If you’ve been hit with a DUI, you’re going to want to hire and attorney to help you navigate the upcoming legal landscape. Picking out a DUI attorney can be difficult, but you can ease the process by asking the right questions during your initial consultation. Below, we share five questions you should ask before hiring an attorney.
1. Who is your average client?
This question oftentimes gets overlooked because people are focused on price and their outcome, but a lot of those factors depend on the experience of your lawyer. For example, maybe your attorney typically represents corporations or more high net-worth individuals, or he represents college-aged students with campus crime issues. Your lawyer will typically be very open about the typical client he represents, but if he doesn’t have a lot of experience with similar clients, it might be time to look elsewhere.
2. Why are you better versed to handle my case than another attorney?
An attorney may practice “criminal defense,” but maybe he’s more versed in domestic abuse or traffic citations. If you have a pending DUI trial and your attorney hasn’t handled a many DUI cases, he’s probably not a good fit. Ask your attorney why they are better prepared to fight your case than the average attorney. Do they have any specialized training in drunk driving laws? Are they familiar with all the legal processes that encompass your situation? Have you handled similar cases before? If so, how did it turn out? These are all probing questions that can help you answer your original question. Remember, you are hiring an attorney, but they are acting as your representation. If the attorney doesn’t seem like he’s willing to go the extra mile for you, look elsewhere.
3. How do you communicate with your clients?
Everybody has different expectations when it comes to communicating with their attorney. Some people want regular updates, while others only want to know when something has changed. Keep in mind that if you’re constantly calling, texting or emailing your attorney, it’s going to cost you, because they are billing you for their time. Make sure both of you have similar expectations when it comes to how you’ll keep in touch with one another.
4. How much do you expect this to cost?
Paying for an attorney isn’t like paying for an oil change – an attorney isn’t going to be able to give you an exact price – but he or she should be able to give you a ballpark estimate. If the lawyer passed your test when you asked the above three questions, odds are you’ll get an honest and fair assessment when it comes to price. Most attorneys are willing to work out some sort of payment plan if you can’t come up with all the funds right away, but you should also temper your expectations. It’s going to cost more to go to court numerous times on your behalf, but it may be worth it if you and your attorney believe you have a good chance of beating the alleged charges. Talk to your attorney about the expected cost if you went all in and fought the charges, if you sought out a plea deal, or if you just forgo representation and plead guilty.
It’s important to note that out-of-state cases could cost more, due to the extra processes involved in processing these. For example, an accident case in Glendale could cost more than your local state. As such, in this case, it may be worth consulting with an accident attorney in Glendale.
5. How to you see my case playing out?
This won’t be one you’ll be able to ask within five minutes of sitting down with your attorney, but it’s definitely a question you should ask by the end of the consultation. Once your attorney hears your side of what went down, he’ll be able to give you a general idea of what to expect. This is why it’s very important to be open and honest when speaking with your attorney. Hiding certain facts or telling half truths will only serve to hurt your case. Again, your attorney isn’t going to be able to give you a specific outlook – once you hire him he’ll be reviewing witness testimony, police reports, dash cam videos and legal statutes – because he doesn’t yet know the best way to fight your case. That said, he should be able to give you an idea of what to expect from your DUI arrest.
