If you’ve been charged with a DUI, the best and first thing you should do is hire a good DUI lawyer. A DUI lawyer will figure out how the laws of your state affect you and how to come up with a good defense.
Those benefits alone far outweigh the cost of retaining a lawyer to help you fight your DUI charge. Don’t be tempted to save money by not hiring a lawyer because you risk worse penalties and fines without one.
The lawyer you choose should not only have knowledge of the DUI laws in your state, but if he has practiced in the locality for awhile, he will be familiar with court personnel and how to work with them to get you the best plea deal. Getting the best plea deal for you not only would include less jail time but also the chance of having you pay less in fines.
Make sure to tell your lawyer all the details of the case. With all the information you provide, he can study the situation and possibly find a way to have the charges dropped and/or thrown out. By allowing him to study your case, you have his best knowledge working for you.
Additionally, what you tell the lawyer is confidential and he will only use that information to your advantage. Being honest with him can only make your case stronger, so make sure there are no surprises at the last minute, due to your holding back any critical information.
Your lawyer will be well aware of the seriousness of your case and constant communication between the two of you is a must. Therefore, he should be able to afford you the opportunity to stay in touch with him in a variety of ways, including fax, email and telephone. He should allow himself the time during the day to respond to any of your concerns, if the need arises.
A lawyer who has your best interest in mind may also try to hold off the case until the judge of his choice is able to hear the case. Lawyers who have worked in a certain location for a number of years are familiar with the judges and how they usually rule in cases like yours.
The lawyer should know which judge he would prefer to preside over your case, and he may have some pull when it comes to that.
A lawyer may be able to subpoena a police officer with less trouble than if you were handling that on your own. This could be a critical part of the case, and having the lawyer handle it should be to your gain.
After the case has been heard, the possibility that the DUI charge could be expunged (having the DUI charge removed from your record) may exist, depending on the particular laws in your state and your lawyer can advise you about that. In later years, you may be glad you explored that possibility with him. Having your record expunged will prevent employers from knowing about the charge once expunged and making it much easier for you to gain employment in the future.
