Reader’s Question:

My brother was charged with DUI here in Chula Vista, California. He fully understands that he needs to seek help from a lawyer. Can we get a general practitioner or does it have to be a DUI specialist? How can we choose the best lawyer who would represent my brother in court?

Laura

Chula Vista, CA

Not all California DUI defense lawyers are the same. Some might be able to defend your brother and tilt law to his favor. Others might just drain your brother’s resources and might not be able to keep him from going to jail. His life and his future will depend entirely on how well he is represented, so your brother would have to choose his lawyer carefully.

You have to remember that DUI laws require a special attention because DUI defense is an extremely complex and specialized field. It will not be a good idea to hire a ‘generalist’ lawyer because it would be like hiring a dental hygienist to perform oral surgery. See if a big percentage of the lawyer’s cases are DUI related or if he/she is a specialist in DUI. This is the only way for your brother to determine that he is dealing with a professional.

You can also check the attorney’s rank through the Martindale-Hubbell International Directory of Attorneys and you must also check the California DUI lawyer’s general background. You must certainly give more credit to DUI lawyers who are Board-certified members of the National College for DUI Defense because this reaffirms their expertise in the DUI field.

Tags: DUI, DUI lawyer