Finding a good DUI lawyer is essential to your future employment and your peace of mind. In today's world, just about every job requires some sort of criminal history check. When facing the prospect of having a blemish on your history, certainly it would be smart to seek the least severe penalty possible.

From the start, it is important that you be honest with the prospective or retained attorney about what outcome you are willing to accept. If you work in a job with access to highly sensitive or classified information, you may not be willing to be convicted at all. However, if this case is your second DUI, your goal might be to avoid a jail sentence. The attorney needs to know what you want so he can properly advise you as to how to proceed. Once the attorney considers the facts of your case, he or she might realize that the outcome you want is improbable and refuse to accept your case.

Check around with friends and family members to learn about their experiences with DUI attorneys. If they haven't had that experience, surely they know of someone who has that can speak with authority on the issue. If you know any attorneys, ask them for a referral to someone who handles DUI cases. Even a divorce attorney will know someone who can effectively handle your type of criminal case.

It's important to avoid picking up a phone book and calling the first lawyer whose services are advertised in the Yellow Pages. Anyone who can pay for it can take out an ad in the Yellow Pages. Make sure you verify the information in the ad before you give someone your money.

Your case will be made or broken by the evidence. While it is possible for a DUI case to be made without a videotape of the traffic stop or breath alcohol content results, lack of that evidence will make the case more difficult to prosecute. A jury's perception of the testifying officer will also affect the outcome of your case. Look for an attorney who has DUI trial experience; one who doesn't may push you to enter a plea that is not in your best interest so he or she can dispose of the case quickly and get paid.

The officer who stopped you could be a rookie making his first DUI arrest or an experienced professional with Drug Recognition Expert certification. Either way, he or she will most likely have built the case with the assistance of a standardized reporting form that is written to ensure that the officer doesn't leave anything out of his or her documentation. Be sure the attorney is aware of your cooperation with the officer, or lack thereof, as that could determine if the charges can be reduced or dropped altogether.

Finally, be sure to check with the state bar association to see if your attorney has a disciplinary record. Despite common perceptions, lawyers do police themselves and, for the most part, they do adhere to their profession's ethical standards.

As with any service, you get what you pay for. Seek the best attorney you can afford, and make sure his or her qualifications and experience are worth the expenditure of your time and money. If there is something about the attorney that makes you feel uncomfortable, keep your money in your wallet.

Learn more about this author, Michele Hriciso.
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