I previously blogged about what takes place at a free initial consultation with a DUI Attorney as well as the types of questions to ask when interviewing a DUI Attorney. The post deals with what qualities to look for during this initial consultation. In my opinion there are several to consider and look for during this meeting. However the bottom line is whomever you decide to hire you need to feel comfortable with. After all hiring a DUI Attorney is not only a necessity but it is an important investment in your life, especially considering the dire consequences DUI’s carry in Washington State.
Professionalism: You want a DUI Attorney who is a professional. To me that is more than someone who simply wears a suit and has an office in downtown Seattle. It is someone who is going to shake your hand and look you in the eye. It is someone who takes the time to listen to you and takes notes on your case. It is someone who does DUI Defense for a living and has all the credentials and respect from fellow defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges. It is someone who takes their job seriously.
Honesty: You want a DUI Attorney who is honest. The other day I met with a prospective client. This person told me they had spoken with a different DUI Attorney and that person told them how they were getting to get win the DOL hearing, get this piece of evidence thrown, get that piece of evidence thrown out, etc. Frankly if an Attorney tells you they are going to win your DOL hearing or get your breath test thrown out with looking at the police report, interviewing the police officer, review all the discovery then they are lying to you. Unfortunately this is a dirty business. There are lots and lots of DUI Attorneys in the Seattle area. Sometimes certain Attorneys resort to this in order to convince a client to sign with them. I don’t agree with it, especially if the Attorney can’t live up to the promise, but to each their own.
Confidence: You want a DUI Attorney who is confident in their abilities. Now this can border between what I described above, and sounding confidently when describing the game plan that will be executed during the course of a DUI case. There is nothing wrong with a confident DUI Attorney, especially if they know what they are doing. But to flat out promise things that is not confidence but deception. There is a difference.
Those are just three personal qualities I think are important for a DUI Attorney to have. Obviously they need to have the experience, the result history, and the knowledge to get the best outcome possible for the client. But the bottom line is this. When meeting with a DUI Attorney if you don’t immediately feel comfortable speaking with them then move on. That is the most important connection to have. After all a DUI case is no joke. There are some serious consequences nowadays, especially with DUI cases in Seattle.
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About the author: Matthew Leyba is a DUI Lawyer in Seattle. He has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best DUI Attorneys in Seattle by the Seattle Met Magazine. He is also rated a perfect 10 out of 10 by Avvo.com, a lawyer rating service.