You picture this: After leaving a dinner party, the beer goggles has yet to leave your eyes-at least that’s how it seems. Suddenly, red and blue lights flash in the mirror. Don’t worry, your assumption was correct – it was a DUI. Now you need to find a lawyer to represent you. Sir? What a situation! I liken the search for a Tampa DUI Lawyers as trying to find needle in haystack. But don’t worry. I’m here to help.
The first move, then, should begin with some referrals. You might be surprised-and I certainly was! Your cousin Johnny or old college buddy, these are things that may offer clues. It’s not so gauche to ask around. Believe me, more people have had to walk this road than you’d think. Word of mouth is a gold mine.
Now it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty. You need someone who has Florida’s DUI laws basically as their knuckles. You wouldn’t want to hire a Sunday car mechanic. Lawyers who practice here and there may not be the best choice, either. You need a person whose face lights up when they learn there’s a chance they might be able to represent felony DUI cases in court. It sounds strange, but it’s true.
Experience matters, my friend. Just think back to your grandmother’s lasagna. No one would dream of fighting her place in the culinary ‘Championship Games’ with someone who has cooked it once. Law is no different. Look deeply into their background. Look into their performance records. Google is your ally in this, but do this with some discretion. Reviews can range quickly from glowing wow to No Way!
As far as costs of legal representation, discuss the budget up front. You don’t want to end up with a bill that leaves your mind spinning more than the Tilt-A-Whirl at the county fair. Transparency is key. Some law firms will even put forth an installment plan. There’s nothing wrong with asking about that.
Personalities mesh differently. You need someone who you can talk with as easy as if it were sharing coffee on a lazy Sunday morning. Your attorney ought to be approachable rather than hard as nails which you can’t get through. However, you’re giving them quite an assignment.
The legalities tell their part of the story, but the emotional rollercoaster? That’s a tale yet again. A decent lawyer will ride that wave with you, giving you confidence as you ride through, though not during those bumpy parts.
