Picking the Right Lawyer for Your DUI Case

Picking the right lawyer for your DUI case

A DUI charge is one of the most common criminal charges in California. On average, 125,000 DUI arrests happen in California every year. People sometimes forget how common it is and don’t realize it can happen to anyone. What do I do if I get arrested on DUI charges? Do I hire a lawyer? What Should I look for when hiring a lawyer? How can I trust that this is the right lawyer for me?

These are all important questions to ask as they can ultimately make the difference between you getting a crappy or the right lawyer. The immediate instinct is often to hire a lawyer, preferably a good one. This can be easier said than done. Looking online and trying to look for lawyers can be daunting, time consuming, and above all, draining. Using specialized words on your search engine to try to find the perfect match for you can lead to endless ads or lawyer websites that you aren’t sure if you can trust. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the right DUI lawyer:

When looking for the right lawyer for you, look for one that works specifically in DUI’s. While this may seem obvious, it is always worth mentioning, as lawyers that work primarily or strictly with DUI cases are more experienced and knowledgeable in the area than those that do general criminal law.

Does the lawyer have local court experience? Do they mostly work in the area that you’re from? These are all important to ask yourself when looking for the right lawyer for you. If a lawyer works mostly in your area, they have established relationships with those in the courtroom and know specific rules and unwritten rules of the courts, all of which would be strategic and beneficial to you and your case. Perhaps they can lower your penalties through negotiating with the court, it’s not guaranteed but you have a better chance if your lawyer is local.

Close proximity to you also means that in-person meetings are less of a hassle, as you don’t have to commute long distances to come into their office. Therefore making communication much more rapid when compared to someone outside your area. Another benefit of hiring a lawyer from your local area is that they may be able to get you in contact with local resources. Support groups, alcoholics anonymous, DUI school, and rehab all which your lawyer can help get you connected with. These resources can be crucial in setting up a better future for yourself or anyone you know who has recently been arrested for DUI.

No one is actively looking for a DUI until they need one. So, it is always good to know what to look for in case the unthinkable happens and you need a lawyer quickly. The process can be daunting and a bit time consuming, but it makes all the difference when it comes to you and your charges.

If you or someone close to you is facing DUI charges, call me: Attorney Jeffrey Vallens (818) 783-5700 or (805) 230-3651

I have been successfully handling DUI cases for over 20 years. Email me at: jv@4criminaldefense.com or visit my sites for more info: