QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR POTENTIAL DUI LAWYER

You’ve been arrested for DUI and you need to hire a lawyer, but how do you pick the best one for your case? What questions should you ask? How do you decide who to hire? Here are some questions and insights that might help you choose the best DUI lawyer:

1) What areas of law do you practice?

Sure, this seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, you’d be surprised. Over the past few years, more and more lawyers are graduating from law school and finding it tough to find work. Many of them will take on any case they can, often without the qualifications or experience necessary to do the job at the highest level and in some cases, without the competence to try. Sure, they’ll charge a fraction of the price, but what you don’t pay for now, you’ll surely pay for later when they don’t get you the best possible outcome.

2) Do you handle DUI’s in this county?

Anyone that has passed the Bar in Florida can practice in any county in Florida. That said, there is something to be said for knowing the judge that’s going to preside over your case, the prosecutor assigned to your case and even the cop that arrested you. Some jurisdictions have special DUI-based programs and others might take a very firm stand on how they handle DUI’s, so you want to go to court with an experienced DUI lawyer that knows how to navigate the system and can leverage their knowledge of not only the law, but also the legal process and the players involved to your benefit. The lawyers at The Ladan Law Firm routinely handle DUI’s in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Volusia Counties. We’ve also handled DUI’s in Lake, Brevard, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Citrus counties.

3) How many active DUI cases do you currently have?

Lawyers that are excellent DUI lawyers do a lot of DUI cases. If your lawyer doesn’t have any other DUI clients, they’re probably not the right attorney for you. Lawyers that handle more DUI’s have a much better understanding of the current state of the law and the legal process. They study the law, stay current on the caselaw and attend CLE (Continuing Legal Education) courses to keep up to date on any new developments in the field of DUI defense. This means they’ll be better equipped to defend you!

4) Have you tried a DUI case and if so, when did you last go to trial on a DUI? Where was that trial? What was the outcome?

Understand this – trials are the LAST resort. Clients don’t want to go to trial because they are stressful, cost time and money and it is not a given that the jury will do what you want them to do. That said, if your lawyer is inexperienced in trial, or worse yet unwilling to try a DUI case then guess what? The prosecutor assigned your case will know that and it WILL impact the negotiations in your case. Hiring an experienced DUI lawyer with DUI trial experience gives you a much better chance at securing the best possible outcome in your case. Experience matters!

5) What can I expect of you?

Why WOULDN’T you ask any lawyer this question? It’s important to have an understanding about what you’re paying for and what you can expect them to do for you. At The Ladan Law Firm, we are committed to our clients and their cases. We are available by phone and e-mail seven days a week. We will always take the time to take your call and answer your questions. We will communicate with you about the status of your case, will advocate for you and will make sure that you are fully informed. Once we discuss your case, we’ll even give you an idea as to how we anticipate the case will develop. As the information and evidence comes in, we’ll review that with you as well to make sure you know as much about the case as we do. An informed client is a good client!

The Ladan Law Firm, P.A. has represented countless DUI clients since 2001. All our lawyers are former DUI prosecutors and have spent countless hours honing our skills inside courtrooms throughout Florida, ensuring our clients that their lawyer is an experienced advocate.