Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer for a DUI Charge

Ever been pulled over on a DUI charge? Yes this happens but you can beat the system with the help of a criminal defense lawyer.

Drinking under the influence of DUI requires fast action on your part so that your license will not be suspended. The first thing you have to do of course is hire a lawyer so you can immediately be released from jail.

In some cases, this does not happen because you are released on your own recognizance. However, some will require you to post bail which your lawyer can take care of.

Once released, it is now time to address this issue. In some states, a DUI charge generates 2 separate cases. The first is filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles while the other is a criminal court case. When faced with this problem, you have to face these charges within ten days from the date of the arrest.

Just like any other criminal case, this begins with your arraignment. You will be asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Chances are, your criminal defense lawyer will tell you to plead not guilty to these charges. This will give him or her time to review the facts of the case so your defense will be established.

There are many strategies available that your lawyer can use to you get out of a DUI and have proven to be successful.

Your lawyer may for example argue lack of probably cause for the initial stop. This means there was no reason at all to stop you and if that is the case, submit a petition to suppress any evidence that the police obtained when you were pulled over.

It is also possible to argue faulty of unreliable BAC results. The BAC stands for blood alcohol test which is used to test if the person’s alcohol level has reached the maximum limit which makes him or her unsafe to drive a vehicle.

The results could be faulty if your lawyer can prove that the test was not properly administered, the equipment used was not properly maintained or you have a medical condition that may have an impact on the reliability of the test.

Another tactic is to attack the credibility of the arresting officer. If your lawyer is able to question the police officer and prove there are inconsistencies in their testimony compared with the police report they filed, you just might have a chance of getting a not guilty verdict.

But if things are not working in your favor and everything was done by the book, then your criminal defense lawyer may advise you to accept a favorable plea agreement. Doing so may get you reduced charges or sentencing concessions with the district attorney.

If you don’t want to negotiate and decide to gamble in court and lose, then you can try to appeal the court’s decision. If you don’t, there will likely be an increase in your insurance cost, limits on employment options and you will now have a permanent record.

Hiring a criminal defense lawyer is the only way to get out of a DUI charge. After all, there are circumstances which you can argue so that you name will not be included in the criminal database system.

For most of us in Oregon there comes a time when we need an Attorney to represent us in either a dispute or a criminal or civil law suit. Depending on where you look or how you look for an Attorney to represent you may end up with a good Lawyer or a bad one. A bad Lawyer meaning one who is not qualified in the area of law you need or one that is just not a good Attorney.

When researching for a Portland Oregon Attorney or Lawyer on the Internet stay away from national Attorney directory sites. These sites simply have well paid SEO Companies that specialize in obtaining clicks for their site. And whoever is paying for the leads from that area get them. This is not a good source to find an Attorney.

There is one Directory of Portland OR Attorneys that is Oregon based and is reputable. This directory is the Oregon Attorneys and Lawyers website. You may find it simply by performing a Google search for Oregon Attorneys and Lawyers.

Tips for Researching Attorneys and Lawyers in the Portland Oregon Area

1. One of the most important things in hiring an Attorney in Oregon is to feel comfortable with him or her and their fees. Ask questions.
2. Look for and find an Attorney that works in the area you need assistance in.
3. Determine what qualities you are looking for. Do you want a very experienced Attorney and the high fees that come with it, or do you want a young Lawyer that is willing to work hard to make up for a lack of experience?
4. Find out what legal organizations they belong to. See if they belong to the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. At the very least they should belong to the County and Oregon state bar associations.
5. Ask friends for references. Be sure the personal references you acquire are relevant to the particular needs you may have. A criminal defense Attorney is not the right choice for child custody disputes.
6. Don’t be fooled by advertising slogans like “aggressive trial lawyer”. Still take the time to meet your Attorney of choice to see if they are a good fit.
7. Ask who is going to be working on your case. Many times the Lawyer you meet is not the Attorney that will be actually handling your case. Ask to meet the actual Attorney who will be on your case.
8. Fully discus and disclose all the facts that are associated with your case. Ask what course of action he or she will be taking to represent you. Make sure you feel comfortable with the legal plan.
9. Remember there is no official list of the best Attorneys and Lawyers in Oregon. You have to do your research and make educated and emotional decisions when hiring a Attorney.

10. Public defenders get a bad rap. There is no more experienced criminal defense experience than working for the city or county as a criminal defense Lawyer.

Since you can not be a master in business law, you need to hire a business attorney to help you out with the business formalities and legalities. Hiring a lawyer is a rigorous process. You will come across several people who complain about their relationship with their lawyer. Problems can be averted if you make an intensive effort to avoid making the following common mistakes while hiring an attorney.

• Don’t Hire a Brain Surgeon When You Need a Heart Specialist Very few business law attorney can do well outside their area of expertise, but many do not know the nuances of other areas of the law. Therefore, if you need a business law attorney, do not hire a divorce attorney. Each lawyer has his/her own area of expertise. You can easily search for the one that you require.
• Not Discussing the Fees in Advance If you had neglected to check the costs upfront, you cannot complain that you have been charged too much by your lawyer later on. Always discuss with your lawyer about the kind of fee structure that he wants and how much he is going to charge. And don’t forget to keep in mind the extra costs like case filing charges and delivery charges. Find out about the processing fees as well while discussing the fees arrangement with your lawyer.
• Hiring A Lawyer Who Is Already Very Busy If you hire a lawyer who does not have enough time to give you or to your case, your legal needs will suffer a lot. Make sure that you discuss how much time you would require and retain the lawyer who is able to provide you with that much time commitment.
• Hiring an Attorney Just Because He Is Sympathetic There is a difference between a business law attorney who is sympathetic and supportive to your situation and an attorney who can handle your business affairs promptly. Do not mistake support for expertise. Remember that a best business attorney should have both.
• Not Doing Any Research When you search for a house, you do not buy the first house you see. The same holds true for hiring a lawyer. You should get the names of several lawyers, preferably through referrals, and then make a sound choice. Talking to someone who has worked with a particular attorney is always advantageous. Don’t just simply hire a business law attorney without checking his background.
• Not Meeting the Attorney Personally With the advent of the Internet, it is becoming more and more common for business communication to occur solely through emails and phone calls. You can easily search for a business law attorney online. This is not a good option in case of an important relationship like the one between a client and an attorney. You definitely need to meet your lawyer in person.

The above mentioned tips can help you ensure that you find a business law attorney with the expertise and client-relations skills that are essential to protecting you and your business properly.