Hiring a Jacksonville DUI lawyer can require a lot of homework on your part. Failing to ask all of the necessary questions of your Jacksonville DUI lawyer can result in you being quite surprised with the end result in your case. Putting in the work that is necessary to ensure you have a lawyer that will properly represent you can help you be sure you get a fair shot in terms of the result of your case. The consultation with your lawyer is your chance to ask the necessary questions to see if this lawyer is right for you.
What Experience do You Have With Cases Like This
This is one of the most important questions to ask any potential Jacksonville DUI lawyer you are thinking about hiring. You are going to want to know if they have ever handled a case similar to yours. If they have, ask them what the end result was and see if you are comfortable with that result. The reality is that there are many DUI cases that can be comparable in terms of their case facts and what is being sought by both the prosecution and the defense. Ensuring that your Jacksonville DUI lawyer has the necessary experience to push your case in the direction you want is a good start.
Knowledge of the Applicable State Laws
Ask them about their knowledge in handling DUI cases in your particular state. If you are in the state of Florida, you want a Jacksonville DUI lawyer who is very familiar with the DUI laws in that state. The same can be said if you are facing DUI charges in Georgia, Alabama, and so on. The reality is that every single state has different DUI laws. Working to be sure that they have the necessary knowledge in that state will ensure that they are ready to represent you with a good sound knowledge base.
What do They Expect as an Outcome
The outcome in any DUI case is going to be largely dependent on what your Jacksonville DUI lawyer wants for an outcome. If they believe you are guilty and want to get a reduced sentence, that is likely what is going to happen if you have a good lawyer. What if you believe that you are truly not guilty? You want to be on the same page as your Jacksonville DUI lawyer so that you can both be working towards the same outcome. If they are going on the basis that you are guilty and need a reduced sentence, and you believe you are not guilty, that is not a good launching point.
A Jacksonville DUI lawyer should be able to answer all of these questions for you and more during meetings with them. Talk about what they think they can do for you in your case. Talking about prior similar cases and their knowledge of all the applicable state laws is also going to help you get the end result in your case that you want.