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