Finding the Best Virginia DUI Lawyer For You

There is no such thing as a “best” DUI lawyer.  All cases are unique, and different attorneys have different strengths in different situations.  However, when facing DUI charges, there are a few basic selection criteria that generally apply across situations when attempting to find the best Virginia DUI lawyer for your case.

Below, we discuss some of the ways that you can narrow down the candidate pool and ultimately settle on a DUI lawyer who is suited to defend you.

Price

When you choose an attorney to defend you against DUI charges, you are ultimately putting your future in the hands of that person. There are many factors that should go into your choice of a lawyer, and picking someone exclusively because he or she offers the lowest rate is seldom a good idea. Whether you are aiming for a dismissal of charges, a not guilty verdict, or a reduced sentence, you will want an attorney who can help you achieve the optimal legal result.

The fines, jail terms, and permanent criminal record that typically accompany a guilty verdict all mean that paying less money is never worth it if you end up sacrificing a more favorable case outcome.

Character and Professional Services

You should never base your choice of a lawyer on price alone. You also want an attorney with the experience and the insight to understand the plight you are going through. Nobody plans on getting arrested for DUI, and a good attorney understands that quality defense against criminal charges is almost always an unpredicted expense. He or she should be willing to offer options, such as a long-term payment plan, that can defer the financial cost of your legal representation away from the list of your immediate worries.

Ideally, you will find a lawyer who offers a free initial consultation for your case; this will give you a chance not only to get answers to your questions, but also establish the foundation of trust that you will need to sustain the attorney-client relationship throughout the legal process.

During the initial consultation, and throughout the case, your lawyer should be upfront about the services he or she will offer and the fees that will be charged, so that you are not blindsided in the future by any unexpected expenses.

Strong Track Record

In addition to trustworthiness and professional character, you want to retain a lawyer with a strong track record in DUI defense. While no attorney has a perfect rate of success, you want an attorney with a reputation who has earned the respect of his or her peers and clients by winning difficult cases. By yourself, it can be hard to ascertain whether or not this is true of the attorney you are considering; however, you can usually have faith in the quality of your attorney if he or she is held in high esteem within the legal profession.

Strong ratings from attorney review sites, membership in professional law organizations, and awards from contemporaries commemorating an attorney’s legal ability and ethical standards are all usually good indicators of a lawyer who is very favorably regarded within the field.

Going Above and Beyond

You also want an attorney who makes every effort to understand the types of criminal cases he or she handles.  For most attorneys, this means keeping track of the latest developments in law journals and scholarly publications, but also acquiring as much hands-on knowledge of the subject as is possible.

In the case of a Virginia DUI lawyer, an example might involve an attorney who goes through the process of becoming certified in the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests that are so important in many of the cases involving his or her clients.

It is easy to find an attorney ready and willing to represent you in the Commonwealth, but choosing the best Virginia DUI attorney for your case can make all the difference in the outcome.

Fighting your DUI charge successfully will demand the utmost attention and effort, so you should take the time to find an attorney you are comfortable with and who offers the services you need at a rate you can afford.