Picking a DUI Lawyer Who Won't Let You Down

When you're facing drunk driving charges, your goal isn't necessarily to get off scot free. While mistakes can happen, police and prosecutors typically have rather solid cases when they bring people in under these charges. But that doesn't mean you won't benefit by hiring a DUI lawyer. Fighting charges and protecting your rights aren't always the same thing, yet both are intrinsically important if you want to avoid the maximum penalties. As you will soon find out, penalties for drunk driving can be harsh, indeed. Exorbitant fines, the loss of your driver's license, and even jail time can be punishments doled out by the judge. Here are some things you need to consider when deciding whom you want on your side.

Take Your Time

This doesn't mean you have unlimited amounts of time to find a good DUI lawyer. In fact, the more quickly you can get someone on the case, the better off you'll be. Having said that, though, you can't afford to rush the process. Choose the wrong guy, and you may as well have saved your money and faced the court on your own. Choose the right guy, and it could mean all the difference between harsh penalties and getting off with only the minimum punishments. While there's nothing wrong with using the phone book as a starting point, you should be ready to make several calls and even set up a few consultations.

Try the Courthouse

Take a day and head to the courthouse to watch the attorneys in action. You may see a DUI lawyer who strikes your fancy, working his wiles for another client. You might even want to take some time and talk to the people who work there. Some of them may be forthcoming when it comes to recommending those in the profession. Many of them will be tight lipped on the subject, but if you have any finesse when it comes to making small talk, you may get more information than you expect.

Experience

Don't just assume that a DUI lawyer who claims to have been practicing for twenty years has actually been handling cases like yours for that length of time. He probably hasn't. He may be counting his ten years in the D.A.'s office, his five years putting together billable hours for a real estate firm, and his five years actually handling drunk driving cases. Even if he has been handling your type of case for a long time, how many times has he been to court? Experience matters when it comes to hiring an attorney, so make sure yours has some.