4 Warning Signs To Watch Out For Before Hiring a DUI Lawyer

• BEFORE you hire a DUI lawyer, you should look out for these 4 warning signs. Let me give you some context.
• It always makes sense to hire a DUI lawyer to fight your Impaired driving charge. 
• However, that doesn’t mean you should hire any DUI lawyer.
• I’ve spoken with many clients who have fired their DUI lawyers.  
• And in most cases, these lawyers should not have been hired in the first place.  
• In this article, I will let you know the 4 things to watch out for so you don’t hire the wrong lawyer.

1/  The Guaranteed Result

• The biggest red flag you will ever hear from a DUI lawyer is when that lawyer gives you a guarantee for a result.
• Guaranteed results are impossible to give. It’s not legal to give a guarantee. It’s not ethical to give a guarantee.
• And the reasons why are obvious.
• Your DUI charge is under the control of the Crown lawyer.  
• And, the ultimate decision-maker in your DUI case is the Judge presiding over your Impaired Driving case.
• Those Crown lawyers and Judges have a job to do and are bound by strict legal rules.  
• Bottom line. The outcome of your case is NOT in the control of the lawyer giving you the guarantee. So it’s impossible to give you a guarantee when you don’t have control.
• A guarantee is a huge red flag, and you should look elsewhere for representation. 

2/  98% Success Rate

• A close second in the red flag territory is a DUI lawyer that gives you a percentage success rate.  
• On the face of it, the logic of quoting a success rate is pretty simple.  
• If a DUI lawyer is successful 98% of the time, then in theory, that lawyer has a 98% chance of success with your DUI case.
• The problem is that the argument doesn’t make sense and is not ethical.
• First, a “success rate” in the context of a criminal charge does not make sense. What is “success”? Is it a case withdrawn? Is it not going to trial? Is it getting a plea agreement?
• And second, and most importantly, the fact that a lawyer has a high success rate does not mean they will be successful in your case.  
• In other words, if the lawyer is, quote-unquote, 98% successful, then you may fall into that 2% failure rate.
• Every situation is different.  For example, the facts in your case, which court you are in, which Crown is handling your case, etc.  
• And the outcome of your case will be dependent on those factors and many more.  
• And that outcome does not correlate with a success number. So if the lawyer you are speaking to gives you a success percentage, that is a red flag.

3/  A really low price

• The legal market for DUI services in Ontario is very competitive.
• You should be speaking to different DUI lawyers to get an understanding of how they can help you.
• And of course, you should be getting different prices.
• While it’s important to get a good price, if one of the quotes you get is so far below the other fees that you’ve been quoted, that’s a red flag
• Fighting a DUI case involves real work.  
• If the price is too low, it may indicate that the lawyer is not investing all of the time and effort needed to get the best result for you. 
• So be careful when you get a super low price.

4/  Hire Me “Today” To Keep The Price

• Finally, a red flag to look out for is if a DUI Lawyer tells you that they will keep the price they quoted you if you pay them “today.
• That is a red flag, and here’s why.
• DUI law firms are businesses.  And all DUI lawyers want to close more clients.
• But, choosing a DUI lawyer is an important decision. It may be one of the most important decisions you’re ever going to make in your lifetime.
• And you don’t want to be pressured into making that important decision.
• A good DUI lawyer will always encourage you to take the time to make the right decision.  
• And if you’re speaking to a lawyer pushing you to send money urgently, that is likely the wrong lawyer for your Impaired Driving case.