You have been arrested for a DUI, what do you do now? You have friends or family members that have gone through the process, but you really don’t want to talk to them about your DUI. You are afraid of telling your employer, for fear of losing your job. You don’t want to discuss this issue with your significant other for fear that you will be judged. You have questions about your vehicle impound, driver’s license consequences and DUI penalties. You need to speak with a lawyer who understands the DUI process and will take the time to learn about your case and how a DUI will affect your life.
Where To Start
The first step in choosing the proper DUI attorney is to speak with an attorney who offers free consultations. You should never pay for an initial consultation.
The consultation should serve as an interview. You are interviewing the attorney on how he can help with your DUI. During this interview, there are two general things you need to consider. First, is this attorney someone you like and that you will be able to get along with? Done properly, a DUI case can last several months. During the course of representation, you should be able to speak with your attorney on a regular basis. Never hire an attorney that intimidates you or one that makes you feel uncomfortable. You should know that he will take the time to answer all of your questions and concerns whenever you call. Additionally, does the attorney have support staff? I know a lot of attorneys who are literally one-man shops. The office phone number is their cell phone number. While this may be cost effective for the attorney, this is really not the best way of providing customer service. An attorney is really only as good as his assistant. If his assistant is friendly, professional and responsive, more than likely the attorney will be, too.
The second factor in selecting a DUI lawyer is the most important. How much experience does he have handling DUI CASES? Notice I said “DUI Cases.” DUI defense is very different from all other types of criminal defense. Even if a lawyer has handled several criminal cases, if they have never handled a DUI case, or have handled very few, they will be of no value to you.
Be Aware of The Commitment A DUI Case Represents
DUI cases are incredibly complicated. Quality DUI lawyers have spent countless hours attending seminars learning about forensics of a DUI, i.e the way blood or breath tests are calculated and how machines are calibrated. The attorney will be familiar with the field sobriety tests officers use to determine whether some is DUI. Finally, a reputable DUI lawyer will have experienced taking DUI cases to trial. A lawyer who is afraid to take a DUI case to trial is useless. A majority of the exceptional results my office has received for our clients have been at trial or after I have set their DUI case for trial.
At the consultation, pick the attorney’s brain. Don’t forget, it’s your chance to interview the attorney. Ask questions and take notes on their knowledge of blood or breath analysis, how many DUI cases have they handled, how many cases have they taken to trial, what are they going to do for you throughout the pretrial phase of your case, do they interview arresting officers and toxicologists. If the attorney is unwilling to answer these questions, dodges the questions or stumbles with his answers, he does not know enough about DUI representation and you need to move on.
Contact An Arizona DUI Attorney Today
If you have been arrested for a DUI, we would be glad to speak with you about your case for free. We would rather you receive sound advice than no advice at all.
Author Bio
Matthew L. Lopez
Matthew L. Lopez is the Managing Attorney and founder of Matthew Lopez Law, a criminal defense and DUI firm serving clients throughout Arizona. His track record of case dismissals and charge reductions has earned him honors, including a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 nomination, a “Superb” 10/10 Avvo rating, and a Rising Star designation by Super Lawyers.
Matthew is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and holds active memberships with the Arizona Association for Criminal Justice and the Arizona Association for Justice. His firm handles criminal defense, DUI, drug charges, and traffic offenses, offering free consultations and affordable payment plans to make quality defense accessible to all Arizonans.
