Do I Need A DUI Lawyer?
Whether or not you employ a legal representative can have a big impact on your case so you might want to think thoroughly prior to making a decision. If you do decide to employ a DUI legal representative there are several things to consider so that you discover the best lawyer possible to represent you.
Depending on where you live you may not be able to find a great legal representative that practices DUI law specifically, but look for a lawyer who spends at least half of his or her time managing DUI cases. It might be appealing to hire your local lawyer who deals with a variety of concerns such as DUI's, divorce, wills, and bankruptcy, and so on but DUI law is comprehensive and continually changing so you will likely be much better employing a professional in DUI.
Prior to you work with a DUI lawyer, or any other type of lawyer, meet with him or her. Having a face to face meeting with your attorney before employing him or her is great for both the customer and the lawyer. It likewise assists the lawyer decide if he or she feels comfortable working with you and wants to take on your case.
Before going to any consultations with attorneys (and you must seek advice from a minimum of 2 legal representatives before making a decision) do some research. The yellow pages is a good place to try to find a legal representative however bear in mind that the DUI legal representative with the biggest advertisement is not necessarily the best lawyer for you to hire. He or she is just the person with the greatest advertisement. You desire a legal representative with DUI expertise and experience.
The directory site does its best to note every attorney in the United States along with his or her area( s) of specialized. You can search the directory by either area or area of law each legal representative deals with. Individuals you know can likewise be a great source of information regarding an excellent attorney.
Produce a list of concerns you want to ask each lawyer throughout the consultation additional info so you can compare each legal representative equally prior to deciding who you wish to hire to represent you.
A couple of 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 somebody who is very familiar with the present laws in your state.).
2) What do you charge and what is your fee structure? (You'll need to know the most you'll have to pay along with just how much you have to pay upfront. Lots of DUI lawyers charge a flat cost, which is a set amount for your case whether it goes to trial. Some lawyers charge a per hour fee. Others have actually staggered fee structures that break things into stages. They may charge a flat cost up till trial. If the case goes to trial then there's another charge to pay. If the entire fee is needed in advance but you are financially not able to pay everything upfront ask if a payment arrangement can be worked out. It can't injure to ask. The worst answer you can get is "no.").
3) What costs besides lawyer fees will I be accountable for? (In addition to lawyer charges you may be accountable for things like court costs and filing costs).
4) Will you be the attorney managing my case or will someone else in the company be the main lawyer on my case? (This concern is especially essential if you are seeking advice from at a firm with a number of lawyers. Some people have actually been very annoyed when they learnt the lawyer they talked to wasn't the legal representative who handled the majority of their case.).
These are simply a few of the questions you'll likely want to go over before 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