How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer For DUI

Getting arrested for DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, can be a serious criminal offense. Here in Orange County, California, police, and prosecutors take DUI cases or Driving Under Influence, very seriously. Under the influence means driving when you are intoxicated, whether it be alcohol or drugs. This type of driving can cause a lot of accidents and suffering. In many states, there is a zero-tolerance policy and the punishment for a DUI can be quite severe.

You can have your driving license suspended for long periods of time, starting at 30 days or longer. If you are facing these charges and want to defend yourself, then you must hire a professional criminal defense lawyer in Orange County. Without the help of an experienced and professional lawyer or law firm, it is very difficult to defend yourself and get a dismissal or reduction of your charges.

Why Do You Need A Professional Lawyer?

Driving under the influence is considered a serious crime and the charges are handled in criminal court. You have the right to defend yourself in criminal court. But defending yourself against DUI charges with no legal experience is just next to impossible. There are professional criminal lawyers specially educated and trained in defending DUI cases. DUI laws are very complicated and always changing. Thus, every case is unique, and you have to help defend your case in the most professional way possible. So, getting an experienced professional criminal lawyer who is specialized in DUI is very important in defending your case.

Lawyers look at your entire case from a legal point of view and prepare strategies for your case according to their knowledge and experience. They are aware of changing laws and know the exact legal procedure by which they can defend their clients. After studying the police report and other documents related to the case, they consult some important things with you. After some questions, they get a clear view of the incident which helps them to proceed in the case. But in order to make sure that you walk away without any charges, choosing the best lawyer is very important.

How Do You Choose the Best?

Like any profession, there are many criminal lawyers, some new, some experienced, some bad, and some good. But choosing any of them is not a wise decision unless you investigate to be sure of getting the best lawyer that WILL clear your name and any charges. Thus, you need to choose the best Orange County criminal defense lawyer who can bail you out of the jail and free you from all the charges. To choose such a lawyer, you need to consider some of the important factors while deciding. These factors are:

DUI Specialization: One of the most important factors that you need to consider is your specific legal needs. There is a different type of criminal lawyers who specialize in different types of cases. Since you are dealing with your driving under the influence case, you have to make sure that you choose the best lawyer who is highly specialized in DUI cases. Undoubtedly, DUI is a serious charge and it is highly recommended to choose a good specialist to represent you in the court.

Shortlist The Potential Ones: First get the names of the DUI criminal lawyers who can represent you in court. Once you have the names, you need to do extensive research about their reliability. Check their state bar records and reviews, finding out what their clients have to say. It is very important to check whether or not their clients are happy and satisfied. Check if they have a success rate in DUI defense. Based on their reliability and success rate, shortlist the names of the potential ones.

Experience: Another vital factor that must be considered is an experience. Everyone knows that with experience comes knowledge. Attorneys get great ideas to defend their clients in various tricky situations when they are experienced and knowledgeable. Thus, these factors play a vital role while you are choosing the best criminal lawyer for your DUI case.

Get a Free Consultation: It is important to talk to some of the lawyers first before you finalize one. Many reputed attorney and law firms arrange for a free consultation with the lawyers to get an idea about how they are going to proceed. You can get a great idea about an attorney from this. You will get to know whether or not the lawyer has the capability to defend you. Pay good attention to whether or not he is listening to you carefully and understanding your needs.

Licensed Lawyer: Of course, you must find yourself a lawyer who is having a valid and genuine license to practice law in your state. There are many lawyers out there whose license is either suspended or expired. So, beware of all these frauds. Ask for their license number to crosscheck its validity.

Local DUI Knowledge: The laws setting the prohibition and punishment for Driving under the Influence crimes will differ from one state to another, and even within California, the procedures, and punishment, will differ from one court to another.  So, if you are looking for a criminal defense lawyer in Orange County, then make sure that the lawyer has the knowledge about the local DUI laws. Otherwise, it can be really difficult for them to defend you successfully.

These are the 6 important factors that you have to consider when you are looking for a great criminal defense lawyer. If you consider all these factors, then you will surely have a narrowed list of the best lawyers who can defend your DUI case. Along with all these factors, you also have to consider the fees too. Never compromise with the results and honest qualities to get a lawyer at the most affordable rate. You need to make sure that you get the best experienced and potential DUI criminal defense lawyer at the best rate.

Conclusion

You need to look for a qualified Orange County criminal defense lawyer for your case from reputable sources. You can use the internet to find and research who is the top, or most highly ranked and reviewed criminal lawyers in the area. You can also ask for recommendations from your friends or relatives who have faced the same charges before, and often personal recommendations can be a helpful choice.

However, always do your own research before hiring anyone. Take your matter seriously and call the best criminal defense lawyer you can to provide professional representation in your DUI case. Contact our law firm to get help from us today.

Can A DUI Conviction Affect My Current Job Or Any Future Employment Prospects?

DUI (Driving under the influence) is the no. 1 criminal offense in the United States. If ever you are detained for drinking under the influence, the consequences of this arrest will go far beyond probable jail time. There are chances that you may not know it at the time, but DUI can be detrimental to your job now and any future employment prospects you may have.

Once you are arrested for DUI, it is crucial that you speak with an orange county criminal defense lawyer to deliberate on how you can minimize the penalties related to your charge. Understanding the consequences of a DUI conviction on employment and the potential options for dealing with these consequences can help you better be prepared during this challenging time.

Can employers access my DUI conviction records?

When you are arrested and charged with driving under the influence, the potential penalties you face after conviction include court costs, fines, license suspension and compulsory drug and alcohol classes. In addition to these penalties, your DUI conviction will appear on the public records for anyone searching including employers to see.

A current or potential employer including the general public in Orange County CA have the rights, under the State Public Records Act to access these records by simply running your name on the California Judicial Case Search. This case search will reveal;

• A record of any charges filed against you in criminal, traffic or civil court

• The date on which each of the charges was filed

• The case number associated with each charge

• The current state of each case

If an employer clicks on a specific case number, they will find all details about the case including the type of court hearing held, the dates, outcomes of these hearing and the overall disposition of your case which will indicate whether you had the charges dismissed, you accepted a plea agreement or if you were found guilty.

How can A DUI conviction affect my future employment?

When it comes to the consequences of a DUI conviction on employment, it is crucial that you understand the conditions of employment in Orange County CA. According to the DLLR(Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation), Orange County CA is an employment at will state. What this means is that employers are at liberty to employ or fire an employee at any time for any or no reason at all. Exceptions are only made in the event of discrimination which is highly prohibited or if an employer has a contract that expressly states otherwise.

This raises the question of whether or not to disclose your DUI record to your employer in light of the potential negative consequences.

Well, the answer actually depends on the company’s policy and the type of work you are applying for. Most companies provide employees with a manual that outlines expected responsibilities and behaviors for those it employs. The company retains the rights to include employee conduct both on and off the job. In such a case, DUI may be seen as a violation of that code. Some jobs that may be affected by a DUI include;

• Professionals that are charged with the care and well-being of other people such as medical providers, social service workers, clergy member, and teachers

• People who hold public offices like council members and politicians

• Active-duty service members and military personnel

• Professionals who are required to uphold the law such as judges, lawyers and those generally in the law enforcement sector

• Workers in the transportation industry such as taxi drivers, bus drivers, commercial truck drivers and EMS workers.

For any of the above positions, a DUI conviction could be seen as compromising to the honor and responsibilities of the position and is highly likely a violation of the terms of their employment or service.

Still, most organizations do not have a strict policy of employing someone with a DUI conviction on their record. However, when they receive numerous application for the same job, and your application has an Irvine drunk driving conviction, the chances are high that your application may be pushed further down the pile.

Effects of a DUI conviction on your current job

The effect of a DUI conviction while already in employment majorly depends on the seriousness of the conviction and the precise department you are in. Convictions that result in long jail terms are likely to lead to you losing your job. On the other hand, a first-time DUI offense that results in a fine or any other minor criminal penalty that does not affect how you do your job, may not affect your employment status, especially if your boss is lenient. In most cases, the employer may impose specific conditions like probation.

Why do employers fear to hire or retain people with a DUI on their record?

A DUI conviction, without a doubt, has a big impact on employment especially those seeking to be employed. Most positions today require candidates to undergo extensive background checks and application process. While according to the guidelines provided by the DLLR, it is unlawful for an employer to inquire about a candidate’s general arrest and conviction record, employers are allowed to ask about convictions that have a direct relationship to the position being applied for.

For many organizations, the deciding factor is money. Having someone in the organization that has been charged with a DUI creates a liability that may result in higher premiums for health insurance benefits, or company vehicle as well as increase the costs associated with worker’s compensation insurance.

Seek the services of an expert Orange County criminal defense lawyer

When facing a DUI charge, it is vital that you understand all the ramifications it may have on your career. Different employers have different policies and opinions on this crime. However, there is still a high possibility that your DUI charge will negatively your capacity to keep or find a job. Working with a criminal defense lawyer orange county with experience of strongly and successfully representing many DUI offenders will without a doubt give you the best chance at showing and proving your innocence and maintaining or getting that job.