| You or someone close to you has been
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| | the education of the Bar through
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| arrested for drunk driving. Innocent or
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| | seminars, most notably an intensive
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| not, you know you're a lot better off
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| | annual 3-day seminar at Harvard Law
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| with an experienced DUI lawyer. So how do
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| | School, and has been recognized by the
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| you find one? The suggestions provided
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| | American Bar Association as the only
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| below will help you find competent and
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| | organization authorized to Board-certify
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| ethical representation -- and avoiding
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| | attorneys as "DUI Defense Specialists", a
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| the alternatives.
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| | process that is extremely demanding.
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| The best source for finding a good DUI
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| | In making the important decision of which
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| lawyer, of course, is a referral -- a
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| | attorney to have defend you, the
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| recommendation from someone you trust.
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| | following should be considered:a) DUI
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| This may be a family member or friend who
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| | defense is a technical and highly
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| has faced DUI charges before, or it may
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| | specialized field: Does the lawyer handle
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| be your family or business lawyer who can
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| | drinking and driving cases only - or does
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| make educated inquiries. Perhaps the best
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| | he accept other types of criminal or
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| source of referral is to ask a police
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| | civil cases as well? (This would be like
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| officer, or go to a courthouse and ask a
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| | a family doctor attempting brain surgery,
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| bailiff of court clerk: Who is the best
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| | cancer research and heart transplants.)
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| you've seen? Who would you retain if you
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| | What percentage of the attorney's
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| were arrested?
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| | caseload consists of DUI Cases?b) Does
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| One possibility that may come to mind is
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| | the lawyer have access to technical
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| a referral service of the local Bar
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| | expert witnesses in police procedures and
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| Association. This is generally not a good
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| | blood/breath analysis? Will blood samples
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| idea, as you will usually be referred to
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| | be reanalyzed by a lab?c) Does the
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| the next attorney on a list of members;
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| | attorney make promises as to the results
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| the only requirement for inclusion on the
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| | he can get in the case? This is something
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| list is the request to be placed on it.
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| | no ethical attorney would do, as specific
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| Failing a recommendation from a trusted
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| | results are unpredictable.d) Are fees
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| source, the best approach is research on
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| | fully explained and set forth in a
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| the internet. A lot can be discovered
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| | written contract? Is the fee simply an
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| about DUI laws, evidence, procedures,
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| | initial retainer, or is it all-inclusive?
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| penalties -- and about lawyers who
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| | Do the fees cover such "extras" as the
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| practice in this technical and complex
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| | license suspension hearing, expert
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| field. There will, of course, be unending
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| | testimony, blood reanalysis, trial,
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| advertisements, self-promoting websites
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| | subpoena costs, etc.?e) What is the
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| and, least useful, endless "directories"
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| | lawyer's rating with the
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| of DUI attorneys who have simply paid a
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| | Martindale-Hubbell International
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| lot of money to be included.
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| | Directory of Attorneys? (The highest
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| One excellent resource is the membership
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| | rating for competence and ethics is
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| list on the website of the National
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| | "A-V.")f) Did the lawyer attend a
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| College for DUI Defense. This is a
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| | reputable law school? Is he a member of
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| professional organization of over 800
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| | the National College for DUI Defense? Is
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| attorneys nationwide who emphasize drunk
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| | he Board-certified by the College?g) Have
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| driving defense in their practices.
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| | there been any State Bar complaints
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| Although membership is no guarantee of
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| | against the attorney? (Most State Bar
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| competence and/or ethics, it is usually a
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| | Associations maintain disciplinary
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| good indication the lawyer is serious
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| | records online.
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| about this field. The College emphasizes
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