My recommendation…
Confide in people you trust. Use your connections. Ask friends, family or people you know and respect. See if one of them can point you in the right direction. Ask around. The people you know may be able to refer you to a lawyer you can trust. And if they don’t know someone personally, they may know someone who does. The majority of my clientele, for example, is based upon word-of-mouth referrals. And often those referrals are from former clients or their families, other attorneys, members of law-enforcement or the judiciary.
Do some independent research online. While the sheer volume of attorneys advertising online can be quite overwhelming, you can find some good, helpful information in cyberspace.
I recommend focusing your search on attorneys who limit their practice DUI and criminal defense matters. As with any line of work, finding someone with intimate knowledge of the subject matter is key. And even if you think you cannot afford an attorney, I would recommend calling around and at least talking with some attorneys. Many criminal and/or DUI attorneys, myself included, will offer a free consultation or case of evaluation. It only makes sense to take advantage of such offers. So if you’re reading this and wondering what you should do, call me for a free consultation and case evaluation today.
If you do decide to call, I will personally handle the phone call and discuss with you the questions that you have. If I am unavailable when you call, I simply asked that you leave a message, and I will return your call as soon as possible, which is usually within minutes. During that initial phone call we can discuss aspects of your case and even set up a face-to-face meeting usually within 24 hours. At that meeting, I can discuss with you the arraignment process and give you an idea of what to expect at your initial appearance. In addition, I will typically review with you the applicable laws and potential penalties, as well as provide a general road map of what you may expect during the pendency of your case. So, if you have questions or concerns about what to do, or who to talk to, feel free to give me a call and we can discuss your concerns.