What Questions Should I Ask when hiring a DUI Defense Attorney in Phoenix, AZ?
by
Aaron Black • December 26, 2019
Many driving under the influence defense attorneys in Phoenix, AZ, including myself, provide a free, no-obligation consultation to assess a prospective client’s situation with the strict DUI laws in Arizona.Asking key questions during the consultation will help to ensure you have the right legal representation to achieve the best possible result. Your freedom and finances depend on making a good choice. And it’s okay to interview more than one DUI defense attorney before making your choice.
How do I find an Attorney in Phoenix, AZ?
Attorney referrals can come from family and friends, and if that isn’t working you can research DUI Lawyers-Online such as the following. These sites can offer insight to their experience and legal capabilities.
Legal Consultations
Consultations can be in person or during a confidential telephone call depending upon the circumstances involved. This is a crucial meeting so it’s best to prepare a list of questions beforehand to ensure you don’t forget to ask something.Be sure to have any paperwork related to your case handy for review to help the attorney so that they have good information to start the legal assessment and what your options are.
During and after your consultation ask yourself the following questions.
- Do I like this person?
- Do I trust this person?
- Am I comfortable talking to this person?
- Are there any red flags?
What Questions Should I ask when hiring an Attorney?
The questions you ask will serve to give you a sense of the attorney’s experience in DUI cases.- What law school did the lawyer attend?
- Why did the lawyer choose to concentrate on practicing DUI defense law?
- Does the lawyer practice in other areas of criminal law?
- Ask how long the lawyer has been defending DUI cases in Arizona and what’s the attorney’s win, dismiss, loss record is in cases similar to yours.
- Is the defense attorney a former prosecutor or a public defender?
- If your case has been assigned to a specific prosecutor ask if the defense attorney is familiar with that particular prosecutor.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Attorney?
Don’t hesitate to ask about the attorney’s fees. Less experienced defense attorneys may charge less than more seasoned lawyers.- Ask how much the attorney will charge to handle your case start to finish
- Do you charge a flat fee or by the hour?
- What are the billing options, such as an initial fee to begin the case followed by regular payments and how often are payments required?
- How much extra will it cost for hiring an expert witness to refute the state’s evidence, for re-testing blood and other expenses that may come into play?
- Will you use a paralegal or a legal assistant in my case and if so what is the going rate for this assistance?
- Discuss with the attorney what their DUI defense strategy would be in regards to your particular case
Communicating with your Attorney
Staying in close communication with your DUI Defense Attorney in Phoenix is important to your case as it moves through Arizona’s criminal court procedures. The attorney, or yourself, may need to connect at various important times such as court dates.Ask how the attorney you’re interviewing stays in contact with clients. Will you be talking to the attorney directly or will a paralegal or someone else be handling most communications?
Potential Outcomes for a DUI Case
That question is top of mind to every criminal defendant and the answer depends on how well the defense can challenge the state’s evidence.Each case has a unique set of facts and circumstances that impact the result of the case. There are many variables, such as selecting jurors, a crucial step in going to trial.
If you’re facing a strong case, the defense, with the defendant’s permission, may enter into negotiations to reduce the seriousness of the charge in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser offense with reduced penalties.
For example, a first-time DUI defendant in certain situations may be able to plead guilty to a “wet reckless” charge, meaning some amount of alcohol was involved. This charge has more lenient penalties and fines than a DUI, and a DUI won’t be on your record.
Free, Legal Consultation
If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, I encourage you to learn about your legal rights and prospects.Contact Phoenix, AZ DUI Defense Attorney Aaron Black for a free, legal consultation or call (480) 729-1683. I believe that good people sometimes can find themselves in bad situations. My line is open 24 hours a day including weekends and holidays.
I’ll respond promptly unless I’m in court. I defend criminal charges filed in Arizona’s justice, municipal, state, and federal courts.
About the Author
Aaron Black is the founder and sole attorney of the Law Office of Aaron Black. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, his DUI and criminal defense law firm provides legal services to people who have received felony or misdemeanor charges from the state.
Aaron has developed a strong interest in defending people who have been arrested and received criminal charges for driving under the influence. With his professionalism and knowledge of Arizona DUI and criminal law, he has acted as a check and balance on the police, prosecution and courts and has protected a great number of his clients from excessive and unfair sentencing.Along with DUI defense, Aaron handles a range of other criminal matters, including aggravated assault, burglary, domestic violence, drug possession, drug trafficking, fraud defense, insurance fraud, sex crimes and white-collar crime.
After graduating college in 2003 from the University of Arizona, Aaron decided to pursue a law degree. He followed a family long tradition and went to the University of South Dakota School of Law where he pursued his goal of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.
After passing the Arizona and South Dakota bar exams, Aaron joined the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender where he defended hundreds of people charged with serious criminal offenses. His work as a public defender helped him sharpen his litigation skills and gave him a unique insight into the Arizona criminal justice system.
Over the course of his 15-year legal career, Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time in both Arizona justice, municipal, state and federal courts. He has argued over 50 jury trials, tried over 100 bench trials and has become one of the highest-rated criminal and DUI defense attorneys in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. He has received a 10/10 rating from the legal directory Avvo because of his legal background and successful case record. Since 2014, he has received the Super Lawyer rating for his work as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
You can review Aaron’s Attorney Bio page for more information about his background, education and experience as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
