Two Kinds of Seattle DUI Attorneys - Which One Do You Want?

We all know it works this way, particularly if you've started a law firm. And it applies to attorneys in all areas of practice, but Seattle DUI attorneys in particular. There are those Seattle criminal defense attorneys that are in it strictly for the money. To put it as one lawyer I spoke with put it today - the more cases I get out of, the more money I make. And some are in it for another reason, a primary reason of which is to make sure the client gets a fair shake, and a secondary reason is a love for trial work.

If you've hired a DUI attorney before, and actually tested the waters, then you know what I am talking about. If you haven't selected a Seattle criminal defense lawyer yet, are on the look for one, or are just interested in the process, I'll give you a little bit of advice on finding the right DUI lawyer.

First, pay attention to their demeanor when you meet them for the first time (and you should always meet them at least once before giving them your hard earned money). Are they attentive? Do they make what seem like unrealistic promises because they know it is what you want to hear (by the way, "I'll do my very best for you" is not unrealistic, "I win every DUI case I take and I'll win yours is")? First impression isn't everything, but it's a lot. You don't need a bulldog for your case, you need someone you feel comfortable trusting your time and money with.

Second, what is their reputation like? Look on sites like Avvo.com and scour the internet. Not having great reviews, while certainly less helpful, shouldn't be a deal killer. Some people just don't feel comfortable asking for former clients to give reviews. But negative reviews should raise a red flag. And as far as positive reviews go, don't take for the God's honest truth what is printed on the firm's website. Although it is possible that a client uttered those words, as service professionals we need to market - all you will see on a firm's site is good reviews.

And finally, ask them how many active cases they have. If they have a lot of cases going on at one time, it doesn't mean they are popular. It probably means they are a sign and plea type of a law firm. And every other case a firm has takes away some time for your case. At my firm, for example, we are not the cheapest - not even close. But we only take a limited number of cases and work them as hard as we can to do the best for our clients. Our clients want results, not two phone calls and a plea offer.

So, the next time you are in the market for a Seattle DUI attorney, remember to think about what it is you are looking for from your attorney. To you want to be well represented or do you want to be another case file number?

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