How To Find The Best DUI Lawyers (2024 Guide)

A drunk driving conviction can have life-changing consequences. Unfortunately, many people are unsure how to navigate the court system to minimize the long-term damage. The best DUI lawyers work day in and day out to defend their clients’ rights during their entire involvement with the legal system.

Being charged with drunk driving is a serious matter. A conviction can result in:

• Fines
• Jail time
• Suspension of your license
• A criminal record
• Expensive installation and monthly payments for an ignition interlock device (IID)
• Required alcohol education or treatment program attendance

The job of a drunk driving attorney is to help you avoid conviction when possible or to work with you to minimize the potential penalties you face. The best DUI lawyers can help you to:

• Explore diversion programs that will leave you with a clean record
• Fight charges to avoid conviction
• Keep evidence out of court that was obtained in violation of your rights
• Present expert witnesses to undermine state evidence against you
• Make a persuasive case that you need a restricted or hardship license
• Argue for a suspended or reduced sentence
• Negotiate a plea agreement to face lesser charges

Most people don’t know the rules for whether the police acted legally in obtaining evidence and are not familiar with the ins-and-outs of negotiating a plea deal or entering diversion programs.

The best DUI lawyers know the system and spend their lives fighting to help their clients move on and make a fresh start without expensive fines or a criminal record holding them back.

If you are hiring a DUI lawyer, you’ll want to make sure you find the right one. Some things to look for to ensure you’re hiring a skilled DUI attorney include the following:

• An active license to practice law in the state where the DUI took place
• A clean ethical record with no disciplinary action (You can find these details on the website of your state’s bar association)
• A degree from an ABA-accredited law school
• Extensive DUI training and experience. You can find attorneys who specialize in drunk driving through the National College for DUI Defense or the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• A high success rate in helping DUI clients reduce or avoid penalties
• References and solid reviews from past satisfied clients

You can find out a great deal about an attorney by checking their LinkedIn profile as well as reading online reviews. But there’s no substitute for meeting an attorney in person and making sure you’re comfortable with their plan for your case.

Finding the best DUI lawyer can be complicated because there are many legal professionals who advertise themselves as drunk driving lawyers. You want someone with experience and a proven track record. To help you find the right person:

• Ask for referrals from family, friends or attorneys you have worked with on other matters
• Check the attorney’s social media and website to learn about their DUI experience
• Schedule free initial appointments with several attorneys
• Meet with each attorney in person and ask questions

When you are considering hiring a particular DUI attorney, there are a few key questions to ask to make sure they are the right person to represent you. These include the following:

• How much of your practice is dedicated to DUI cases?
• How many DUI cases have you handled in the past two years?
• What is your track record for helping clients avoid conviction, enter deferral programs or plead down to a lesser offense?
• How much of my DUI case will you personally handle?
• What fees do you charge and how do you calculate them?
• What strategy would you recommend for handling my case?
• What outcome do you expect in my case?

You should also bring all documents related to your DUI including the police report. And you’ll need to be upfront about the facts of your case so your potential lawyer can help you to understand what options they would explore in your defense.

DUI lawyer fees vary by state, as well as by the complexity of your case. You should make sure to ask for a good faith estimate of the costs you would incur before hiring a DUI attorney.

Contingency fees are not allowed in criminal cases. This means your lawyer cannot make their fees conditional on the outcome of your case. In most situations, you will pay hourly for legal services and will have to put down some money up front as a retainer.

You should remember that legal fees are negotiable, and you will also want to ask about all additional fees you may be charged such as added expenses for expert witnesses. Your entire fee agreement should be detailed in a written contract. If you are not given one, ask for it.

Although understanding DUI lawyer fees is important, you should not choose an attorney based on price alone. If the best DUI lawyers charge a little bit more but help you get a better outcome in your case, paying extra for legal expertise is well worth it.

Hiring the best DUI lawyer can have a profound impact on the outcome of your drunk driving case. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible when you are accused of driving under the influence so your attorney can work to protect your rights from day one.