Dallas Fort Worth Texas lawyers - attorneys directory
How to find a reputable DUI Lawyer
Whether you or someone you know has been arrested on because of drunk driving, finding the best lawyer is a process that can be very time consuming and stressful for anyone. First off you'll look for someone who is both experienced and competent. Its also important to find a person who lacks any unethical practices.
One of the best ways to find a reputable lawyer is to ask for referrals. Whether it is your family’s lawyer himself who might know other DUI lawyers, or even a family member who has previously been convicted themselves, there are a number of different people available to you who can recommend a good lawyer. You could also go to your local courthouse and ask a bailiff or count clerk. Police officers can also be a great referral source. Simply ask who they think is the best lawyer they’ve seen or who they might hire if they were facing DUI charges.
However, one common referral service that is usually not a good place to search is the local Bar Association. The reason for this is that you will almost always simply be referred to someone random on a long list of members who simply had to place a request to be placed on the list.
If you still cannot seem to find someone who can suggest a good lawyer, your next move would be to check the internet. Aside from researching a good DUI lawyer, you can also find helpful information about DUI laws, courtroom procedure, evidence, and penalties involved in the whole process. You will also, unfortunately, be subject to a number of internet ads, websites, and directories which don’t always necessarily mean the lawyers in the ads are the best lawyers for you personally. The ads only declare that the lawyer has paid the most to have his or her advertisements show up on your computer.
The National College for DUI Defense is another great resource. This organization has a website containing over 800 lawyers nationwide who are professionally trained and specialize mainly in drunk driving cases. Though it's important to remember that a membership in this College does not guarantee you any promises of competence or ethics, it does prove the lawyer's seriousness in DUI law. One beneficial feature of the College is their notable seminars including an annual 3-day class held at Harvard Law School. The American Bar Association recognizes this seminar as the ONLY organization who is allowed to Board-certify lawyers as specialists in DUI defense.
For the most part, when making your decision on what type of lawyer you wish to hire, you should consider the following:
* Did this lawyer gain membership to the National College for DUI Defense? Which reputable law school did the lawyer receive his accreditation from? Was he Board-certified?
* When an attorney handles DUI cases as well as criminal and civil cases, he is probably not the best choice for a convicted DUI offender. You should definitely ask the attorney if he specializes only in DUI defense.
* Ask if you can have a written contract that includes all fees as well as initial costs that would cover any outside fees like court costs, blood reanalysis tests, etc.
* Can your attorney have blood samples reexamined by a lab as well as access to witnesses and breath analysis?
* Does the attorney guarantee you anything in terms of results? If so, you may want to keep your options open. Making promises is not only unethical but specific results aren't ever predictable.
* Where does the lawyer rank on Martindale-Hubbell's International Directory of Attorneys (A-V)?
* Check online at the State Bar Association to see if the attorney has had any complaints?
Dallas and Fort Worth DWI DUI lawyers and attorneys
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