San Diego DUI Lawyer: How to Choose a Drunk Driving Attorney

By: G. Casey
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:23:42
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1. Look for an Attorney who defends nothing but DUI: Not all lawyers are created equal. Look for a DUI attorney whose practice is devoted solely to drunk driving defense. A lawyer who spreads his or her practice over several areas of law cannot possibly stay current and informed enough to challenge the very scientific and technical nature of DUI law. Ask your prospective attorney whether they defend general criminal cases, as well as DUI. Ask the lawyer when they last took a DUI case to trial.

2. Look for an Attorney who posts verifiable case results: Does the DUI lawyer you are considering post recent and verifiable DUI Jury Trial Case Results and Verdicts? If the attorney does not or cannot prove numerous DUI case outcomes that have resulted in verdicts such as NOT GUILTY, HUNG JURY, ENTIRE CASE DISMISSALS, then you are not dealing with a proven DUI defense expert who regularly and successfully takes drunk driving cases to trial and you can expect to be pleading guilty. Our winning DUI case results are a matter of public record.

3.Look for an Attorney with a National Reputation for DUI Defense Mastery: Ask who other attorneys hire to defend them when they are arrested and charged with DUI. Ask who police officers and their family members hire when they've been charged with DUI. Ask judges who they would hire or recommend to defend their San Diego DUI case.

4.Look for an Attorney who is VERY familiar with the judges and prosecutors in your DUI case: Ask a prospective attorney if they are well known and respected by the prosecutors, judges, police officers, and expert witnesses in San Diego DUI cases. Ask if the attorney has a positive relationship with prosecutors, judges, and other defense attorneys. Ask the attorney if he or she has a reputation for aggressively and successfully taking San Diego DUI cases to trial. Ask if the attorney is known to expertly challenge San Diego DUI cases on a regular basis.

5.Look for an Attorney who is regularly asked to speak and lecture on the topic of DUI: Ask a prospective attorney how often they are invited to speak, train, and deliver seminars to other attorneys and professionals on the topic of DUI. Ask the prospective attorney if he or she is considered an authority on the topic of Drunk Driving defense, and how they can substantiate this claim.

6.Look for an Attorney who is certified as Instructor AND Practitioner in Standard Field Sobriety Tests: Ask a prospective attorney if he or she is certified as both Instructor and Practitioner in Standard Field Sobriety Testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA).

7.Look for an Attorney who is a member of the National College of DUI Defense: Ask a prospective attorney if he or she is a Sustaining Member of the National College for DUI Defense. . Ask the prospective attorney what other accrediting associations and memberships they maintain. Ask the attorney if he or she is a Specialist Member of The California DUI Lawyers Association.

8.Look for an Attorney who has no disciplinary record: Ask a prospective attorney if he or she has ever been disciplined by the State Bar. Your prospective DUI attorney should have a stellar record of high performance standards and integrity. Ask the attorney if they or a partner have ever had a grievance filed against them for bad conduct.

9.Look for an Attorney who will be personally representing you in court: Ask a prospective attorney if he or she will be the one to actually manage and represent your case to the court. Ask the attorney about their DUI trial experience. Ask the prospective attorney how much time they will actually dedicate to you and your DUI case.

10.Look for an Attorney who has tried vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI cases: Ask your prospective DUI attorney if they have ever tried a DUI case with a double fatality. Ask them what the outcomes of their vehicular manslaughter cases have been. Ask them what results they have been able to achieve for felony DUI cases. The reason for this is that only the most highly skilled and proficient DUI attorneys are retained for such cases.

11.Look for an Attorney who has a full staff of DUI Defense Specialists: Ask a prospective attorney if he is a one man show, or if he is supported by a highly trained and expert legal team. Ask the lawyer if he has a continuous working relationship with independent laboratories, expert witnesses, toxicologists, and DMV Specialists.

12.Look for an Attorney who charges a respectable and professional fee: If it sounds too good to be true, it is. If you are quoted a very low fee, or quoted an exact cost over the phone, chances are you are dealing with a bargain basement or discount attorney who will likely advise you to plead guilty. When it comes to legal representation, you will get what you pay for. Ask a prospective attorney what fees and extra costs might be incurred down the road. Ask if the fee they quote you is all inclusive, or if they will be charging you by the hour as well. Price should never be your main consideration, unless you are indifferent about the outcome of your DUI case.

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