Houston Texas lawyers - attorneys directory
How to find a reputable DUI Lawyer
Whether it is you or someone you know who has been convicted on terms of drunk driving, finding the best lawyer is a process that can be very time consuming and stressful for a lot of people. You’ll want someone who is very experienced and competent at what they do who at the same time lacks any unethical practices.
One of the best ways to find a reputable lawyer is to ask for referrals. Whether it is your family’s lawyer himself who might know other DUI lawyers, or even a family member who has previously been convicted themselves, there are a number of different people available to you who can recommend a good lawyer. You could also go to your local courthouse and request information from bailiff or count clerk. Police officers can also be a great referral source. Simply inquire as to who they would recommend as the best lawyer they’ve seen or who they might hire if they were facing DUI charges.
However, one common referral service that is usually not a good place to search is the local Bar Association. The reason for this is that you will almost always quickly be referred to someone random on a list of members who only had to place a request to be placed on the list.
If you get to the point where nobody can refer you to a good lawyer, you can search the internet. Not only can you find a good DUI lawyer, but you can also find a lot of useful information on DUI laws themselves as well as the procedure, evidence, and penalties wrapped up in the whole process. While surfing the net, you may encounter numerous internet ads, websites, and directories. These directories don’t always necessarily mean these people are the best lawyers for you. They only mean a lawyer has paid the most to have their advertisements show up on your computer.
The National College for DUI Defense is another great resource. This association has a website containing over 800 lawyers nationwide who are specially trained and specialize solely in drunk driving cases. Though it's important to remember that a membership in this College does not guarantee you any promises of competence or ethics, it does prove the lawyer's seriousness in DUI law. One beneficial aspect of the College is their noteworthy seminars including an annual 3-day seminar held at Harvard Law School. The American Bar Association recognizes this seminar as the ONLY organization who is allowed to Board-certify lawyers as specialists in DUI defense.
You should consider the following when making your decision on what lawyer you wish to hire:
* What reputable law school did the lawyer receive his accreditation from? Did they graduate from the National College for DUI Defense? Was he Board-certified?
* It's very important to ask the attorney if he or she specializes only in DUI defense. When a lawyer handles DUI cases as well as criminal and civil cases, he is probably not the best choice for you.
* Ask if you can have a written contract that includes all fees as well as initial costs that would cover any outside fees like court costs, blood reanalysis tests, etc.
* Does your lawyer have access to a lab that can reanalyze your blood samples, witnesses, and breath analysis?
* Making promises on the outcome of a case is not only unethical, but completely unpredictable. If your attorney ever promised you anything in terms of results, you may want to keep looking.
* From A through V, how does the lawyer rank on Martindale-Hubbell International Directory of Attorneys?
* Check online at the State Bar Association to see if the attorney has had any complaints?
Houston Texas DWI DUI lawyers and attorneys
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