| 1.) Do not retain a criminal law attorney or DUI defense | | | | prosecutor who will often attribute delays in settlement |
| lawyer based upon the attorney's office location. For | | | | to a client who is punished for the needless actions of |
| many hardworking people, it is simply easier to go to a | | | | a criminal arrest attorney with financial thoughts on his |
| local criminal law attorney blocks away to make legal | | | | mind not always consistent with an effective criminal |
| decisions that could land you or a loved one in jail and | | | | defense. |
| or affect one's livelihood forever. While a general | | | | 3.) Never speak to law enforcement without a criminal |
| practice attorney is often acceptable for non specialty | | | | law attorney and be especially proactive in retaining a |
| areas such as the drafting of wills, contacts, etc., | | | | criminal law or DUI defense lawyer at your earliest |
| criminal and drunk driving defense has become a | | | | opportunity |
| specialized field requiring unique training and attention. | | | | One who has been arrested for a felony or |
| For example, most police departments have officers | | | | misdemeanor crime or accused of a criminal offense |
| who are trained to do nothing other than pursue drunk | | | | must always be aware that an arresting officer or |
| driving arrests or drug crimes. As a result, it is often | | | | detective is not your friend. No matter the kindness |
| critical that your attorney be one that has devoted | | | | and sympathy one in law enforcement may extend to |
| himself or herself exclusively to the practice of criminal | | | | you, the fact that you are a professional, veteran of |
| law or DUI defense with more training in the field than | | | | the armed forces or contributor to the sheriff's |
| the officer who has arrested you. In an age where | | | | department is not going to legally aid you in providing a |
| most all top criminal or DUI attorneys are accessible | | | | legal defense. Only a rookie or inexperienced detective |
| for free phone or computer consultations, there is | | | | or police officer will yell and scream at one being |
| simply no reason not to consult with as many capable | | | | investigated for a crime. Rather, an effective law |
| criminal defense law attorneys as possible before | | | | enforcement officer is usually trained in the art of |
| making the all important decision of who will defend | | | | gaining a suspect's trust and in turn the potential for an |
| you in a criminal court of law. | | | | incriminating statement without the assistance of a |
| 2.) Be wary of a fee arrangement that requires you to | | | | capable criminal defense law attorney to protect you. |
| pay a criminal law attorney or drunk driving attorney | | | | Do not let the truth get in the way of reality. It is an |
| base upon an hourly rate. It is often the practice of top | | | | officer's job to thoroughly scrutinize a statement given |
| criminal attorneys to have a client pay an initial retainer | | | | in good faith for any possible discrepancies in an effort |
| fee for their criminal defense, followed by a detailed | | | | to incriminate one subjected to a criminal investigation. |
| fee for services performed beyond the initial retainer | | | | Once that statement, no matter how innocently |
| fee, or down payment. While not a problem limited to | | | | intended or misinterpreted has been made, the job of |
| criminal law attorneys or DUI lawyers, a professional | | | | your criminal law attorney has been made infinitely |
| paid by the hour has a financial interest in prolonging | | | | more difficult. If you or a loved one is the target of a |
| services for their financial benefit. Within the context of | | | | criminal investigation and have not given a statement |
| a criminal prosecution, this financial arrangement can | | | | without the presence of your criminal attorney, |
| too often prove to be a lose situation for an uniformed | | | | consider yourself fortunate. You have the benefit of |
| client. This is so because not only is a client faced with | | | | securing the services of a top criminal defense lawyer |
| the prospect of limitless and often frivolous | | | | prior to charging decisions and settlement options being |
| professional fees, but also the potential of creating | | | | made within a prosecutor's office. |
| unnecessary conflict between defense counsel and a | | | | |