Even though having a California DUI attorney is very helpful and the most certain way for you to see a good (or not so bad) outcome for your DUI case, there are some cases which, while still recommendable, you may be able to squeeze into a good solution on your own with a lot of hard work. However, if your problem is price, remember that there are many experienced DUI lawyers which have low rates or who will work with you on a payment plan.

If you meet one of the following criteria, you probably need a California DUI attorney.

• This is your second case for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Because you’ve already gotten in trouble for this before, you are less likely to be given any slack and will have to fight very hard.
• You were exceptionally intoxicated at the time of your test. If your blood alcohol limit was twice the limit which is legal to drive in the state of California, then your consequences are heavier.
• While you were driving drunk, there was a minor in the car with you.

Even so, sometimes you just can’t get a lawyer, and that’s understandable. While in some cases this spells very bad news for you, in other cases it does not mean that all is lost. If your offense is pretty small time in terms of DUI charges, then you may have a very good chance of winning if you represent yourself. Still, anyone considering going it alone should consult with a lawyer first. Consultations are usually free.

You may be able to go without a California DWI attorney if you meet at least one of the following criteria.

• You find the California DUI laws complicated and need help understanding them and how they apply to your case.
• This is your first DUI offense.
• You need help understanding what consequences you may suffer if found guilty of driving under the influence.
• Your job requires bonding.
• You are working on a degree for a job or a professional license which you will not be able to get if there is a criminal conviction on your permanent record.

If you’ve already decided that you do need a Los Angeles CA DUI lawyer, then it’s time to start looking. You can flip open a copy of the yellow pages and find some names there, or you can call the California Bar and ask for recommendations for a low cost Los Angeles CA DUI lawyer, or if you have friends who have experience going to court for DUI, then you can ask them as well.

It’s important that you have a consultation with your lawyer, but before you go to that consultation you should get some kind of an idea of what’s going to go on there. Log in to your internet connection or stop by the library and breeze through some explanations of California DUI law so that you won’t be completely lost when talking to the lawyer and so that you’ll know the right questions to ask.

Remember that the single most important thing for you to do is to find a lawyer who has experience. Just any kind of experience doesn’t cut it, though, and for the very best representation you’re going to need someone who has expereince with DUI law. At least 50% of their cases should be DUIs.

You can’t walk into the office of your Los Angeles CA DUI attorney with no information, or your consultation will turn out very unproductive. Instead, you’ll need to bring some info, especially about what kind of evidence your DUI case is based on. The kind of evidence will have a big effect on your ability to fight your case.

Evidence for DUI varies, and one of the most common forms this evidence comes in is that of symptoms of drunkenness. This may be that you were driving erratically in some way or another, or that when you spoke to the police officer you slurred your words and had eyes that were bloodshot.

If you’re pulled over for a DUI, then you’re probably going to be given a test. Even people without slurred speech may fail when asked to walk in a straight line, and either way you’ll end up having your breath or your blood itself tested. If they find you were over the legal limit, your case will be harder for you and your Los Angeles CA DUI attorney.

Along with that, you may have gotten yourself into some trouble as well. If you weren’t in the right state of mind, you may have admitted that you were drunk, which will turn out badly for you.

The cost of DUI in California is enough to give you a heart attack. After you have forked over the money for your bail, your attorney fees, your car insurance premiums, your fines, your fees for reinstating your license, your court charges; after you have possibly lost your job or in any case lost a certain amount of time at work while you were in court or in jail; the cost comes out to around $20,000 for the typical person. Of course, this can be higher or lower depending on the severity of your case, your sentence, your job, and so on.

One of the things about the cost of DUI in California which you can control is the insurance and the attorney. The most important thing to do if you want to save money on these is for you to shop around. Ask several CA attorneys for quotes on their services and compare them, while comparing the quality of the attorney as well.

You can compare rates for DUI car insurance as well, and you can also drive less, get discounts, cut coverage, raise your deductibles, among many other things you can do to save some money.