Gray Rollins asked:


You’ve been arrested on a DUI charge. Now what do you do? Although most people will recommend that you hire a lawyer to represent your best interests many people do not do so, often because of shame and embarrassment. Whether or not you hire a lawyer can have a big impact on your case so you may want to think carefully before making a decision. If you do decide to hire a DUI lawyer there are several things to consider so that you find the best lawyer possible to represent you.

Because DUI laws vary among each state (http://www.duislawyer.com/stateduilaws), hire a lawyer that has expertise with the laws in the state where you were arrested. Also, hire a lawyer that specializes in DUI cases. Depending on where you live you may not be able to find a good lawyer that practices DUI law exclusively, but look for a lawyer who spends at least half of his or her time handling DUI cases. It may be tempting to hire your local lawyer who deals with a veritable buffet of issues such as DUI’s, divorce, wills, and bankruptcy, etc. but DUI law is extensive and continually changing so you will likely be much better hiring a specialist in DUI.

Before you hire a DUI lawyer, or any other type of lawyer, meet with him or her first. Most lawyers will not charge you to meet with them while you’re looking for someone to handle your case. Having a face to face meeting with your lawyer before hiring him or her is good for both the client and the attorney. You’ll want to hire someone you feel comfortable working with. A face to face meeting helps you determine whether or not you feel comfortable. It also helps the lawyer decide if he or she feels comfortable working with you and wants to take on your case.

Before going to any consultations with lawyers (and medicine online without prescription you should consult with at least two lawyers before making a decision) do some research. The yellow pages is a good place to look for a lawyer but remember that the DUI lawyer with the biggest ad is not necessarily the best lawyer for you to hire. He or she is just the person with the biggest ad. You want a lawyer with DUI expertise and experience.

The library is another good place to do research. Your local library should have a copy of the Martindale Hubbell law directory. The directory does its best to list every lawyer in the United States along with his or her area(s) of speciality. You can search the directory by either location or area of law each lawyer deals with. The directory is also available online. People you know can also be a good source of information regarding a good lawyer.

Create a list of questions you want to ask each lawyer during the consultation so you can compare each lawyer equally before deciding who you would like to hire to represent you.

A few questions you may want to have on the list you make are:

1) What percent of the cases you handle are DUI or impaired driver? (Remember that you want someone who is very familiar with the current laws in your state.)

2) What do you charge and what is your fee structure? (You’ll want to know the most you’ll have to pay as well as how much you have to pay upfront. Many DUI lawyers charge a flat fee, which is a set amount for your case whether or not it goes to trial. Some lawyers charge an hourly fee. Others have staggered fee structures that break things into phases. They may charge a flat fee up until trial. If the case goes to trial then there’s another fee to pay. If the entire fee is required upfront but you are financially unable to pay it all upfront ask if a payment arrangement can be worked out. It can’t hurt to ask. The worst answer you can get is “no.”)

3) What costs besides attorney fees will I be responsible for? (In addition to lawyer fees you may be responsible for things like court costs and filing fees).

4) Will you be the lawyer handling my case or will someone else in the firm be the primary lawyer on my case? (This question is especially important if you are consulting at a firm with several lawyers. Some people have been very frustrated when they found out the lawyer they consulted with wasn’t the lawyer who handled the majority of their case.)

These are just a few of the questions you’ll likely want to ask before deciding which DUI lawyer you want to hire.

Steven Carlson asked:


Ventura County has over 3,000 Ventura attorneys or Ventura lawyers registered with the State Bar of California. Some popular cities within Ventura County where Ventura County attorneys may be practicing law are Camarillo, Casitas Springs, Fillmore, La Conchita, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak View, Ojai, Oxnard, Piru, Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Somis, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Westlake Village, and others. With so many attorneys practicing law in Ventura County California, how do you find the right Ventura County divorce attorney or Ventura County divorce lawyer who can help you with your particular divorce case and/or child custody case?

First, an experienced Ventura Cheap Cialis divorce attorney or Ventura divorce lawyer should have experience and legal expertise in the field of family law. Family law covers a variety of topics such as divorce or dissolution of marriage, paternity, domestic partnerships, child custody and visitation, domestic violence, restraining orders, spousal support, child support, guardianship, adoptions, community property, division of property, and more. Some Ventura divorce attorneys may specialize or have more experience than others in specific areas of family law. For example, some Ventura attorneys are certified by the State Bar of California or an organization accredited by the State Bar of California as a specialist in the field of family law. Currently, Ventura County has approximately two dozen Certified Family Law Specialists (CFLS) registered with the State Bar of California. These Ventura County attorney’s have made efforts to become State Bar certified in the field of family law. In other words, of approximately 3,000 Ventura County attorneys in California, approximately two dozen are Certified Family Law Specialists (CFLS). However, just because a Ventura County attorney is not a Certified Family Law Specialist does not mean he/she is not qualified and/or experienced to handle a Ventura County family law, divorce and/or child custody case. In fact, there are many well-qualified Ventura County attorneys or Ventura County lawyers who do not hold State Bar certifications. If you are searching for a Ventura County divorce attorney or Ventura County divorce lawyer and you do not know what to look for or where to begin, narrowing down your search to only those who practice family law in Ventura County may be a good place to begin.

Further, an experienced Ventura divorce attorney or Ventura divorce lawyer should have success representing clients on child custody and divorce cases in Ventura County. He/she will likely be familiar with the judges, processes, and procedures in the Ventura County family court which an attorney outside of Ventura County may not have. However, just because an attorney or lawyer is not located in Ventura County California does not mean he/she is not qualified and/or experienced to represent you on a family law, divorce, or child custody case in Ventura County. Ultimately, if you have a child custody and/or divorce case in Ventura County, you will want to investigate any prospective attorney’s background and experience and choose the right divorce attorney or divorce lawyer you believe can help you with your Ventura divorce case and legal need.

© 2007 Child Custody Coach

Child Custody Coach supplies information, online materials, and coaching services to parents in the field of child custody, namely, divorce, child custody and visitation, child custody evaluations, 730 evaluations, parenting, and all issues related to child custody and divorce. “How to Win Child Custody – Proven Strategies that can Win You Custody and Save You Thousands in Attorney Cost!” is a unique child custody strategy guide written by The Custody Coach and made available by Child Custody Coach in an easy to read, understand, and apply E-Book format. Custody Match is an online consumer and family law attorney matching service to help you in your search for the right attorney for your divorce or child custody case. Custody Match can help you find the right family law attorney, divorce lawyer, or child custody attorney in your area.