type of lawyer, satisfy with him or her. A lot of legal representatives will not charge you to meet them while you're trying to find somebody to handle your case. Having a face to face meeting with your lawyer before hiring him or her is good for both the customer and the lawyer. You'll wish to work with somebody you feel comfy working with. A face to face meeting helps you determine whether or not you feel comfortable. It also helps the attorney choose if she or he feels comfy dealing with you and wishes to handle your case.
Prior to going to any assessments with attorneys (and you must seek advice from with at least two attorneys before making a decision) do some research. The yellow pages is a good place to look for a lawyer but remember that the DUI lawyer with the biggest ad is not always the finest legal representative for you to work with.
The library is another good 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 note every attorney in the United States together with his or her area( 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 a great source of info regarding a good legal representative.
Develop a list of concerns you want to ask each lawyer throughout the assessment so you can compare each attorney equally prior to choosing who you wish to hire to represent you.
A few concerns you might want to have on the list you make are:
1) What percent of the cases you handle are DUI or impaired motorist? (Remember that you desire someone who is very acquainted with the current laws in your state.).
2) What do you charge and what is your fee structure? (You'll need to know the most you'll need to pay in addition to how much you need to pay upfront. Lots of DUI attorneys charge a flat fee, which is a set quantity for your case whether it goes to trial. Some attorneys charge a per hour charge. Others have staggered cost structures that break things into stages. They may charge a flat charge up until trial. If the case goes to trial then there's another fee to pay. If the whole charge is needed upfront however you are economically not able to pay everything upfront ask if a payment plan can be exercised. 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 legal representative 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 get more here the attorney who handled most of their case.).
These are just a few of the questions you'll likely wish to ask about prior to 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