How to Find a DUI Lawyer in 4 Steps
Facing a DUI in Seattle can be terrifying. Depending on the particulars of your case, you could be looking at an ankle bracelet, an in-car breathalyzer, yearslong license suspension, devastating fines, and/or prison. To make sure you get treated fairly in court, it’s crucial to find the best DUI lawyer you can. Below, we’ll go through the 4 steps of finding a DUI lawyer who can help you make the best of your situation.
1) Assess the Lawyer’s Local DUI Expertise and Experience
If you were arrested in Seattle, for example, it's essential to find a local, Seattle DUI lawyer. They don’t have to live in the city you were arrested in but experience and in-depth knowledge of that municipality’s rules and nuances can save you a lot of heartache. Also make sure that DUI is a regular specialization of their practice. Your situation is hard enough; it’s no time to take a chance on a new attorney who doesn’t have the experience.
2) Get a Free DUI Case Review
When it’s time to look more deeply into a particular candidate, contact them for a free case review. Most reputable lawyers offer these. If you find one who doesn’t, that may be a signal that you should look at other options. Importantly, your initial case review provides a great opportunity to evaluate their communication skills, local knowledge, and ability to understand what you’re going through. Ask questions about their experience, success rate, and their general approach for your case.
3) Consider the Costs
Although a DUI lawyer isn’t something anyone wants to pay for, a good one can help make sure that this ordeal doesn’t cost you more than it needs to, even after lawyer fees. How much will this cost–financially and otherwise–without a lawyer? How much will it cost with one? When evaluating your options, consider the confidence the lawyer in front of you does or doesn’t instill.
4) Trust Your Gut
Speaking of confidence, one of the most important factors when vetting a DUI lawyer is simply how comfortable you feel with them. Does this person seem as familiar with this kind of thing as they claim to be? If you were arrested in Tacoma, do they have a good track record of Tacoma DUI defenses? Do they stop and listen to you? Do you feel safer with them or without them? A good lawyer-client relationship is built on trust, communication, and a shared goal. If something feels off–even if you can’t put your finger on what it is–it may be worth at least getting another case review, with someone else.
The Best Seattle DUI Lawyer for You
Finding the best DUI lawyer for your particular case is critical. By assessing their expertise and experience (in your crime and location), getting your free case review, considering the costs from all relevant perspectives, and listening to your gut, you can at least make a decision that sets you up for success–whatever that looks like for your case. If you’re reading this because you’re on the hunt for a DUI lawyer in Seattle, consider putting Verity Criminal Defense through the test outlined above.