This is an important topic because when you choose your DUI attorney, you have to have somebody with all the critical skills necessary to get you the result you want, whether that result is a not-guilty verdict or the best resolution in the case.
One of the first crucial factors in choosing a DUI attorney is their local knowledge. They must be familiar with the judge's tendencies in handling DUI cases in Los Angeles, as the judge's influence on the case cannot be overstated. Their understanding of the local legal system can significantly impact the outcome of your case.
Knowing the judge and being local to the courthouse is crucial. Because if you're local to the court, you also know the prosecutors, and the prosecutors are the ones who are going to file the case. They're the ones who will prosecute the case, and they're the ones the person will have to know how to deal with.
Therefore, you must be familiar with the prosecutor, understand their tendencies, and be aware of the chain of command within the prosecutor's office. So, if you're going to try to resolve the case through a negotiated plea, you can do so most effectively.
In other words, you're going to get all the ammunition together—I get character letters and a whole mitigation package related to my client—and then I have to go to the right person. I need to know who to contact and what will make a difference. What to say, who to talk to, and what things will count on getting the result your client wants.
Ability To Win a DUI Case at Trial
More than just negotiating claims, a DUI defense attorney must have the ability to take a case to trial and win. This separates them from the many 'paper tigers' in Los Angeles who lack the skills or confidence to do so. A competent attorney should be able to instill confidence in their clients about their ability to win at trial.
They can't try a case. Do you think it will bother the prosecutors if this person talks crazy and says many different things? Not. Prosecutors aren't going to care. They know the paper tiger will not do anything and will not do what is necessary to try the case, if necessary.
So, suppose you need that ability. In that case, you're going to have a real problem when it comes to getting the deal you want in a criminal case because the prosecutor won't be worried about you trying the case and beating them and embarrassing them.
Client Reviews, Track Record, Likeability
So, your criminal defense attorney has to have the ability to win a case. And the way you figure that out is you talk to them. You go to their face-to-face. You look at them. You look at their client reviews. You look at their track record.
You ask about their prior cases, such as how many DUI cases they've won, what strategies they used, and what challenges they faced, and then you'll get a sense of the type of criminal defense attorney you have and the kind of DUI defense attorney you need to win a case.
The last thing you need to evaluate when choosing a criminal defense attorney, and the best characteristic, is likeability. What I mean by that is, when you meet with him and you talk to him, do you like him? Do they seem like they know what they're doing? This is not just a preference; it's a comfort factor. A likable attorney can make the legal process more bearable and less stressful for you.
Do they seem like somebody the judge, the prosecutor, and a potential jury might respect? Because that's key. If your attorney lacks personality, they are unlikely to be a likable individual in any DUI defense case. You're not going to be in an excellent position to get that not-guilty verdict. You're not going to be in a perfect place to negotiate a case because they're not going to respect and like your attorney.
This is the same thing in anything in life. If you're likable and they respect you, you'll be able to get what you want. That's what you need, and I am all about it. Come and sit down with me face to face. We'll discuss your case and determine the best strategy. You'll see that I have experience handling DUI cases and know how to achieve the results you deserve.
