Dui Defense Attorney
Q.Four months ago I was stopped and arrested for DWI. I give no excuses for this, it was wrong and I'm paying the price for it. So that been said, please don't interpret the following as if I am trying to get off easy. I am just looking for a just and fair trial/sentence. I believe that the plea my attorney submitted was based on the criminal record of the man they thought I was, and not on the man I am. Like I stated in the beginning, I am not looking to get off easy but I do believe I should be entitled to a fair sentence based on the offence committed & my previous record that was absolutely clean up to this point. I don't feel I was correctly represented by my attorney, I feel it was negligent on his part not to discuss any of his preparations with me. He should have stated after he obtained what he thought was my record, why there a discrepancy between what I had stated to him about previous offences, and what the records the state had given him stated. What am I to do in this situation? I have never been in any legal trouble, and am very lost as to what recourse I may have to rectify the situation.
A.If you've been charged with DUI, finding a good lawyer should be your first priority. Today's DUI laws are so complicated and the punishment so severe that you should find an attorney who devotes most of his or her practice to DUI defense and who has a strong reputation for competence in the legal community. Just as with most professions, lawyers know who has the best reputation for handling specific types of cases, so the best referral source is usually a local attorney. If you don't know any attorneys, another excellent source is anyone involved in law enforcement or the criminal justice system. Police officers, prosecutors, judges and court personnel all know who the best DUI lawyers are and can tell you who they would retain if they were charged. Another source is the local bar association referral service. However, be advised that the Bar does not screen candidates for its referral list, so you should be careful to verify the attorney's credentials before making a hiring decision. You should be especially cautious in using the Yellow Pages to find a lawyer, since anyone can take out an ad regardless of experience or ability. Be sure to ask the lawyer what percentage of his or her practice is devoted to DUI defense. If it's less than 50% you should be cautious. In addition, the lawyer should practice criminal law exclusively and should have a solid background of trying cases. Finally, ask the lawyer to describe his or her recent experience with DUI's in particular. When meeting the attorney in person, consider several questions: Is the attorney well-versed on the subject of DUI's and able to readily answer all your questions? Does he or she seem genuinely interested in you, as well as your case? Does the attorney really listen to you and address you concerns? Before retaining the attorney, you should, above all, feel a strong sense of confidence in the attorney's ability to handle your case. If you don't, keep looking. But how much will an attorney cost? Just like anything else, you usually get what you pay for. Competent defense lawyers charge from $2,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on a variety of factors, including the complexity of the case, your prior record, the court the charge is filed in, the likelihood of a trial, etc. Lower priced attorneys are usually cheaper for a reason; they either don't have the experience or interest to aggressively defending your case. Be cautious of bargain attorneys - remember, you usually get what you pay for. But do take heart, a good defense lawyer can usually save you more in the long run than he or she charges in legal fees. However, just as with any legal case, there are never any guarantees. The most you can do is hire the most competent lawyer you can afford and leave the handling of the case in his or her experienced hands.
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