Choose the Right DUI Lawyer

Choosing a lawyer can be a daunting task.

Do you rely on a friend’s recommendation? Do you research on the internet? Do you go to your brother-in-law? The answer is often a combination of all three. Talk to friends, do research and spend some time with lawyers you know. People who care about you will tell you three simple facts will light your path to making a good choice.

First, find someone who’s done this before. The law today is a complicated business so you want to find a lawyer who works in the field of law you need advice in. You don’t go to a property rights lawyer to get information about drunk driving. Your DUI lawyer should have extensive experience practicing criminal law and have handled a significant number of driving under the influence cases.

Second, your lawyer should have been in the business a long time. What many non-lawyers don’t realize is that all California lawyers are assigned a bar number upon passing the bar exam. These numbers are assigned as new attorneys become eligible to practice and the numbers are never reused. This means that the longer someone has been practicing the lower their bar number. This provides an easy way to compare the experience level of two or more attorneys.

Lastly, you want someone to listen to you, empathize with your specific situation and then fix the problem. At the end of the day, fixing the problem may mean bringing a Constitutional challenge to your traffic stop, defeating any license suspension or moving to have the case dismissed for lack of evidence. Your lawyer should put all defenses on the table and explain to you the details of the case at every step.

 

You or a loved one is not the first person to have been accused of a DUI. It is not something to be ashamed of but it is a challenge you must meet. Do it with an experienced advocate on your side.