The Right Lawyer: How to Find Your Advocate

The Right Lawyer: How to Find Your Advocate

With the right DWI lawyer, you have an advocate to help you protect your future. At Martinez Law Firm, we strive to provide our clients with the best possible outcome in every case. Call now to schedule a free consultation. 

How to Choose the Right Lawyer in Houston 

When you face DWI charges in Texas, it is a traumatizing experience. With harsh financial penalties and the prospect of jailtime, you face significant changes to your life. However, the right DWI attorney offers essential representation at a critical moment in your life. 

When you want to choose the right attorney to represent you, it’s important to take a few things into consideration. Below, we discuss a few tips to help you choose a DWI attorney in Texas with the experience, knowledge, and skills to protect your future.

Assess Your Choices

Don’t let the stress and pressure of the situation force you into a bad decision. While it is essential to act quickly after a DWI arrest, it is a very important decision for you to make. 

When you receive a “Notice of Suspension” from the Administrative License Recovation (ALR) Program, you have 15 days to save your driver’s license. That doesn’t sound like much, but it provides you with a bit of time to reach out to attorneys and compare their advice. 

As you speak with different Houston DWI lawyers, focus on the legal advice and strategy they offer for your specific case. Additionally, it’s important to take your time, check reviews of the attorneys, and see who you trust with your case. 

At the Martinez Law Firm, we offer free consultations to potential clients so that they have an opportunity to see what we do as advocates. When you want to find the right DWI lawyer for you, call our team to schedule a meeting. Let us show you how we can pursue the best possible outcome for your case. 

Should You Believe the Hype?

Oftentimes, lawyers claim to be specialists. However, they don’t always have the experience necessary to provide the representation you need. Too often, law firms make bold promises as they advertise. Unfortunately, they don’t always have the skills to offer you an effective legal defense. 

In fact, there are many attorneys who seek to make a living simply by processing cases through the system. Often, this is at the expense of their clients and not in their best interests. 

Generally speaking, a specialist focuses on the quality of your defense rather than the number of clients they represent. Typically, these specialists have their own processes for dealing with cases. With experience comes an understanding of a variety of cases and how to pursue them. 

Evaluating a Specialist

When you work with the right DWI lawyer in Houston, they tend to conduct an independent investigation of your case. As your advocate, your attorney should have the capacity to explain what steps they go through to build your defense. 

Never be afraid to ask questions at your free consultation. If a DWI attorney suggests a strategy without an investigation or a thorough understanding of your case, they might be more interested in their profit rather than your best interests. 

Ideally, the right DWI lawyer has experience building DWI defense cases on a regular basis. In Texas, DWI laws are complex, and the penalties are harsh. As the laws evolve on a continual basis, it’s essential for a strong DWI defense attorney to understand these changes. 

Even a seemingly straightforward case has the potential to overwhelm an inexperienced attorney. As such, it’s essential that you have the best representation possible. 

When you meet at your consultation, ask them for the specifics of how they handle cases and their overall success rate in recent defenses. Additionally, be sure to ask whether they are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. 

Ask the Right Questions

When you face DWI charges, your life and liberty are at stake. Never be shy about asking difficult questions when you meet with a lawyer. Here are a few questions to ask to help you choose the right DWI lawyer for your case. 

What’s your experience with DWI law in Texas?

When it comes to DWI cases in Houston, experience is essential. There are many talented attorneys across Texas, but they don’t all have regular exposure to DWI cases. To find the right DWI lawyer for you, they should deal with DWI law in Texas on a consistent basis.

Do you conduct independent investigations?

As we said earlier, this question helps you understand whether someone is a DWI specialist. If they don’t talk about their processes and procedures for investigations, they might not be the right DWI lawyer for you. 

What are the potential difficulties of my case?

At your consultation, transparency is essential on both sides. Be clear and upfront about the details of your case and bring documents related to your case with you. Oftentimes, DWI cases come down to minor details that impact the integrity of the case. 

After an examination, the right DWI attorney should be able to identify potential challenges in your case. 

Who handles my case? 

Oftentimes, a law firm is busy. In some cases, this means that the attorney you speak to initially might not be the person who handles your case. If this is clear at your consultation, ask who will represent you in court.

It’s important to understand the experience and expertise of the person building your defense. Additionally, you want to make sure they treat you as a person, not a case number. 

Have you or your firm ever experienced disciplinary measures?

This questions seems a bit forward and maybe harsh. However, it’s important to understand the reputation of your attorney as you seek out the right DWI lawyer. Remember, your own reputation is on the line. 

It’s in your best interest to ensure you ask the right questions. Moreover, knowing gives you the peace of mind you need to move forward. 

What are the costs of a case like mine?

The nature of your case dictates the level of time and skill an attorney requires to build an effective defense. That helps to determine your legal fees. 

At your consultation, gain a clear understanding of your case from their legal perspective. Ask how the law firm charges their fees and whether they offer payment plans. 

It’s important to establish clear expectations about fees before you hire a lawyer to represent you. 

Looking for the Right DWI Lawyer? Schedule a FREE Consultation

Choosing the right DWI lawyer is not an easy process. However, we hope these tips help you understand the important information to gather before you make a decision. 

If you want to schedule a free consultation with our legal team, contact us today. We are happy to meet with you to discuss your charges, answer your questions, and help you build  a strong defense.