How to Choose the Right DUI Lawyer

If you are facing drunk driving charges in Naperville you will need to choose the best Naperville DUI lawyer to represent you. When you have been through a drunk driving arrest after facing drunk driving charges you will be to trying to avoid; losing your license, fees and penalties, and avoiding getting a DUI in your record. When a DUI charge goes into your record your insurance rates will go high, you can lose a job or a potential job offer, your driving privileges, and your reputation can be ruined. To avoid this you need a good criminal defense attorney that will help represent you.

In order for you to choose the best lawyer to work on your case, you will need to know how to choose the right DUI lawyer. When deciding who is the best or right attorney to work on their case most individuals do not know what to look for and what questions to ask so they can decide if the legal counsel that they end up with is the best lawyer defending their case.

When hiring a lawyer you are choosing someone that will best represent your interests. In the past when hiring the legal services of a lawyer most people would ask the people around them who the best attorney to hire was and they would settle for the recommendation. However, today you can conduct research online, make a list, make phone calls and even schedule an initial consultation to choose the best criminal defense lawyer.

A DUI charge is a serious offense and the implications and even though most times you will not end up doing jail time it can have serious consequences on your career and driving license. Hiring the best attorney for your case will determine the outcome of your case. Let us give you a few tips that will help you make the right choice.

Things That You Should Consider Before Choosing a DUI Lawyer

Before selecting a DWI / DUI attorney with extensive experience in Naperville there are a few things that you should consider. Before making your decision you should make use of all available research tools that are available for you. Ask friends and family as well as colleagues for recommendations; ask a lawyer that you have previously worked in a different case if they can make suggestions for a good attorney. Make use of the search engines to create a list of attorneys. Here are some of the things to consider when looking for a DUI attorney.

Their Legal Focus

The type of law that the attorney practices in is very important. You should avoid choosing lawyers who work in different fields and choose one that focuses on handling DWI/DUI law. Include that in the search box so the lawyers that show up on your search list are only Criminal defense attorneys handling DUI cases.

The Personality of the Attorney  

When speaking with the lawyer working on your case look at how they approach the opposing side the manner in which they conduct themselves. At times in the first initial consultation with a lawyer, it will be clear that they are not the right fit. It is important for your lawyer to understand the goals that you have. Even so, they should give you expectations that are realistic in your case. Knowing the different possible outcomes in your case will help you be more at ease with the attorney working on your case.

The Locality of the Lawyer

You don't need to select a DUI lawyer that lives around your neighborhood but you should consider hiring a local DUI lawyer. Different areas have different laws when it comes to DUI’s. A local DUI attorney will know the local drunk driving laws, the local roads, the prosecutor, and the police in the area. Even if you do not live within the area but have been charged with a DUI infraction in a different locality you should consider legal representation from a local Naperville lawyer. The licensed attorney should use the knowledge that they have of the area to build a good defense in regards to the DWI charges you are facing.

The Credentials the Lawyer Has

You need a lawyer that is a member of the state and county bar associations in Naperville, Illinois. Consider what more they have. Do they have specialized training in the field of DUI/DWI defense? An experienced DUI attorney should have training in carrying out Field Sobriety Testing. SFSTs are tests that are carried out by the side of the road by a police officer who suspects an individual is driving under influence of alcohol. If the attorney has had courtroom experience working as a prosecutor they will be able to better defend you since they know the strategies used by both sides.

Red Flags When Looking For a DUI Attorney

Now that you know what to consider when choosing the right lawyer for your case, you should also be aware of what not to consider in a DUI case. Here are some of the red flags that you should be on the lookout for when you are in the process of choosing a DUI attorney.

They do Not Handle Your Case Personally

Most of the time when a licensed attorney says that they will handle your case even if they work in a big firm they will actually do it. When a lawyer tells you that the law firm will work on your case chances are they will not speak to you will not be able to speak to the attorney again. You should take this as a red flag. Avoid working with a lawyer that is not ready to personally work on your case.

They Are Not Prepared for the Initial Consultation

If they are not prepared for the initial consultation this should be a clear sign that they are not the right criminal defense attorney to work with. The licensed attorney you hire should be upfront, and should not hide details that are relevant to you. Also, they should be ready to answer any of the questions that you might have.

They Make Promises That They Can’t Keep

There are criminal attorneys that have a tendency of misguiding their clients by making them promises that are not true. When an attorney gives a guarantee that you will win the case you should consider this a red flag. It is possible for an experienced attorney to have an idea about how the hearing will turn out, but they never make guarantees that it will be the outcome of the case.

If the lawyer is unable to keep their staff happy it will be impossible for them to deliver on the results or the expected goals for your case. You can evaluate this by assessing the support staff that your attorney has hired. If you notice that the staff has a high turnover rate it shows that they are not satisfied with the lawyer’s approach.

Questions to Ask a Criminal Defense Attorney

When you attend an initial consultation, as a prospective client you should prepare questions to ask your attorney. You should ask questions revolving around their:

• Background and experience
• Legal fees that they charge
• The case management. That is the approach they will take on your case

Prepare a list of questions that are important to you in each of these categories and ask them during the initial consultation. Depending on the answer you will decide if the lawyer is a great fit.

Finding a case-winning DUI attorney to offer you legal defense will make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. Even though the process is tedious you should avoid self-representation when facing a DUI charge. You can schedule a no-obligation initial consultation with one of our Illinois DUI lawyers and see if we are a great fit. Call us today at (630) 425-0250 to learn more.