How Important Is It To Have a DUI Lawyer in Chicago Illinois?

Reader’s Question:

I have to admit that it’s not easy having a DUI charge here in Chicago, Illinois. How important is having a DUI lawyer to help me in my case?

Ray

Chicago, IL

You have to keep in mind that DUI is one of the few crimes that a person could be convicted solely on the opinion of the police officer. Even if most DUI offenses are classified as misdemeanors, the penalties for it are generally much more serious. If you choose to hire a DUI lawyer to help you in your DUI case in Chicago, Illinois, you need an experienced DUI lawyer to represent you in your DUI case to make sure that you get the best possible defense you can.

In hiring a DUI lawyer, there are certain things that you need to take note of to ensure that you get the best quality. The DUI lawyer should be up-to-date on the practices and guidelines in a DUI defense in Illinois. You need a lawyer who attends seminars presented by the National College for DUI Defense and have spent time learning advanced DUI Defense tactics from some of the leading DUI lawyers in the country. The DUI lawyer should also be willing to fight for your case not just a lawyer who will plead you out. Best of all, an experienced DUI lawyer is actually the one who could be able to save your job, driver’s license and freedom.

Can I Call a DWI Attorney in Chicago From Jail?

Reader’s Question:

When I’m taken to the police station because of DWI arrest in Chicago Illinois, do I have a right to a lawyer or a phone call?

Joseph

Thank you for asking Joseph.

You may and should ask to see or call an attorney as soon as you arrive at the police station since you are now under arrest—where anything you say might be used against you—you should not say anything without a lawyer present or until you have talked to an attorney.

In Illinois, within a reasonable time after your arrest or booking at the jail, you have the right to make a local phone call to an attorney, bail bondsman and/or any relative or other person. The police may not listen to the call to the lawyer and any communications made to your attorney. Your call should be discrete and made in such a way that you cannot be overheard by any other person or police officer. Make sure you pay attention to your surroundings when you make the call and notice if the police or anyone else can overhear the conversation.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Do I Represent Myself or Hire a Chicago DWI Attorney?

Reader’s Question:

Since its only a DWI conviction, can I just represent myself in Illinois?

Tom

Thank you for asking Tom.

In Illinois, even though you are legally permitted to represent yourself, you are likely to get a much more favorable result if you retain a knowledgeable DWI attorney to represent you. In many cases getting a qualifoed and experienced DUI attorney can result in the charges being reduced or dismissed. Additionally, the need for jail time can often be eliminated.

A qualified and experienced attorney will review your case and the police reports. Your DWI attorney will also analyze the results of the chemical tests, compel discovery of the pertinent maintenance records and arrange for blood samples to be tested by an independent lab. An experienced DUI lawyer will be able to file Motions on your behalf with the court and attempt to negotiate a favorable conclusion with the District Attorney in Illinois.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Best Chicago Illinois DUI Attorney?

To find the best Chicago IL DUI attorney, you need to be prepared to take some time. To really understand whether or not an attorney is the best one for you, you will have to have a consultation with them. Not only should they be competent about DUI law, but the best Chicago IL DUI attorney should also get along with you well enough that the two of you can work together.

How do you know if a lawyer is competent about DUI law? The best way is to find out how much of their case load is for DUI convictions. If it’s less than 50%, then they probably don’t have enough experience to bother, and you should avoid them. Preferably, you want someone who deals exclusively in DUI, but if you can’t get that, it’s understandable. A DUI lawyer should have at least a couple of years of experiences. Don’t bother with anybody fresh out of law school.

You can also find the best Chicago DUI attorney by asking people about their lawyer experiences. You can talk to friends and family, other lawyers, find information online, and so on. Find out if your state bar would recommend them. Check the yellow pages for options.

Do I Really Need a Chicago DWI Lawyer To Fight Charge?

But you don’t always need a Chicago  DWI lawyer. Sometimes it really is up to you. While I still think that everybody with a DUI should hire a lawyer, sometimes you really just don’t have that option or are confident in yourself to forgo it. Still, if this is the case for you, only pass on a lawyer if the offense is small enough to not warrant a huge punishment.

Reasons why you could (or could not) decide to get a Chicago  DWI lawyer.

• you may need someone to do some explaining to you. The books on DWI laws are pretty thick, and so it’s important to get your information from somebody who knows what’s going on.
• the place you work at may require bonding.
• you may be part of an education program to get a professional license which, if you are convicted, could be restricted to you.

Chicago Illinois DUI Lawyer – Is It Worth The Expense?

So, you got a DUI, and now you’re wondering what you need a Chicago DUI lawyer for. As a matter of fact, these lawyers can be very helpful, and here are some of the ways they can help you out.

• Speak for you in court.

The primary purpose of a Chicago DUI lawyer is representation. They can stand for you in court and argue in order to get you an easier time, fewer consequences, lower fines, and so on. Without a lawyer to do this for you, you could suffer much more because of your DUI.

• Figure you out and tell you what’s what.

You may not know what you need for your case on your own, but a DUI lawyer can look at it and explain to you what it all means, and then they can tell you what kinds of consequences you may face because of it.

• Take care of the little stuff.

Being convicted of a DUI is stressful enough already, and a lawyer can ease some of the stress by taking all of the menial work onto their hands–all that paperwork, all those phone calls. They can make sure your court date coincides with your schedule and so on.