How to find a reputable DUI Lawyer
Whether it be you or someone you know who has been charged on terms of drunk driving, finding the best lawyer is a process that can be very time consuming and stressful for many people. You’ll want someone who is extremely experienced and competent who at the same time lacks any unethical practices.
One of the best ways to locate a good lawyer is to ask people you know for referrals. There are a number of different people available to you who can recommend someone, whether it is your family’s defense lawyer himself who may know DUI lawyers, or even a family member who has previously been charged with a DUI. You might also want to go to your local courthouse to ask a bailiff or count clerk. Even police officers can also be a great referral source. Simply question who the best lawyer they’ve seen is or who they might hire if they were ever to face DUI charges.
One common referral service that is generally 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 slimly request form and you will almost always simply be referred to someone random on that long list.
If you get to the point where nobody can refer you to a good lawyer, you can search the internet. Not only can you find a good DUI lawyer, but you can also find loads of important information on DUI laws themselves as well as the procedure, evidence, and penalties wrapped up in the whole process. While surfing the net, you may encounter numerous internet ads, websites, and directories. These directories don’t always necessarily mean these people are the best lawyers for you. They only mean someone has paid the most to have their advertisements show up on your computer.
Another really reputable resource to look at would be the National College for DUI Defense. More than 800 lawyers nationwide who have completed the process for the College so far are listed in a website and are professionally trained to specialize in drunk driving cases. Don't forget that a membership in this College never guarantees any promises of proficiency or ethics, it proves the lawyers seriousness in DUI law. Some very valuable and beneficial aspects of the College are it's notable seminars, especially the annual 3-day class held at Harvard Law School. The American Bar Association has recognized this seminar as the ONLY organization 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:
* Did this lawyer gain membership to the National College for DUI Defense? Which reputable law school did the lawyer receive his accreditation from? Was he Board-certified?
* It's very important to ask the attorney if he or she specializes only in DUI defense. When a lawyer handles DUI cases as well as criminal and civil cases, he is probably not the best choice for you.
* 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.
* Can your lawyer have blood samples reanalyzed by a lab as well as access to witnesses and breath analysis?
* Making promises on the outcome of a case is not only unethical, but completely unpredictable. If your attorney ever promised you anything in terms of results, you may want to keep looking.
* From A through V, how does the lawyer rank on Martindale-Hubbell International Directory of Attorneys?
* Check online at the State Bar Association to see if the attorney has had any complaints?
San Francisco and Oakland DUI lawyers and attorneys
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