Two: DUI current laws – You have to take the time to ask if a lawyer is current on the DUI laws. No laws will stay exactly the same forever. They will change over time and hiring a lawyer that is current on the laws ensures you have good representation.
What most of us are scared of most is going to jail. In some states, a DWI can put you behind bars. It can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on different factors. The last thing you want to do is spend months in jail. No one needs that in order to learn this simple lesson.
Ask your criminal lawyer in Oakland in advance what charges you can expect. How much do you have to pay in advance? Is he willing to set up a payment plan? You will have to be able to afford your lawyer.
Studies show that defendants who represent themselves in court have a higher percentage of their case being ruled against them. You can’t afford to become a part of that statistic. Even though you will need money to pay for a lawyer, it will cost you much more in the long run if you don’t hire one. If you want to improve your odds of winning and putting this whole situation behind you, you are going to need the skill and expertise of someone who is trained to handle defend clients who have been charged with a DUI crime.
Defending a DUI is far from impossible. Some mistake a charge for a conviction. Again, you are innocent until proven guilty, and being proven guilty is not easy in most cases. An experienced DUI lawyer can prepare a defense based on a variety of factors: what your breath test was, why you were pulled over in the first place, how the officer treated the arrest, and more.
If you want to talk to the officer then that’s fine, however make sure that you are calm and not irate. It’s really not a good idea to get into an argument with an officer. Police officers are trained to study body language and your behavior, even though they aren’t always asking questions they might notice something strange. Innocent people often want to prove their case and claim their innocence; however arguing with a police officer is never a good way to go about this. Lots of people damage their cases by talking to police. If you do answer questions make sure you do so truthfully and honestly as this will protect your credibility.
When you do meet with an attorney, ask for a thorough explanation of fees before signing up for representation. You will also want to discover whether he or she will be the attorney working on the case. Some attorney offices advertising on television hand off cases to attorneys with less experience. If this is the case with your DUI attorney, make sure that the person representing you has experience handling DUI cases.
Studies show that defendants who represent themselves in court have a higher percentage of their case being ruled against them. You can’t afford to become a part of that statistic. Even though you will need money to pay for a lawyer, it will cost you much more in the long run if you don’t hire one. If you want to improve your odds of winning and putting this whole situation behind you, you are going to need the skill and expertise of someone who is trained to handle defend clients who have been charged with a DUI crime.
The truth of the matter is that it is their right to be able to fight the charge or accusation by soliciting the help of a dui lawyer. Everyone is supposed to be seen as innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, no matter what they have been accused of whether it is murder, robbery or vandalism, they have the opportunity to have their case heard in front of a judge or jury of their peers.
Step 3 – Contact your local bar association to find attorneys in your area. You can even check on lawyer histories in order to view whether he or she has any past complaints.