- How do you avoid DUI lawyers that are frauds?
- Or are not competent to handle your DUI case?
- That’s what I’m going to cover in this article.
- Unfortunately, in Ontario, there are DUI lawyers who are not who they say they are.
- At best, they are not competent to handle your DUI case.
- At worse, they are frauds.
- Here are 3 tips on how to avoid hiring a DUI lawyer that is a fraud or is incompetent.
Tip #1 – Check to see if they are a real lawyer
- The legal profession in Ontario is governed by very strict laws.
- Only lawyers licensed by the Law Society of Ontario can practice law. There are no exceptions.
- To help the public avoid lawyer fraud, the Law Society of Ontario has an easy search function where you can search for a lawyer.
- There are 3 Important things to look for in the search results;
- One – that the lawyer is in the Law Society of Ontario database;
- Two – that the class of license is listed as a lawyer;
- And three, there are no practice restrictions or regulatory proceedings against that lawyer.
Tip #2 – Paralegals cannot practice DUI law
- The Law Society of Ontario has two different license types – Lawyers and Paralegals.
- Lawyers can practice any type of law in Ontario, but that’s not the case with Paralegals.
- Paralegals are only allowed to practice in very limited areas of the law.
- In the context of criminal charges, Paralegals are NOT allowed to practice any type of DUI law.
- So charges such as Impaired Driving by Alcohol or Drug, Over 80, and Refusal to Take a Breathalyzer are charges that cannot be handled by a Paralegal, even if they are licensed.
- To avoid being defrauded by a Paralegal, check the Law Society of Ontario database to find out whether the legal professional is licensed as a Lawyer and not a Paralegal.
Tip #3 – Check Google Reviews to confirm competency
- So once you have confirmed that the person is a valid lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario and has a valid Lawyer licensee designation, you should check whether the lawyer is good at fighting DUI cases.
- The best way to do that is to check their Google reviews.
- Google reviews are critical to finding a great DUI lawyer.
- Make sure the DUI lawyer has at least 50 reviews. While there is no definitive rule on the minimum number of reviews, the more reviews there are, the better position you will be in to see a pattern of how the lawyer handles DUI cases.
- Make sure you read every review.
- It’s okay if the lawyer doesn’t have a perfect 5-star rating. But read those less than 5-star ratings. If you like the lawyer but are concerned about a specific rating, bring that up with the lawyer before hiring them. Try to understand what happened so you can make an informed decision.
- To learn more about how to find a great DUI lawyer using Google reviews, I created a helpful video on this topic. You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/mgqGfovjbyE
How can I avoid falling for a DUI lawyer fraud?
To avoid falling for a DUI lawyer fraud, it's important to thoroughly research any potential lawyers you're considering working with. Check their credentials, such as their license and qualifications, and read online reviews from past clients. You can also ask for referrals from friends or family members who have had experience with DUI lawyers. Finally, be wary of any lawyer who makes unrealistic promises or asks for payment upfront before any work has been done.
What are some warning signs of a DUI lawyer fraud?
Some warning signs of a DUI lawyer fraud include: making unrealistic promises, such as guaranteeing a certain outcome in your case; asking for payment upfront before any work has been done; having a poor online reputation or numerous negative reviews; and failing to provide detailed information about their qualifications or credentials. If you come across any of these red flags, it's best to find a different lawyer to work with.
