Most lawyers don’t put their legal fees online. The reason they don’t is because usually every case is different and prices can fluctuate between customers. However, you should know where DUI attorney fees in Washington DC start. A DUI attorney’s fee depends primarily on the attorney’s experience and the amount of training the attorney receives in DUI law. Some other reasons fees may fluctuate between attorneys, such as attorney overhead.
Training/Association
When I talk about training, I don’t mean law school. All lawyers have to pass the bar, so I’m not talking about the bar. DUI law is an area of law that requires additional training and admission to the bar outside of law school. Continuing legal education for attorneys is important because laws change and DUI attorneys need to understand those changes. For example, a DUI attorney should be trained or “qualified” in the National Highway Safety Administration’s standardized Field Sobriety Course. This course is typically 25-40 hours of classroom instruction. This is the same level that police would need to take to conduct standardized field sobriety tests on citizens on the street. As another example, DUI attorneys may attend an annual national training held annually in Las Vegas by the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the National DUI Advocate Academy to enhance their knowledge. Here, some of the best DUI attorneys in the country share their knowledge with other DUI attorneys. Generally, the more training your attorney has, the more you will pay.
experience
Experience can only be gained through time. Yes, aging sucks, but with age comes wisdom. Just like it takes a young doctor a few years to gain ground and experience in his field – the same applies to lawyers. It’s hard for lawyers to graduate from law school and start trying DUI cases because of the level of complexity they have. As you know, there are many lawyers in the country. Just because an attorney is licensed to practice in court doesn’t mean he or she has experience handling every type of case. Generally, the more experienced your attorney is, the more you will pay.
office and expenses
This is one area you’ll never hear lawyers talk to clients about. However, the fact is that the client paid the DUI attorney’s overhead. If a lawyer uses technology to shift costs, he or she can get the job done cheaper and faster. For example, a lawyer is supposed to provide documents to his or her client; however, sending them by mail is slower and more costly. Using the Internet and closed portal systems, attorneys can communicate with clients, provide dates, share documents, and communicate with clients more effectively and save money. If your attorney is still using paper documents and mailing documents, he will cost you more money. Times have changed, and DUI attorneys need to be more productive. Another part of a lawyer’s overhead is office space. This is where the fees of 2 equal attorneys differ. If a lawyer has to pay for marble floors and expensive staff, he’s passing the cost on to you. We understand some clients who feel that if he has a nice marble floor and nice paintings on the wall, then he must be a good guy. This isn’t necessarily true. Remember, this is your job income. It goes without saying that the more management fees your attorney pays, the more you will pay for his services.
So How Much Should You Pay For A Good DUI Attorney In DC
As with most urban courts, the docket is crowded, so attorneys spend more time waiting for cases to be called, which is why DUI fees are higher in DC than in rural courts. In the District of Columbia, a DUI case requires at least 2 court appearances. Below are typical fee estimates for DUI attorneys in Washington DC.
1Yingshi offense
DUI attorney fees for first-time offenders in non-jury trials typically range from $2000.00 to $3000.00. If you pay a DUI attorney less than $1000.00, you may get what is known as a “dump truck” attorney. He just begs you every chance he gets. Remember, whether a case goes to trial or not, it is the attorney’s responsibility to investigate, consult and prepare the case. Trials typically take a day or less, but can take place according to the court’s schedule.
2nd crime, 3road cost of breaking the law
In the District of Columbia, the minimum jury fee for a DUI trial is $4000.00 – $6000.00, depending on the facts. A jury trial usually takes one to two days, not including the time waiting for a verdict.
Be wary of any lawyer offering bonds. In fact, there are no guarantees. If you are charged with DUI, the only assurance an attorney should give you is that he is an ardent advocate within the law.
Keep in mind that fees may be higher if using an expert at trial, as the client is usually responsible for all expert fees. This also does not include representatives before the DMV. Representation before the DMV is generally “on hold” until the outcome of the DC Superior Court proceedings. A typical fee for a DMV representative is $300.00 to $500.00.
