If you have had the misfortune of being caught for DUI (Driving Under Influence) or DWI (Driving When Impaired) in Baltimore, understand that these are serious offenses. You have a lot to lose. So, the first thing you need to do is find the right DUI/DWI attorney in Baltimore. Here's how you can do it.
There are different types of lawyers out there. You could find public defenders, discount lawyers, GPs and Expensive DUI lawyers. So, how do you know which lawyers to choose?
Avoid the discount lawyer. You get what you pay for and paying for a cheap lawyer could prove more expensive in the long run. The way discount lawyers make money is simple: they handle a huge number of cases simultaneously, which means that your case is just one in a huge bunch of cases. These lawyers do not bother to analyze each case. Instead, they need to dispose of the cases quickly. Secondly, discount lawyers manage to make profits by maintaining low overhead expenses. So, they may not employ important resources like a secretary. So, how much should you expect to pay a good lawyer? Depends on the area, really, but a reasonable rate would be $1,500 for a first offense and approximately $2,000 for a second offense.
In the same way, a GP (General practitioner) is also best avoided because they handle many different kinds of cases like divorce, wills, probate or real estate. While these lawyers will charge you well, they may not have sufficient specialized knowledge in DUI or DWI cases. Even if such a lawyer has handled a number of DUI/DWI cases, it could be that most of these cases are plea-bargained and not fought. Your aim is to find a DUI/DWI attorney in Baltimore who has the reputation of being a good fighter.
A public defender is better than a General Practitioner and a discount lawyer. However, public defenders may be a harried lot because they have too many cases going on. On the other hand, these lawyers may have the necessary skill and expertise to handle these cases nicely.
Your best bet is to choose a good DUI/DWI attorney from Baltimore. It is important to ensure that the attorney has sufficient DUI/DWI/OWI experience and expertise. Such attorneys generally like to stick with criminal cases and will generally not handle non-litigation cases like real estate and probate.
Good DUI/DWI attorneys in Baltimore generally belong to eminent legal organizations in Baltimore. Look for extra qualifications. Find an attorney who has sufficient experience without being the kind of lawyer who takes up too many cases to make profit.