| | How To Find a Reputable DUI Lawyer
Whether it is you or someone you know who has been charged on terms of drunk driving, selecting the best lawyer is a process that can be very time consuming and stressful for a lot of people. You’ll want someone who is extremely experienced and competent at what they do who at the same time lacks any unethical practices.
A great way to find a reputable lawyer is to ask for referrals. Whether it is your family’s lawyer himself who might know other DUI lawyers, or even a family member who has previously been convicted themselves, there are a number of different people available to you who can recommend a good lawyer. You could also go to your local courthouse and request information from bailiff or count clerk. Police officers can also be a great referral source. Simply ask who they think is the best lawyer they’ve seen or who they might hire if they were facing DUI charges.
One commonly used referral service that is usually not a good place to look is the local Bar Association. The reason for this is that a lawyer who wishes to be placed on the list at the Bar Association only needs to fill out a simple request form and you will almost always simply be referred to someone random on that long list.
If you still cannot seem to find someone to suggest a good lawyer, your next best shot is to look through the internet. Aside from researching a good DUI lawyer, you can also find helpful information about DUI laws, courtroom procedure, evidence, and penalties involved in the whole process. You will also, unfortunately, encounter many internet ads, websites, and directories which don’t always necessarily mean the attorneys in the ads are the best lawyers for you personally. The ads only declare that the lawyer has paid the most to have his or her advertisements show up on your computer.
The National College for DUI Defense is another great resource. This association has a website including more than 800 lawyers nationwide who are specially trained and concentrate mainly in drunk driving cases. Though it's important to remember that a membership in this College does not guarantee you any promises of competence or ethics, it does prove the lawyer's seriousness in DUI law. One significant feature of the College is their famous seminars including an annual 3-day class held at Harvard Law School. The American Bar Association recognizes this seminar as the ONLY organization who is allowed to Board-certify lawyers as specialists in DUI defense.
You should consider the following when making your decision on what lawyer you wish to hire:
* What reliable law school did the lawyer receive his accreditation from? Did he go through the National College for DUI Defense? Was he Board-certified?
* When a lawyer handles DUI cases as well as criminal and civil cases, he is oftentimes not the optimal choice for a convicted DUI offender. You should definitely ask the attorney if he specializes solely in DUI cases.
* Ask if you can have a written contract that includes all fees as well as initial costs that would cover any outside fees like court costs, blood reanalysis tests, etc.
* Does your lawyer have access to a lab that can reanalyze your blood samples, witnesses, and breath analysis?
* Does the attorney guarantee you anything in terms of results? If so, you may want to keep looking. Making promises is not only unethical but specific results aren't ever predictable.
* How does the lawyer rank on Martindale-Hubbell's International Directory of Attorneys (A-V)?
* Check online at the State Bar Association to see if the attorney has had any complaints? San Diego DUI drunk driving lawyers and attorneys
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