If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges for a DUI, hiring the right lawyer is profoundly important.? Without expert legal representation, your penalties may include:
- Revocation of your driver?s license for a minimum of one year
- Possible imprisonment
- Hefty fines and other financial burdens
- Sentencing to community service
Technically, any lawyer licensed in Illinois can represent you in court, but it is highly recommended that you find an attorney who has a wealth of experience dealing specifically with DUI cases.? You should also look for a law firm with access to extensive resources to ensure that you obtain the best possible outcome.
Time is of the essence with any criminal case.? To help you find the best fit for your situation without unnecessary delay, we?ve compiled a list of five interview questions that you should ask when looking for legal representation for a DUI in Illinois.
#1:? How many years of experience do you have?
A lawyer fresh out of law school may be ambitious and eager to win cases, but there are many technical, scientific and civil liberty aspects of DUI law that can really only be learned through experience.? Recognize that results are more important than length of practice or volume of cases, but real experience, unfortunately for new grads, always trumps education alone.
#2:? Do you specialize in DUI cases?
Just like most industries, there are many areas of specialization that exist in the legal field.? This does not mean that a lawyer who typically specializes in family law cannot proficiently handle criminal defense cases like DUI charges, but you should look for someone who has had applicable experience and success.
While specializing in DUI Defense is recommended, also consider that a lawyer with experience in additional practice areas is likely to have more years in the industry, greater resources, and the skills and confidence to aggressively win your case.
#3:? Will you be handling my case from start to finish?
Be advised that many larger law firms employ a multi-level process for case handling.? You might have your initial consultation with a senior lawyer who has a lot of experience and a great track record, but an associate with less experience may be assigned to actually carry out the footwork for your case.
#4:? What are the outcomes I can expect for my case?
This question can help you quickly detect the level of integrity of an attorney. A detailed case review will always need to be conducted before reasonably stating projected outcomes.? If during your initial consultation the lawyer overstates best-case scenarios or tries to downplay the seriousness of potential consequences, you should recognize it as a red flag and immediately look for someone else to represent you.
An honest, experienced lawyer will be straight with you during the initial consultation.? If they know what they?re doing, there will be no need to over-promise results.
#5:? What is your policy on returning emails and phone calls?
It is very common, especially at established law firms, for client communications to be filtered through a legal secretary and/or paralegal.? Understandably, good lawyers need to be able to focus on cases without interruption or distraction, but it is only fair for you to be aware of their communication policy so that your expectations can coincide. ?A definitive and confident response to this question will indicate the level of organization and professionalism of the law firm.
Ultimately, you need to choose a DUI lawyer whom you feel can be trusted and one that will work hard for you. Do your research and ask for referrals to find the best fit for your case.
To learn how the experienced DUI lawyers at Sherer Law Offices can help you, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
