Tips in Hiring a DUI Lawyer

Also known as operating under the influence, drunk driving, and drink driving, DUI is an acronym that stands for Driving Under the Influence. A person who is caught driving a motor vehicle with alcohol levels in his blood exceeding the allowable limit is subject to DUI charges. If a person is charged of DUI, there will be a record of the offense, although it does not necessarily mean that the person has been found guilty. To learn more about DUI charges, visit this link. If found guilty, the person will have a criminal record, which will become part of the public record.


What leads to DUI charges? As stated, driving under the influence of alcohol beyond the legal levels constitutes DUI charges because the alcohol levels in his blood are considered sufficient enough to muddle his judgment. Even if a person can drive perfectly, he could still be charged with DUI if his blood would show high levels of alcohol. Convicted persons may be sent to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings or special classes; some offenders even get breathalyzers attached to their car ignition, preventing the car from starting upon detection of alcohol in the driver's breath.


Hiring a personal lawyer to defend you and stand by you until the end of a case is the best thing you can do if you are pressed with DUI charges. Because there are many DUI lawyers in every state, it would be very easy to find one to represent you in court. However, you would want to enlist the help of a lawyer who does not only have the expertise, but also a good character and reputation. Read on for two suggested tips in hiring a DUI lawyer.


1. Place of Practice and DUI Expertise


Hiring a lawyer from the same state where you were charged would help you a lot to get a fair trial. The reason behind this is that a lawyer who holds his practice in the same place knows a lot about how things are run, and how the rules and regulations of the place are executed. Because local lawyers know the prosecutors and the trial judges and could have worked with them in the past, your local lawyer could devise a good way of defending your case. Aside from the place of practice, you also need to check on the lawyer's DUI expertise - How many cases has he handled and won? How does he intend to present your case to the court? - and then decide if you would want to get his services or not.


2. Lawyer Fees


Most DUI lawyers offer an initial case interview where they can get to know you, the charges pressed against you, and the circumstances surrounding your case; this helps the lawyers determine the kind of defense you need. Get more info about DUI attorney Jacksonville. This is a good arrangement, as it is quite difficult to pay a lawyer whom you have not met and spoken with. But one thing you have to bear in mind is that most DUI lawyers charge fairly, and that you are sure to get what you pay for. Find a lawyer you are comfortable with, and arrange payment to make sure that he represents your case well and gets you the fair trial you deserve.