If you hire a lawyer for your DUI case in North Charleston, what can you expect from your legal representation?

Understanding what you can expect from your North Charleston DUI attorney is important. Not only is it important for making an informed decision about your legal representation, but it is also important for making informed decisions throughout your case. If you know what to expect, you will be able to make informed decisions, and this will help give you the best chance of securing a favorable outcome under the circumstances at hand.

So, what can (and should) you expect from your North Charleston DUI attorney? Here’s what you need to know:

What to Expect: A Free Initial Consultation and Transparent Legal Fees

What Not to Expect: Discounts or Free Legal Work After Your Initial Consultation

You should be able to schedule a free initial consultation about your DUI case in North Charleston. This free initial consultation is an opportunity to meet with an attorney one-on-one and decide whether he or she is the right attorney for you. During your free initial consultation, you should also be able to find out how much your legal representation will cost if you decide to move forward.

Once you hire a DUI attorney to represent you, you should not expect the attorney to discount his or her rates or provide free legal work going forward. Just like you, your lawyer needs to know what to expect from your engagement, and your lawyer is entitled to charge a reasonable rate for his or her services.

What to Expect: A Comprehensive Assessment of Your DUI Case in North Charleston

What Not to Expect: A Guarantee of Success

After learning the facts of your case, your lawyer should be able to provide a comprehensive assessment of both the risks you are facing and the options you have available. This includes an assessment of the penalties you could face if you get convicted, the other consequences you could face outside of court, the defenses you can assert, and your options for seeking to avoid a DUI conviction without taking your case to trial.

While taking your DUI case to trial is an option, it isn’t necessarily the best option you have available. For example, depending on the circumstances of your case, you could be eligible for pre-trial diversion, or it may make sense to negotiate a plea bargain that avoids the inherent uncertainty of trial.

In no circumstances, however, can a DUI attorney provide a guarantee of success. Not only is it impossible to predict how your case will go at trial, but your attorney cannot force prosecutors to offer a plea deal that you are willing to accept. Likewise, if you decide to enroll in a pre-trial diversion program, it will be up to you to complete the program successfully.

What to Expect: Custom-Tailored Legal Advice and Representation

What Not to Expect: The Ability to Handle Your Case Without Your Involvement

You can expect your North Charleston DUI attorney to provide custom-tailored legal advice and representation throughout your case. This includes focusing on the specific facts of your case to determine what defenses you can assert and whether it makes sense for you to seek a plea deal or fight your DUI in court. You can expect your lawyer to communicate with the prosecutor and the judge on your behalf; and, if you decide to go to court, you can expect your lawyer to present your case to the judge or jury.

However, your attorney cannot handle your case without your involvement. Your attorney will need you to provide key details; and, when decisions need to be made, your lawyer will need you to make them promptly. If you ignore your attorney’s communications or don’t make important decisions in time, your attorney won’t be able to represent you effectively.

What to Expect: A Commitment to Your Best Interests

What Not to Expect: Misleading Statements or Other Violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct

When you hire a North Charleston DUI attorney to represent you, your attorney will be committed to your best interests. Your attorney will handle all aspects of your case with a focus on helping you achieve the best possible outcome under the circumstances at hand.

But, your attorney can—and will—only go so far. All attorneys in South Carolina are bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct, and these rules prohibit attorneys from doing things like making misleading statements or improperly interfering with the judicial process. So, while you can (and should) expect your attorney to defend you by all legal means available, you cannot expect your attorney to put his or her career in jeopardy.

What to Expect: Timely and Effective Communication

What Not to Expect: Immediate 24/7 Availability

Finally, you can expect your attorney to handle your DUI case with the urgency it demands, and you can expect your attorney to communicate with you in language you can understand. Effective communication is vital, and it is a skill that all DUI attorneys should have.

Handling your DUI case with the urgency it demands, however, does not necessarily mean being immediately available 24/7. Your attorney will provide timely representation, and your attorney will respond promptly if he or she cannot answer your call or text immediately. But, your attorney will have other clients as well, and your attorney will owe these clients all of the same duties that your attorney owes you. If you trust your lawyer to handle your case diligently and with professionalism, this will ultimately help facilitate your lawyer’s ability to represent you effectively.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with North Charleston DUI Attorney Rad S. Deaton

Do you need a DUI attorney in North Charleston? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To discuss your case with North Charleston DUI attorney Rad S. Deaton in confidence, call 843-225-5723 or request a free consultation online today.