If you’ve been charged with a DUI/DWI charge, you need to find DWI help in Springfield fast. One of the most important things you can do in order to have a fighting chance against the charges you’re facing is to hire an experienced DWI attorney. However, with over 28,000 licensed Missouri attorneys it can be hard to narrow your options down to just one attorney. Once of the simplest ways that you can find the right attorney for you, is by scheduling a free consultation for DWI help in Springfield. From here you will want to treat your initial consultation as you would an interview-except you’re the one doing the hiring. At your consultation, it’s inherently important that you ask the “interviewee” questions that matter. Lawyers are accustomed to being asked a multitude of questions, so they may even answer questions before you ask them. To ensure all of the important questions get asked at your consultation, we’ve created a “ Questionnaire” of the questions that are imperative to the success of your trial, along with how to make a final decision when you’re having a hard time choosing between two or more attorneys. Of course, if any questions you have are not on this list make sure to ask those too.
General Background Questions
Think of this as a mini-background check. You’ll want to make sure that your attorney has the education, the experience, and the knowledge to help you win your case, with the following questions:
- When and where did you get your law education?
- When did you graduate?
- Do you belong to any bar associations or organizations?
- How long have you been practicing DWI law in Springfield, MO?
- Do you practice any other type of criminal law?
- How many years of you been in practice?
- How many DWI cases do you take on a year?
- Are you covered by legal malpractice insurance?
- Have you ever been disciplined by the State bar?
DWI Case Experience Questions
Experience matters when it comes to DWI help in Springfield. Not only do you want a DWI attorney who is well-versed in the laws of the state and county, you also want to choose an attorney who has a thorough background in DWI cases like yours. To assist in determining whether or not the Springfield DWI lawyer in question is right for you case, ask these questions:
- Who is your usual client?
- Have you had any experience handling a case/cases similar to mine?
- How common is it for you to enter into plea bargain negotiations?
- How many of your cases end up going to trial?
- Have you ever worked with the prosecutor on my case?
- Have you appeared in the court where my case will be heard? If so, how many times?
DWI Questions Specific To Your Case
Now, obviously this part of the “questionnaire” is somewhat more personal than the previous questions, so you may want to exclude some or add to the following questions in order to get a complete picture of how the attorney in question plans on providing you with DWI help in Springfield.
- Are you able to represent me?
- What are best and worst case scenarios for my case?
- Based off of your knowledge and experience, how do you see my case playing out?
- Looking at my case, what would you say are the strengths and weaknesses?
- What can I expect in terms of process if we enter into a plea bargain, go to trial, etc.
- How will you keep me informed of the case proceedings? Should I expect regular updates?
- If I have a question, what are your response times?
- Will anyone else be working with you on my case?
- Do you have a preferred way to be be contacted?
DWI Legal Fee Questions
We’ve all seen the commercials or the billboard on the side of the freeway telling us how expensive a DWI charge can end up costing you. From loss of your license, fines, increased insurance premiums, DWI counseling, and potential jail time- plus attorney fees. Normally, attorneys accept payment by means of an hourly or a flat rate. These fees don’t always cover all the costs that come with hiring an attorney, so make sure that you understand how the payment works and the total amount you’re expected to pay and when payment is due, by asking:
- Do you bill a flat rate or by the hour?
- What is included in this rate? What is not included?
- Do you have an estimate for any other potential legal fees I may be required to pay?
- What forms of payment do you take?
- Do you offer payment plans?
- When and how do you send bills out?
Choosing Your Attorney
Say you’ve done the rounds of interviewing potential attorneys for DWI help in Springfield, but you’ve run into a problem- there are two DWI attorneys who you could see representing you against the DWI charges. What do you do? According to Attorneys.com,you ask yourself some questions. Questions to help you come to a final decision for DWI help in Missouri include, but are not limited to:
- Of the attorneys I like, whose fees are the most reasonable?
- Which of the attorneys am I the most comfortable with?
- Of the attorneys I interviewed, who am I most confident would help me dismiss the charges against me or win my case.
- Which attorney has the most experience with cases similar to mine? And of those cases how many were in favor of the defendant?
- Which of the attorneys was more helpful and provided the best answers to all of my questions?
In addition to asking yourself these questions, some people who have been charged with a DWI in Springfield will even ask for a list of former clients so that they may ask about their experience with that particular DWI attorney or law firm.
Once you have decided upon the attorney of your choice, it’s time for them to get to work on your case. Your hard work is over, they are hired to assist you in all facets of the court process. Remember, DWI convictions can follow you around for the rest of your life and can even affect the trajectory of your future. Don’t let one mistake ruin your potential.
