What to ask when finding the best DWI Lawyer for your case:
- How much DWI experience does the lawyer have?
- What part of their practice is devoted to defending DWI cases?
- How many DWI cases have they handled?
- How many of their cases plead guilty?
- Are they affiliated with the National College for DUI Defense?
- Do they own a copy of "Texas Drunk Driving Law" and "Drinking/Driving Litigation Criminal and Civil" textbooks?
- Do they receive the "DWI Journal" and "The Drinking/Driving Law Letter?"
- Are they familiar with the Breath Test machine used in Texas?
- Does your lawyer own a copy of the Texas Breath Alcohol Testing Regulations? Can your lawyer tell you a list of the breath machines shortcomings off the top of his or her head?
- Are they skilled in the proper administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests?
- Will they handle my license suspension case in addition to the DWI charge?
- Is there a proper way to handle the hearing on the suspension of my license?
- What will a good DWI defense lawyer cost?
How much DWI experience does the lawyer have?
DWI litigation is one of the most complex areas of criminal law. Developing DWI expertise requires extensive knowledge of the law and procedure surrounding DWI litigation. Further, there is no substitute for DWI trial experience. We have tried hundreds of DWI cases at an extremely high rate of success. Any lawyer can accept a fee and subsequently plead a case, but a true DWI defense lawyer will have a proven record of winning.
What part of their practice is devoted to defending DWI cases?
DWI laws and techniques in defending DWIs are constantly changing. What worked yesterday may not be the best approach today. It is important to find a lawyer who stays on top of current laws, trends, and what occurs in Courts everyday. Does your lawyer get continuing legal education (CLE) hours at general seminars or does he or she concentrate his or her CLE on DWI-specific seminars? The better DWI lawyers get their CLE credits at DWI-specific seminars and will be a member of the National College of DUI Defense.
How many DWI cases have they handled?
Experience counts, especially trial experience! There is no a set number of cases or trials to say a lawyer is qualified to defend you. However, a lawyer who does not concentrate a majority of his or her practice to DWI defense, instead handling the occasional DWI, is unlikely to have the necessary experience to successfully defend you.
How many of their cases plead guilty?
Far too many lawyers plead their clients guilty without conducting any real investigation without litigating any pre-trial issues. In our cases, pleading guilty is the last resort rather than a first option and never takes place until a complete and thorough investigation and review of all the evidence has occurred.
Additionally, prosecutors do not respect lawyers who plead their clients guilty without any investigation, but they sure do like them. Those lawyers make the prosecutor's job much easier. Prosecutors often do not negotiate plea bargains with them because the lawyers tend to take the first offer. It is important that the prosecutors know that the lawyer representing you will fight for you and that he or she has a reputation for winning in trial. We have had many cases dismissed on the day of trial when the jury is outside the courtroom and one of us is at counsel table reviewing the jury list ready to go to trial.
Are they affiliated with the National College for DUI Defense?
The National College for DUI Defense is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the dissemination of information on drunk driving litigation and to improving the quality of DWI defense lawyers. Its mission is to provide the best advanced legal training to the DWI defense lawyer, thus ensuring greater success in defending people against the sanctions of a DWI conviction. You will find the best DWI lawyers are active members.
Do they own a copy of Texas Drunk Driving Law and Drinking/Driving Litigation Criminal and Civil textbooks
These textbooks are designed to educate the lawyers on changes in DWI laws and to assist them in increasing their trial skills and techniques. Many lawyers consider these two books to be essential resources for DWI defense and agree that an attorney cannot do a competent job of defending people accused of DWI without them. A lawyer who is serious about winning your DWI case should have copies of both.
Do they receive the "DWI Journal" and "The Drinking/Driving Law Letter?"
These publications are also designed to educate lawyers on changes in DWI laws and give in-depth analyses of important rulings on DWI cases from across the nation. Many valuable hints and strategies are obtained from keeping up to date with these publications.
Are they familiar with the Breath Test machine used in Texas?
To the average defense lawyer, a Breath Test above the legal limit means "plead guilty" from the beginning, even though they will not tell you this until after the fee has been paid. A true DWI defense attorney believes that a failed Breath Test in no way means you are, or will be found, guilty.
Especially in a case involving a failed Breath Test, the lawyer's understanding of how the Breath Test machine works, the philosophy behind Breath Testing, and how alcohol is absorbed and eliminated from the body is often the difference between a Guilty and Not Guilty verdict. If you are serious about being found Not Guilty, your lawyer must be very knowledgeable about alcohol, the human body and the effect on Breath Testing.
Does your lawyer own a copy of the Texas Breath Alcohol Testing Regulations? Can your lawyer tell you a list of the breath machines shortcomings off the top of his or her head?
If the lawyer cannot answer these two questions positively, you may want to look elsewhere.
Are they skilled in the proper administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests?
Most DWI prosecutions involve results of "Field Sobriety Tests," some of which have been the subject of scientific studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, pronounced as "Nitsa") and police agencies who knew their work was being scrutinized. NHTSA has admitted that these tests, in order to be reliable, must be administered in the "prescribed standardized manner," each and every time they are administered. Any deviation from the prescribed standardized manner affects the test’s accuracy and reliability.
It is essential that your lawyer know which Field Sobriety Tests have been approved by NHTSA and how to determine if any deviation occurred when the tests were administered to you.
Also, your lawyer should have a copy of the police officer's student training manual for Field Sobriety Testing. If he or she does not have one, you may want to look elsewhere. If he or she does, does it look brand new or used? That will tell you a lot.
Will they handle my license suspension case in addition to the DWI charge?
When you are arrested for DWI, you actually have two different cases pending against you. One is the DWI and the other is the hearing on the suspension of your driver’s license (Administrative License Revocation hearing, commonly referred to as the "ALR" hearing). Many lawyers who do not aggressively defend DWIs do not conduct ALR hearings. If the lawyer does not personally handle both, you may want to look for a different lawyer.
Is there a proper way to handle the hearing on the suspension of my license?
Many lawyers take the easy approach and will either not have a hearing on the suspension of the license or will conduct the ALR over the phone by conference call with the prosecutor and judge. When possible, the proper and most effective manner when handling these hearings is in person, in the courtroom, and only after subpoenaing the arresting officer. This takes more time, but the lawyer gets to look the officer in the eye, determine if he or she would be a strong or weak witness for the prosecution in your DWI case, and get sworn testimony about the facts and circumstances surrounding your arrest. This is where your real defense begins.
What will a good DWI defense lawyer cost?
This is a very difficult question because every case is different. In general, the lower the fee, the less experience the lawyer has, thus increasing your chances of being convinced to plead guilty. Some lawyers offer low fees and poor service while other lawyers offer skill, experience, and a proven track record of winning. You usually do not find both in the same lawyer.
It's been said many times that; "Good lawyers aren't cheap, and cheap lawyers aren't good!" Often times a "cheaper" lawyer ends up being more expensive! The lower the fee, the more affordable they are to the public in general, and the greater the likelihood they will have more clients than can be handled effectively. This means they will have less time to represent you, and your chances of being convicted go up. Convictions are expensive.
Be sure you have a clear understanding of the fee the lawyer will charge, as well as what the financial penalties are for pleading guilty. Your financial obligation to the lawyer should also be in writing.