Finding an Athens DUI Attorney

Get the Skilled & Reliable Legal Counsel You Deserve

You have been arrested for DUI in Athens, bonded out of jail and have a million questions. Asking Google will help answer some questions, but DUIs have many layers that can be very fact specific. One answer doesn’t always fit all situations. However, a knowledgeable DUI defense lawyer, who asks the right questions, can give you much more precise answers. The question is, how do you find the right lawyer? Here are some tips from our Athens DUI defense lawyer who has interacted with both skilled and unskilled attorneys, and knows how to determine what professional will have a better shot at winning a case.

If you would like to enlist the services of our firm, or schedule a free case evaluation, call (706) 705-5122.

Do Not Hire the First Attorney You Speak With

You just got out of jail, you’ve had a horrible experience and you are vulnerable. Sometimes a underqualified attorney is a great salesperson. They may try to convince you that you must hire right away or lose some opportunity. Generally, you have at least enough time to explore your options.

You do only have 10-business days to appeal a license suspension, but that is still two weeks away. If you get nervous about the letter, call the Law Offices of J. Lee Webb, and our lead attorney will help you do the letter for free. With that problem solved, there should be no rush to sign up.

Ask Friends & Family for a Referral

Approaching an attorney with some idea of what to expect can be very helpful. However, just because the lawyer was referred to you, does not mean they are right for you. Meet with them, ask questions and see if they are knowledgeable about DUI or whatever other crime you have been charged with. Get their fee structure, but do not agree to hire until you have done more research

Speak with at Least 2 Attorneys

Meeting with more is fine, but not so many that they begin to run together. Whether all 3 are referrals, people you found on the Internet or a combination, get a feel for each one:

• How do their offices work? How easy are they to get in touch with after you give them your money? Our lead attorney, for example, provides a personal cell number to clients and an email address to interested potential clients. Other responsive attorneys do not always give out cell numbers, but do have systems in place to quickly respond to clients. You should not have to chase your lawyer for an update.
• What are their fees? Compare the numbers, but don’t decide based solely on price. Many sales focused attorneys charge high fees, but do very little. Some lawyers who charge a high fee are worth every penny, but not always. Hopefully, your research will help you get a feel for the kind of quality work different lawyers offer.
• Who will be handling your case? Don’t meet and hire one lawyer and then have another lawyer in their firm, or an “of counsel” lawyer show-up to handle your hearing. Having multiple lawyers involved who handle different aspects of the case is not necessarily a bad thing, but you should know up front how they operate.

How do they get paid?

Many lawyers want the full retainer up front. Our attorney cautions against this unless they were strongly referred to you or have a good reason for the requirement. Our firm offers different payment options depending on the court and the case. Payment is discussed early on with each individual client. One payment method does not fit all clients. It is important that the fee agreement works for both the client and the lawyer.

Background Checks

Reviews can be a useful research tool, but be skeptical. They are easy to fake, and hard to obtain. No criminal lawyer has won every case, so 300 glowing reviews may be too good to be true. There are ranking sites to check like AVVO. Simply go to the site and type in the lawyer’s name.

Final Words

It is okay to go with your gut. If you like the lawyer, and feel comfortable, hire them. If you are in need of an Athens criminal defense attorney, we encourage you to take these steps when researching our firm. Meet with us during a free case evaluation and get a feel for how our firm can help you.

Call the Law Offices of J. Lee Webb today at (706) 705-5122 to schedule your free case consultation.