1. What’s Your Background?
In your first meeting with your Bloomington, IL DUI lawyer, you need to learn about their background. After all, you want to know if they are seasoned veterans or starting their first DUI case. Of course, the more experienced your attorney is with this type of case, the better chance you have at a decent outcome.
So take the time to ask your lawyer how long they’ve been handling DUIs, how many cases they handle in a typical year if they were a prosecutor, how much of their workload is dedicated to DUIs, and how often they take cases to trials. Then, get into more specific details, such as familiarity with your prosecutor, if they normally practice in your area, and how many of their cases have produced favorable outcomes.
2. Have You Had Special Training?
Similarly, it is common for lawyers to have special DUI training credentials, such as the attorneys at Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols. To figure out about your lawyer’s special training, ask them about their DUI ride-along experience, if they’re certified by DUI-specific organizations, if they’re state certified DUI specialists, and if they’ve completed any other DUI related courses.
Because not all of these options are available everywhere, you’ll want to do a little research ahead of time and figure out what certifications could apply to your lawyer. For instance, find out if the primary certifying body in your area is the NCDD, state, bar organization, or a program offered by the NHTSA.
3. What Are Your Fees?
Another thing you’ll want to ask your Bloomington, IL DUI lawyer upfront is how they are going to bill you. Before you get to work, you want to know how they will be paid and when you can expect to be billed. After all, this free consultation is just a way for you to clarify any expectations about payments for future meetings. Be sure to ask them about additional fees and what form of payments they accept.
4. What Is Your Opinion on the Outcome?
Even if your DUI lawyer is as successful as Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols, they don’t know the future. However, they can use their training and knowledge of the case to predict whether they think the outcome will be favorable or not. Therefore, you should ask your lawyer whether they think a plea agreement is possible if any pre-trial motions are an option, what factors go in your favor, and whether you should go to trial or not.