Choosing the Best DUI Attorney for Your Marin County Case

How to Obtain a Skilled Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer

Like most individuals arrested and accused of driving under the influence, you probably have little or no experience with the legal system and the proper way to find a criminal defense lawyer for DUI charges. If you had a heart problem, you would want a heart specialist as opposed to an eye doctor, and the same thinking should apply to the lawyer you choose. Retain legal counsel that is experienced and knowledgeable in this area of the law.

What to Watch Out For:

Unfortunately, finding the right Marin County DUI attorney can be a confusing process, as there is a lot of misinformation on websites and mailers. Here some of the things to watch out for:

• False and misleading claims regarding DUI success rates. One of the most common is the claim that they get the DUI charges against their clients dismissed in a high percentage of their cases. The truth is that defendants are most often charged with two DUI offenses: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. When a guilty plea is entered for one of the two charges, the other is almost always dismissed.
• Claims of being recognized as a Top 10% Trial Lawyer or similar boast. They pay for the plaque and badge to put on their website and there is no substance to it at all.
• Numerous online reviews that appear to be written in the same style and with shallow content.
• Solicitations mailed to your home. There are two types of lawyers doing it. One is the marketing pro who never goes to court and has inexperienced lawyers handling everything. The other is the lawyer desperate for business.

What to Look For:

A good place to start when choosing the best DUI lawyer for your case is to ask people in and around Marin County who are in a position to know. Visit the local courthouse and ask bailiffs, clerks, public defenders, and other attorneys the same question, "which DUI lawyer would you recommend?"

Here are some other important questions to ask when you are looking for the right DUI attorney to represent you:

• Is the lawyer Board-Certified by the National College for DUI Defense, as approved by the American Bar Association?
• Does the lawyer hold an A-V rating by Martindale-Hubbell™? (This is the highest ranking an attorney can obtain from other lawyers).
• Has the lawyer received special training in chemical testing and field sobriety tests?
• Will the lawyer personally handle your case, or are they just a slick marketer who will farm your case out to an inexperienced associate?
• Does the lawyer ever take DUI cases to trial?
• Is the lawyer based in San Rafael, or are they just paying for a mail drop address at 4040 Civic Center Dr.?
• How long has the lawyer been in practice?
• Have you run the lawyer's name with the State Bar of California to check their license status and discipline history?

This informational site is brought to you by the authors of California Drunk Driving Law. Both are active trial lawyers with extensive experience, and both are Board Certified in DUI Defense with A-V ratings.