According to the National Highway and Transport Authority (NHTSA), for instance, more than 1.28 million drivers were arrested and charge for driving under the influence of alcohol, which is commonly known as DUI.

Now, in case you're charged for DUI, you'll need an attorney.  While it's possible to go with a government-appointed lawyer, it's wiser to hire an attorney on your own.

See, hiring a professional attorney at MissoulaDUIAttorney.net will afford you plenty of benefits, including behind-the-scenes knowledge of the court system, expert counseling, professional representation, protection of legal rights, and more.

That said, finding a DUI attorney that fits your bill and one that is going to protect your interest is challenging.

Fortunately, we've outlined all the procedures you need to follow when finding a good DUI attorney.

1. List all the Potential Attorneys

You must conduct the due diligence and research on the available options before committing yourself to an attorney.

Here, you'll first need to outline and make a list of all the potential attorneys that you might consider.

A good place to start is by asking or personal recommendations or referrals from friends, neighbors, and relatives.

A trusted colleague, who has previously used the attorney's service, is an incredible way to learn more about an attorney, their process, performance, and even probable outcome.

1. Determining the Qualifications

Once you've performed the preliminary findings on the potential attorneys, the next step is to consider their qualifications and determine whether they're best suited for your case.

Here, you'll want to find your attorney's educational background, experience, specialization, and more.

Let's highlight some of the aspects that you should be concerned with at this stage;

Licensing

First things first, always ensure that your potential attorney is licensed as only a licensed attorney can represent you in court.

Hire Local Attorneys

While it's possible to hire a co-counsel to represent you locally, it's recommendable that you choose a local attorney, because they're more likely to be familiar with the court systems in your states.

It's to your benefit if the judge knows more about your attorney's reputation as it can translate to less harsh sentencing or even dismissal of your case.

Ethical Record

The ethical record is essential, and you should check whether any disciplinary action has been taken against them by the state.

Ideally, you should always ensure that your attorney has a good standing with the state bar where you're going to battle your freedom.

Experience

Technically, it's possible to hire anyone with a license to practice law, but the odds will be favored on your side if you hire an experienced attorney.

Hiring a defense attorney who has handled similar cases before is likely to influence the outcome positively because they've a deeper understanding of the DUI laws, and you'll stand a better chance of avoiding conviction.

2. In-Person Consultation

Scheduling an in-person consultation is necessary for determining which attorney you feel comfortable with and one that you've confidence in.

Here are some of the things you should consider;

Level of Comfort

You'll want to select an attorney that you feel comfortable with, considering that you'll be in communication with them throughout your case.

Communication Skills

Select an attorney that can easily relate the information of your case in an efficient, simple, and easy to understand manner.

Remember that presentation is essential in a legal case, and the way your attorney communicates speaks volumes in a performance in a court of law.

Confidence

You'll also want to consider your attorney's confidence, and you should steer away from attorneys' that seem ambivalent and those with unclear responses as it's an indicator of lack of experience.

3. Cost

By nature, legal services are expensive, and a majority of the powerhouse attorney's typically charge higher-than-usual fees.

However, it doesn't mean that you've to drain yourself to accommodate a lawyer in your case.

Instead, find a lawyer that you can afford, but most importantly, one that will fulfill your legal needs.