The Roles and Responsibilities of a DUI Attorney

Driving Under the Influence is considered, by the public at least, to be one of the most serious criminal offenses in California. If you've been charged with a DUI, the “zero tolerance” policies of the prosecutor, and the court may cause you to face severe consequences ranging from fines, surcharges, community service, loss of driving privileges, and sometimes even jail time. While it may be tempting to go it alone and face the charge yourself, the judge in your case, the prosecutor, and almost every attorney you can find will tell you that it is a bad idea and in fact, highly discourage this. You may not have the experience and knowledge to navigate the various technical aspects of DUI law. The best decision is hiring an Orange County DUI lawyer to represent you.

What about a public defender?

If you choose not to get your own lawyer, and if you financially qualify, you will be given a public defender. Many people make the mistake of thinking this is the easiest way to go. What you need to know is that they may get you through the case, but they may not give your case as much time as you like. They have lots of other cases to handle, and they may not concentrate on yours. In other cases, some public defenders are often young and inexperienced. Getting the help of a professional Orange County DUI attorney is the best way to go. He will concentrate on your case fully to ensure you get a favorable outcome.

How Can DUI Attorney Help You? Roles and Responsibilities

An expert determination of your case

When you're pulled over on the suspicion of driving under the influence, you're either given a sobriety test or a breathalyzer test. Also, anything you say at the time of your arrest can be used against you in a court of law. The prosecution will use all these pieces to convince the judge that you're guilty. They'll use dash cams to show you wobbling during the sobriety tests or present results (whether accurate or not) from either a breathalyzer test or blood test. When all this evidence is stacked against you, you may get scared. How can you stand up against evidence as much as this?

Luckily, an experienced Best DUI lawyer in Orange County knows what to do whenever evidence is presented. They can argue that the breathalyzer machine was faulty, get witnesses to testify in your favor, and even show that your rights were violated during the arrest to get you off the hook.

Ensure your rights are protected all through the process

Another way an Orange County DUI attorney can help you is helping you understand your rights and making sure they're protected. The legal system is complicated and hard to navigate; it's easy for an inexperienced individual not to know how the law is intended to protect him or her. An excellent lawyer will explain all these rights to you and ensure any official doesn't violate them. Remember that the police officers weren't intoxicated and sometimes they may fabricate issues just to land you in jail. Others may force you to do things outside the law so that you can implicate yourself. Hiring a lawyer to be your legal representative ensures that all these violations do not occur.

Taking care of paperwork and deadlines

When you're facing a DUI charge, and the case has gone to court, there is lots of paperwork that needs handling. If you've never been charged before, handling this paperwork can be a stressful process for you. You may not know the right documents to fill and where to file them. However, when you hire an experienced lawyer, he/she will take care of this part of the process for you. They'll fill it and file it as necessary before deadlines. And since dates are crucial in legal proceedings, a lawyer will keep track of them to make sure you don't miss any proceeding.

Giving crucial advice on how to plea

If you choose to represent yourself, you can make decisions that may land you in trouble. For instance, you may choose to accept that you were driving under the influence, thinking that it will help make the case easier. However, the prosecutor may be waiting for this chance to ensure that you land in jail or receive a more harsh sentence than could be negotiated. These and other bad decisions can make your case even worse. That's where Orange County DUI lawyers come in handy to help you make the right choices. Especially if you're in a profession or plan to join a career that involves obtaining a professional license, a knowledgeable attorney can advise on the long-term effects of a conviction and help you make smart decisions on how to plea. Accepting a conviction on lesser charges may not be the best decision if it impacts your career's future.

Also, he or she can determine the depth of your case. If the evidence presented against you is very strong, your attorney may advise you to accept the prosecutor's deal and often you'll get your charges or jail term reduced.

Giving you the best legal representation

If your case has gone to court, then you must prove your innocence to a judge or jury. If you've never attended a court session or represented yourself before, you may not even know where to start. The legal justice system has lots of loopholes and you may land yourself in trouble with the judge. When a prosecutor sees that you're inexperienced, he may even take that chance to manipulate the case and convince the court that you're guilty, even if you're innocent. This may not work in your favor, and you can find yourself facing serious consequences.

But when an expert Orange County DUI lawyer represents you, you increase your chances of getting a favorable outcome. They'll present all the evidence needed and try to prove your innocence. Remember that Orange County DUI lawyers have worked on lots of cases like yours and thus, they've gained the experience on what to do in each part of the process. Also, they're well known by judges and prosecutors, and this influence can go a long way to get your case expunged or your punishment lessened. Also, an attorney can ensure that your license isn't suspended.

We all make mistakes and driving under the influence is a huge one. If you're charged with this crime, hire a DUI attorney as soon as possible. He will evaluate your case and give you the best legal representation for a favorable outcome. Don't risk going on it alone; get the help of an experienced DUI lawyer in Orange County.

How To Hire The Best DUI Lawyers In Orange County

If you’ve been convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug, you will probably need a DUI lawyer. For the uninitiated, these lawyers are seasoned professionals who manage your case and work on reducing your sentence. If you are a first-time offender, they might also offer added resources that’ll help you deal with the situation better. From handling the paperwork to negotiating with the prosecutor- these professionals do it all. But how exactly do you find the best Orange County DUI lawyer? What features should you look for while hiring these professionals? Well, these are some of the questions we are going to explore over the next few sections. 

Do Proper Research

The best orange county DUI lawyers won’t just offer superficial advice. Instead, they will hear you out, try to understand your situation and will thoroughly assist you during the court proceedings. They wouldn’t reprimand you for your behavior and offer an unbiased suggestion instead. To settle with the best DUI professional, it is important to do proper research. Look up online about the various Best DUI lawyers in orange county and check the kind of services they offer. You can also look this up at your local court. If you are still unsure, ask for suggestions from your reliable friends and family. Hear what they have to suggest and recommend you. This will help you understand, who exactly you should hire for the job.

List Them Out

If you want to organize your search better, list the potential lawyers you are looking to hire. You can make an Excel spreadsheet or follow a written log whereby you have a list of the attorneys you are looking to consult. This list should include their full name, their specialty/ area of expertise, contact number, email address, and physical address. In case you’ve already had a conversation with them and have an idea about their fees, add an extra column for the cost, where you include these expenses.

Check Their Qualification

Just because some professional is practicing as an attorney, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are competent enough for handling your case. For more clarity, check the State Bar Website to find out the lawyers who are listed there. Next, see if those lawyers have any case of malpractice registered against them. Also, check if they were charged for disciplinary actions. Double-check your list and make sure the professionals there are licensed for practicing in your specific state. Also, check if they are familiar with the local laws operating in your area. Unless a lawyer has experience handling local courts, do not choose them for the job. A professional visiting the local courts will have a better understanding of the judges, juries, and prosecutors. This will help them negotiate better.

Remember, these professionals can only offer sound legal advice if they understand how the local law in your state operates. 

Schedule a Meeting

Yes, in our busy lives, arranging a face-to-face meeting may not always be convenient. It takes time from your day and also requires you to drive. However, when it comes to choosing the right DUI attorney, it is imperative to directly consult them over a face-to-face meeting. When you meet your potential attorney, you get an opportunity to know how exactly they work and whether you will get along with them in the first place. It will also help you to ascertain if they are a great fit for your job. 

While participating in these meetings, carry your paperwork along so that your lawyer has complete clarity while you discuss your situation with them. To make things simpler, create a list of important questions and hand it over to them during your meeting. Ask them about the number of DUI jury trials they have handled, their total experience in law (total years of practice), their total number of guilty or not guilty verdicts, and the number of years they have handled DUI defense. While the situation might seem complex in the beginning; in reality, it is easier than ever. Just avoid being nervous and treat this the same way as a job interview. Remember, DUI attorneys can be costly and since you’re hiringthem to get your job done, it only makes sense to ask these important questions. 

Case Management and Legal Fees

Most DUI attorneys use a term called case management' for describing the nature of handling your case. Since you're paying a hefty sum to hire these professionals, it is only important to understand the logistics behind it. Check if the lawyer you are interviewing is going to represent you. If they don't, have an interview with the person who will represent you. Directly ask them what to do when you have queries. Also, know about the usual response time. Finally, check if you will get regular updates of the case. If so, check how often you will get them and also see what they will include. 

The next thing to consider is the billing method. Most DUI lawyers either charge hourly or flat fees. Check with your lawyer about their preferred payment method. Ask them what this rate includes and what it doesn't. Also, ask them about any related legal expenses that you might have to incur. In case you do, request an estimate. Finally, also clarify about the payment options and get to know if the fees (at any event) are refundable. 

Bottom Line

Now that you know what exactly you need to choose the best Orange County DUI attorney, follow our guidelines and select the best professional for the job. Remember, it is completely normal to feel baffled if you are doing this for the first time. But if you ask the right questions and incorporate the tips we suggested, making the choice will be easier. The right DUI lawyer will help you handle the situation better. At the end of the day, you will make a better and more informed decision whereby you can resume your usual activities sooner. Your license will not be revoked, and you can soon use the same vehicle for heading to work and completing errands.