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4 Ways to find a Good DUI Lawyer
Hiring an attorney to represent you in a DUI case is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. As there is so much at stake in terms of your reputation, ability to drive, and impact on your finances, it makes sense to hire the best lawyer you can afford. This way you will give yourself the best chance at getting the best possible outcome for your case. Of course, just because a lawyer charges a lot, does not make him or her the best at what they do. Below are some useful tips to help you find the perfect lawyer for you.
1. Avvo.com
This site is packed with information on finding a good lawyer. Unlike some directory sites that simply match you with an attorney, Avvo.com allows you to read actual client reviews of that attorney, and also allows the attorney to respond to any negative reviews.
Avvo gives an overall point rating to the attorney based on client reviews but also peer-to-peer reviews. Be wary of attorneys who are reviewed favorably by their fellow lawyers, but do not have any positive client reviews. It may be that the attorneys are mutually reviewing each other favorably to get a good rating, when in fact they do not have a good deal of satisfied clients.
Similarly, just because an attorney has one or two negative reviews does not make them a bad attorney. It may just mean the client had unrealistic expectations of what the attorney could do for them. However, part of the attorney’s job is to set expectations with their clients from the get-go, and a skilled attorney will be very clear about what they can and cannot do for their client.
As with a restaurant review, two people’s experience and therefore opinion can vary widely. There is a large element of subjectivity when it comes to rating a lawyer: some may prefer an aggressive, even blunt attorney, others may prefer a more touchy-feely approach.
Therefore, you shouldn’t base your entire decision on which attorney to hire from a review site, rather use this as a starting ground to narrow down your selection to the attorneys you actually want to spend time on meeting face-to-face with.
2. Ask Friends or Relatives for Referrals
While you may feel embarrassed about admitting to a friend or relative that you have been charged with a DUI, just remember that it is the number one crime in the United States, and 1 in 5 adults will be charged with a DUI for drugs – legal or illegal – or alcohol in their lifetime.
A good lawyer referral can mean the difference between getting off Scott-free and going to jail, losing your driver’s license for up to a year, and having to pay a myriad of fines and fees.
While we don’t suggest sending a mass-email to all your co-workers in your office asking for a lawyer-recommendation, we do suggest pulling aside a trusted friend, relative, or colleague who you know has gone through the DUI process and ask them which attorney they used, what they paid (if price is an issue to you, as it is to most people), what the court was charging them with, what the result of their case was, and what was their experience overall with their attorney.
If you decide to meet with the attorney recommended, be sure to tell them that you are seeing them because you were referred by said friend/relative/co-worker. Attorneys spend a lot of money on advertising but the majority of their business still comes from referrals. The attorney will be happy to hear that their good work on one case has led to more business. They may even be inclined to offer the person who referred you a discount on future legal work as a ‘thank-you’ for the referral.
3. Visit your State Bar Association’s Web Site
You will find a wealth of resources on your state bar association’s web site, including a directory of lawyers who are certified specialists in a particular field of law. To find the web site, simply Google “
The lawyer’s listed as Certified Specialists are those who have practiced in a particular field of law for at least 5 years (7 for criminal and real estate law), have undergone a peer review, and have passed a very intense and detailed written examination. In addition, specialists must have been a member of the state bar for at least 2 years, and demonstrate that at least 50% of their practice has been devoted to cases in that field (source: AZ state bar web site)
Because DUI/DWI cases are particularly complex due to the civil liberties implications, and scientific evidence that comes into play with the chemical tests that cases usually hinge on, you want to ensure that you are hiring a lawyer with a good deal of knowledge and experience in this field.
Use this resource to filter out the rookies who are trying to enter the DUI field simply because of the potential profits to be made, from those who are genuinely specialists and experts in this area of law. The latter group is far more likely to get you the result you want from your DUI case.
4. Meet your Prospective Lawyer in Person
Once you have used the above resources to short-list your attorney choices – we suggest you narrow it down to no more than 5 – call the attorney and set up a time for a consultation. The vast majority will not discuss your case over the phone, and will offer you a free initial consultation – so use it.
At the consultation, do not be shy to ask questions of the attorney such as; how many cases they have handled, how long have they been practicing that field of law, what are some examples of recent results they got for clients, and what do they think the prospects for your case are. Of course you will also want to discuss their fee.
Based on their answers you will get a sense of whose style and fee will work best for you, and who instills you with the most confidence that they will give you the best shot at fighting your DUI charge. Be on the lookout for attorneys who you feel are simply saying what you want to hear in order to win your business. As mentioned, the job of an attorney is to set realistic expectations for their clients. If the majority of the attorneys you meet feel that it will be hard to get your case entirely dismissed, be wary of listening to those who proclaim that this is a sure thing but don’t back up why they think so with any specific facts about your case.
Summary
When researching a lawyer to handle your DUI case, remember that you are putting your future into someone else’s hands. You wouldn’t trust open-heart surgery to any random doctor you found in the Yellow Pages, so don’t use the “hope for the best” approach when hiring a lawyer. The time and effort spent finding a good lawyer could very well mean the difference between continuing on with your life as you have been, versus going to jail, not being able to drive for a long period of time, and paying out exorbitant sums of money in fines. So don’t short-change yourself: give yourself the best shot of fighting your DUI case with a good lawyer behind you.
To get matched with experienced-DUI attorneys in your area, visit our homepage
Other useful articles:
10 Questions to Ask a DUI Lawyer Before Hiring