Washington State DUI laws are complicated and the punishment is severe. A top priority is finding a law firm and an attorney who is focused upon DUI defense with a strong reputation for competence in the legal community. Where to look? Below are some suggestions. If several of these sources point you to the same attorney or law firm, you are on the right track.
Ask a Lawyer.
Lawyers know who has the best reputation for handling specific types of cases, so the best referral source is usually a local attorney.
Ask Insiders.
If you don't know any attorneys, another excellent source is anyone involved in local law enforcement or the criminal justice system. These people are court “insiders” who have seen the performance of Seattle or Washington State DUI defense attorneys. Police officers, prosecutors, judges and court personnel all know who the best DUI lawyers are and can tell you who they would retain if they were charged.
Check the State Bar Association
The Washington State Bar Association offers an attorney referral service. However, be advised that the Bar does not screen candidates for its referral list, so you should be careful to verify the attorney's credentials to be sure that the attorney is focused upon Washington State DUI defense.
Use the Internet
The Internet is a good source for information about Washington State DUI defense attorneys, but don’t rely on how high the lawyer is listed on a search return as a gauge of the lawyer’s DUI defense experience. An attorney or firm being listed as a search return for “DUI” in Google or another search engine might simply mean that the attorney hired internet experts to “enhance” his or her presence on the Internet. The Internet is a good place to start, but you must look deeper to find the Washington State DUI attorney who is right for you.
Read the firm’s DUI blogs
Posting meaningful DUI blogs tells you something about the DUI defense law firm. Does the firm’s blog consistently give substantive and helpful information relevant to Washington State DUI defense?
Meet in person with the lawyer
The sources above can lead you to DUI firms and attorneys who seem qualified, but the only sure way to know if the law firm and attorney are right for you is a face to face meeting. Most Washington State DUI attorneys offer a no-cost initial consultation. During that consultation, consider the following:
(1) What percentage of the lawyer’s practice is devoted to DUI defense? Washington State DUI defense is a complicated area of the law and the lawyer and law firm should be fully committed to DUI defense.
(2) Does the attorney have a solid background of trying cases to a jury and all the way to the conclusion of the trial with a verdict? Not every case goes to trial, but if a lawyer has only one or two jury trials to verdict under his or her belt in the past five years, you should be cautious. Prosecutors know which lawyers will actually fight for their clients through a jury trial verdict, and those who won’t. It makes a difference to them. It may seem strange, but a proven DUI trial lawyer will actually enhance your chances of getting a good result without having to go through a trial.
(3) Is the attorney familiar with the jurisdiction where the DUI arrest occurred? A Seattle DUI in Seattle Municipal Court is handled by a different set of prosecutors and judges than is a Seattle DUI in King County District Court. A Bellingham District Court DUI has different procedures and prosecutors than Skagit County District Court DUI. Knowing the prosecutors by name and familiarity with the local court practice are essential elements of a DUI attorney’s experience that can help your case.
(4) Evaluate the law firm as well. Were you greeted properly and treated professionally during your first phone call to the firm? While at the firm, are you at ease or is the atmosphere stressful? Is the law firm committed to DUI defense or is it just another area of law practiced by the firm? Do the lawyers in the firm write about DUI defense and teach other lawyers and judges about the DUI laws at seminars? Have the lawyers had specialized training in Washington State DUI defense? Does the firm have resources and access to experts to bring to the defense of your case? It is an advantage to find an attorney in a law firm that emphasizes DUI defense because the collective wisdom, experience and resources of the firm can be brought to your case.
(5) Discuss fees. DUI attorney fees generally range from $3,500 to $10,000 and up, depending on a variety of factors including attorney experience, complexity of the case, your prior record, and the court where the case will be defended. Some attorneys offer a flat fee that covers the entire case while others charge by the hour or by court appearance. The advantage of a flat fee is that you know exactly what you will pay in attorney’s fees to defend the DUI charge. Remember, though, as with any legal case, there can be no guarantees regarding a result. However, by retaining the most competent lawyer you can find, you can worry a bit less because you can leave the defense of your case in the hands of an experienced and dedicated DUI defense attorney who practices in a solid, focused DUI defense firm.
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