3 Tips For Choosing The Best Houston DWI Attorney

Have you recently been charged with a DWI in Houston, Texas? This is an unfortunate event that can severely impact y our finances, and your future employment, and may even lead to jail time. It’s in your best interest to find the best Houston DWI attorney to assist you with your court case. Here are three tips that will help you choose the right lawyer for the job.

1. Know What Your Options Are.

There’s nothing fun about being charged with a DUI. It’s only natural to want to get the process over with as quickly as possible. Even so, you need to stop and take the time to consider all of your possible options. The last thing that you want to do is rush into a poor decision.

At some point, the Administrative License Revocation Program (ALR Program) will send you a letter with a suspension notice for your license. You will then have a total of 15 days to assess your options and choose a course of action. It’s a good idea to use this time wisely and learn as much as possible about your options.

You should use that time to contact local attorneys in the Houston area. Discuss the case with several different attorneys, listen to their advice, and compare what they have to say. Your goal should be to have the best possible legal defense by the end of those 15 days. That may require requesting referrals, reading online reviews, and creating a list of possible attorneys.

2. Don’t Fall For Marketing Hype.

Businesses need marketing to succeed. Unfortunately, many take it too far and advertise bold claims that they know aren’t exactly true. This is true for many different markets, including DWI and DUI lawyers. Many will claim that they are DWI specialists with all of the experience and training needed to win your case.

In reality, those lawyers may not have the skills needed to defend you at all. Some of them make money simply by moving clients through the system regardless of the outcome of the case. Such lawyers certainly don’t care for your interests.

Does that mean there are no true DWI/DUI specialists in Houston? Absolutely not. As you spend your time speaking with various attorneys you will come to find those who really are specialists in the field of DWI/DUI law. Those are the lawyers you want to add to your list for further consideration. But how can you tell the difference between the two?

A good indication of a true specialist is when the lawyer mounts their own investigation into the case. This is something that a DWI specialist who cares about your defense will always do. On the other hand, if they are just a law firm with a savvy marketing team, then they likely won’t spend money investigating the case. You should ask them if they plan to investigate the case and use that information to determine their true intention.

There are other factors to look for as well. For example, a true DWI/DUI specialist will handle primarily cases that relate to their specialization and do so on a consistent basis. Having handled a few similar cases in the past doesn’t make a lawyer an expert or a specialist. Such lawyers can easily become overwhelmed by the complexity and constantly changing nature of DWI law.

Gauge the experience of the lawyer by asking them about their experience with cases similar to yours. How many similar cases have they handled in the last 12 months? What is their overall success rate for DWI cases? And find out if they are certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The best Houston DWI attorney will have a lot of experience, a high success rate, and the needed certification.

This brings up the third tip, which is all about asking questions.

3. Get Answers To The Important Questions.

You need to get answers to important questions before signing any deals with a lawyer. Your future is at stake so don’t feel at all shy about asking a stream of questions. Here are a few that you should consider asking any potential lawyer.

Do you have experience handling these types of cases in Texas?

It’s always a good idea to work with an experienced attorney. And that doesn’t just mean an attorney with experience in general. This is a DWI case, which means you want a lawyer who has experience with other DWI cases. They should handle similar cases every month.

Are you going to conduct an investigation?

This question was briefly touched on earlier, but it’s important enough for a second reminder. A DWI specialist with your interest at heart will definitely launch their own private investigation into the case. If they don’t, then they are likely more worried about their profit margin than your legal defense.

Do you foresee any difficulties with the case?

DWI law is extremely complex and is often changing. You need to do your best to work with the attorney and provide any documents they need. If they foresee any potential difficulties, then try to work with them to find potential solutions. You don’t want to find yourself working against your attorney while they are trying to protect you.

Are you going to handle the case yourself?

It’s not uncommon for large law firms to use different lawyers than the one whom you actually spoke to. While this isn’t always a bad thing itself, it’s important that you know this beforehand. You will want to find out about the attorney who will actually handle your case and their expertise. The same rules apply to that attorney as would any other attorney you interview.

Getting The Help You Deserve.

While it’s certainly easier than defending yourself in court, choosing the best Houston DWI attorney is still a difficult task. Use the three tips and additional questions above to make the process as easy as possible. Contact our office today to speak with a local DWI lawyer about your case.