When hiring a DUI attorney, you want someone who will make a difference in the outcome of your case. Good DUI lawyers have reliable track records of getting charges dismissed or at least reduced for their clients. Even so, attorney fees are costly, and it is natural to question whether the expense is worth it.

Determining DUI attorney value hinges on many factors. Some factors are monetary in terms of saved expenses for fines and court costs. You will also want to understand and consider that some elements are more subjective when you look to hire an attorney, including lessening or eliminating emotional stress, smoothing out inconveniences, and wiping out detrimental social stigmas.

Another critical factor in determining value is whether or not your legal representative is a local DUI attorney. Usually, a lawyer well versed in local law enforcement practices and personnel has an advantage over someone from out of the area. Let’s explore all these factors in more detail.

Legal Rights and Moral Judgment

Legal standards imposed by the bar require the attorney to ensure his client’s rights will be honored. However, some lawyers are diligent and meticulous in this regard, while others are somewhat lackadaisical once they obtain their retainer. It is worth finding a DUI attorney who will make the extra effort to protect your rights from being waived either inadvertently or deliberately.

Keep in mind the critical distinction between what is legal and what is moral. Committing a DUI infraction is both a crime and a moral offense generally disdained by society. You face justice on both fronts, and their respective outcomes don’t always agree. Moral redemption is mostly your responsibility, while your being treated equitably in the eyes of the law is your attorney’s responsibility.

The Optimum Outcome

You may have one or more valid reasons for going without legal representation, including cost. But if you make this decision because you feel your case is hopeless and/or you believe prosecutors will show leniency if you don’t fight, then you should think again. The chance of your achieving the best possible outcome by pleading guilty or by representing yourself is virtually zero.

Despite the evidence, your case is never hopeless. Even if you cannot beat your DWI charge, often the penalties can be reduced or mitigated in some way. Getting legal help is especially crucial for repeat offenses of driving under the influence. Defense attorneys have numerous strategies for achieving optimal results.

Proceedings Following Arrest on DUI Charges

Committing a DUI infraction automatically results in your driver’s license being confiscated. Hence, if you have been arrested, you potentially face two separate challenges. The primary problem is your criminal hearing regarding the infraction itself, where you need to enter a plea. The other challenge is whether to request a hearing to fight your driving privileges from being suspended. You are given ten days to make this request.

Your attorney will help with both hearings. He or she can represent you at all conferences, relieving you of some emotional stress and enabling you to be less inconvenienced. The lawyer will usually obtain the legal documents prepared by prosecutors to help him strategize the best way to defend the results of chemical testing.

The Costs of a DUI Conviction

In considering DUI attorney worth, try to comprehend all the various costs you could incur if convicted. Avoiding these costs or having them significantly lessened then gives you a measure of value. Not all costs are monetary. A DUI conviction will severely disrupt your life, affecting job, school, and future opportunities.

Law enforcement has an extensive list of penalties it can draw on, and the severity of each punishment depends on the nature of the offense and whether or not there are collateral considerations. Besides driver’s license suspension, you could face incarceration, high fines, and other financial costs, vehicle impoundment, and/or remedial requirements such as attending DUI classes, performing community service, or getting counseling in substance abuse.

Perhaps you are prepared to bear whatever costs the court imposes. If so, you may not find hiring an attorney necessary. But know that fines and associated expenses alone can amount to $8,000 over the entire period you are repaying your debt to society. The result of being found guilty by a court of law might compare favorably or unfavorably to attorney fees.

The Costs of Self-Defense

Now you might think that the costs of a DUI conviction are worth avoiding but that if you act as your criminal justice attorney you can also prevent steep lawyer fees. However, there are costs associated with this approach as well, and they should be considered. Besides the risk of bungling your defense, you pay a high emotional price trying to keep up with a series of court hearings and other appointments. This is often the reason someone who has been through the experience of a drunk driving arrest, that you should hire the top rated attorney in your area.

Indeed, your case is most apt to succeed when you get emotions entirely out of the way. And the best way to take feeling out of the equation is to hire an attorney. If nothing else, this benefit should be a factor in your decision.

Our recommendation is to find the best attorney you can that meets your budget. We say this not just to try to win your business but because experience shows that clients end up much better off in the long run. Regardless of your decision, we wish you luck in working through what can be a trying ordeal.