Hiring the right attorney for your case should be priority for you after receiving a DUI. But locating a DUI attorney may prove harder than you think. You may know friends that have DUIs and they may be able to help you locate an attorney. If you previously hired an attorney for a different type of case, you may be able to contact that attorney and ask for a referral. It is not advisable to retain an attorney that represented you on a personal injury case or family law matter because they do not primarily practice DUI law. Another way to locate an attorney is through the internet, mailings you may receive. Phone books used to be a good source, but now the practice is outdated and may prove unreliable.
You should avoid any attorney that does not practice in the area you were arrested for the DUI. Attorneys may only practice in the state they have been admitted. An attorney in Arizona may not practice in California. If the attorney is not licensed to practice in the state of your arrest, the attorney cannot represent you.
Contact and retain a DUI defense firm that defends DUI charges in the city where you were arrested for DUI charges. This is especially true if you are using the internet to locate an attorney. Hiring an attorney that is not familiar with the local court procedures and practices can cause more problems and may not be as useful as a local attorney. A local attorney will understand the local practices of the court, what the possible consequences of the conviction may entail, and will know the judges and prosecutors that will be on your case.
You should avoid all national or other firms that are not located where you received your DUI because they will usually charge more because they have to travel or you will find the attorney that you hired is not the attorney that is handling your case. You should also be prepared to pay more for an attorney that must travel to the courthouse where your case is located. If the attorney is only handling your matter, it is likely you will be paying a premium for the service.
The term “Buy Local” is a good practice when deciding what attorney you want to retain. Many times, attorneys out of the area will hire attorneys that will make appearances on your behalf without knowing anything about you or your case. When using the internet, check the website and if you are not able to locate the attorney’s local phone number and address, you should move on to the next website.
When an important decision to hire an experienced DUI lawyer is required, make sure you make the right choice by retaining the Law Offices of TinaM. Barberi, P.C. to defend you. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your case for free.
