Hiring an Illinois DUI Attorney – What Should I Consider?

READER QUESTION:

What are things I should consider when i am looking into hiring an Illinois DUI attorney?

Marisol

GOOD QUESTION, MARISOL.

The first question I would confront the lawyer with with when you step into their office is: “Will you be handling my case, or are you going to delegate it to someone else?” It’s extremely important for you to hold your consultation with the person who will actually be representing you, so that you can correctly evaluate their abilities. If you’ll be represented by someone other than the consultee, you’re just wasting your time.

On a similar note, experience is one of the number one things you should focus on, and particularly in the area of DUI, and even more narrowly in the type of DUI case you have. Just because your lawyer is a couple of decades out of law school doesn’t mean they know their stuff in this are–they may have been practicing divorce law all that time.

Secondly, you should keep in mind how you relate to the lawyer and also the fees involved. You should get your fees in a written fee agreement so that you can assess them beforehand.

–Fashun.

Illinois DUI Lawyer Costs and Fees

READER QUESTION:

What extra Illinois DUI lawyer costs might I have to deal with?

Princeton

EXCELLENT QUESTION.

Many people factor in, obviously, the flat fee when they are budgeting for a lawyer without realizing that there are additional Illinois DUI lawyer costs. Here are some that you may need to be aware of.

• fees for printing, faxing, etc., and employing those who do this
• for hiring someone to take down testimonials and interviews in shorthand
• for delivering legal paperwork to witnesses
• for costs of travel
• for investigation
• for court filing and related fees
• for jury, if so requested
• for witnesses
• for consultation

Rather than just jump in the water with all your clothes on, discuss all of the potential Illinois DUI lawyer costs at your very first meeting so that you can decide which ones might be necessary in your case, which ones you can avoid, and whether the amount your lawyer charges for such fees is worth keeping them.

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.