This article will provide some guidelines for hiring an attorney to represent you in a DUI case. The most important thing you can do when speaking with a DUI defense attorney is to ask questions. Don’t let your embarrassment or the attitude of the attorneys stop you from doing so. Asking questions is important for two reasons. First, you cannot make an informed decision about who will represent you without fully understanding what you are up against and how that person might handle your case. Second, if an attorney is willing to patiently answer all of her questions, she can tell you a lot about that person. If he (or she) doesn’t answer her questions before he hires you, chances are he won’t when he has your money and is in court. The risks of jail time, license suspension, and potential criminal record are too high to make decisions without understanding why you are doing so.

You should be wary of any attorney who offers guarantees for you to hire them. For example, if he tells you that if you hire him, he will win the case or can secure a particular plea deal. The criminal justice system is made up of people: police officers, prosecutors, and judges, etc. Therefore, it can be, and usually will be, highly unpredictable and no results can be guaranteed in advance. An experienced DUI defense attorney will tell you what the most likely outcomes will be if she makes certain decisions, such as entering a plea deal or going to trial.

You should be concerned if an attorney simply tells you what to do with your case. For example, he tells her that he must plead guilty or take a particular show. A DUI attorney should use her experience and training to give you their best advice based on the circumstances of your case (those circumstances may not only include the facts of your case, but also other factors, such as which judge you are assigned to). However, he must also tell you what all of his options are, not just the option he advises. At the end of the day, the lawyer will go home no matter what. You are the one whose freedom is at stake and therefore you should be the one to make the final decision based on all your choices. To clarify, I am not suggesting that you should not listen carefully to the opinion of an experienced DUI attorney, but rather that you should be aware of all of your options before deciding which course to take.

You should closely ask any attorney about their experience. Do you defend DUI cases full time? If not, what percentage of your cases are DUIs and how many have you handled? Just as important, what geographic areas do you have experience in? For example, each county in Pennsylvania has its own rules and regulations. Also, each Judge has their own way of doing things. If a lawyer is not very familiar with the Judges and rules of the area where he was accused, it will be you who suffers the consequences of that inexperience.

A DUI attorney should be willing to tell you up front what his fee will be in each circumstance. For example, how much will the fees be if you plead guilty? If you need to file motions and/or proceed to trial? He must also be willing to give you a written fee agreement at the time he hires you. This will protect you as the case progresses through the system. Nothing will undermine the attorney-client relationship faster than feeling like your attorney is ripping you off. I should note that while most DUI defense attorneys work on a per case basis (this means they can tell you in advance how much a plea or trial will cost), some do bill by the hour. If you choose to hire an attorney who will do this, make sure that they will keep you informed of the cost on a regular basis. This way, you won’t be surprised with a huge legal bill when the case is over.

Finally, beware of high-pressure sales tactics (yes, just like buying a car). If a DUI attorney tells you that you must pay now or you will lose your chance to hire them, you should be concerned. Who will represent your legal rights is a very important decision. You should have the opportunity to speak with multiple attorneys if necessary until you are comfortable with your choice. You must have full confidence in the person you hire to fight for your rights.

In conclusion, the five things to keep in mind when hiring a DUI attorney are; 1) Beware of guarantees; 2) The Lawyer must advise you not to order him; 3) The attorney must have experience in DUI defense and in the geographic area where he was charged; 4) The attorney must be willing to give you a written fee agreement; 5) Don’t fall for high pressure sales tactics. Hopefully, this information will help you hire the right DUI attorney for you.