If I received my first DUI and don’t really have money to obtain a lawyer but I want to make sure I get fair representation, how could I obtain one?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I received my first DUI and don’t really have money to obtain a lawyer but I want to make sure I get fair representation, how could I obtain one?
Would that be beneficial in my case? According to the documents my speech and balance were fine. Blood shot eyes and suspicion of alcohol were the reasons I did the roadside test which the officer said I did not perform as well as a sober person? I did fine.. did not fall off the line or fail as far as I can tell. I did not drop my foot, etc. He was a jerk and wouldn’t explain anything to me when I asked without my voluntary consent to his conditions. I am a single parent of 3 and need to be able to drive to work etc and not have a ton of costs associated.
Asked on November 26, 2012 under Criminal Law, Colorado
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Given what you have written about it is recommended that you retain a criminal defense attorney to defend you in the DUI matter that you have written about. Since you cannot afford a private attorney I suggest that you go to your county's public defender's office and submit an application for court appointed legal representation.
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Your cheapest route is to request a court-appointed attorney. Many public defenders get accused of doing sub-par work, but many actually have a very good working relationship with the prosecutor's offices, and thereby can get them to listen more carefully, than some other attorneys. You would need to request a court appointed attorney at your first appearance.
If you just don't feel comfortable with a court appointed attorney, you may still want to request one, and use them to give you information about the procedures and programs in your jurisdiction. They can help you evaluate any plea offers, the strength of your case, the tendencies of the judge/jury in your area, and alternatives to a guilty plea. If from there, you still don't feel comfortable, you can end the attorney-client relationship and proceed on your own-- but at least you won't be doing so as blindly.
If you choose to go forward on your own, make sure you spend a great deal of time preparing for trial. The big issue in most DUI's is a defendant's performance on field sobriety tests. Many articles are available online about how to properly administer field sobriety tests. Many officers get very lax in their administration of these tests, thereby impeding the quality of these tests. As you prepare, compare how the officer conducted your tests to the correct application. Between his attitude on the video and an improper application of tests, you will have a much better chance of winning at trial.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.