Finding the Right DUI Lawyer in Loudoun County

There’s no shortage of lawyers in Northern Virginia. In fact, the region has the highest number of lawyers per capita in the country. Almost all of them could handle a simple DUI case. However, there’s really no such thing as a simple DUI case.

Unlike many other cases, DUIs usually involve legal, factual, and scientific issues. Legally, officers must have reasonable suspicion for the stop and probable cause for the arrest, at least in most cases. The field sobriety tests, like the walk and turn, require careful analysis. Finally, chemical tests, particularly Breathalyzer tests, involve scientific issues.

Only a highly qualified Virginia DUI defense lawyer has the necessary tools to successfully resolve a DUI case. DUI charges are scary, but several options are available that reduce, or even eliminate, the harsh indirect and direct consequences of a DUI case.

Experience

Law schools teach criminal law classes, but they don’t teach DUI defense classes. The distinction is significant. Law schools teach important theories, and an experienced Leesburg criminal defense lawyer knows how to put these theories into practice.

Law schools also teach criminal procedure classes. But only experienced lawyers are familiar with all nuances of local rules. They know the unwritten rules as well.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, DUIs involve scientific issues that law schools don’t address. The effect of unabsorbed alcohol on a Breathalyzer result is a good example. If the subject had been drinking in the hour or so before the test, the results could be significantly inflated.

Dedication

Effective criminal defense requires commitment and dedication. Attorneys must be committed to upholding individual rights and dedicated to their preservation. Attorneys without these qualities usually look for an easy way out or a quick settlement, so they can move onto another matter.

Lack of dedication also affects the way attorneys evaluate cases. If a lawyer has one eye on a plea bargain from the outset, the lawyer may not spot all possible defenses or vigorously pursue those defenses in court.

Dedicated lawyers aren’t just dedicated to the issues in a criminal defense case. They’re also dedicated to DUI defense clients. They’re willing to sacrifice part of themselves to improve a client’s position in court.

Accessibility

Physical accessibility, or simply talking to the lawyer, is a “just right” quality. If an attorney picks up the phone on the first ring, immediately responds to emails, and is available for a consultation on short notice, that probably means the lawyer doesn’t have many clients. There’s probably a reason for that.

At the same time, your lawyer should be available. Your case is not a fast-food hamburger that’s prepared by someone you never see. If you have questions or comments, your lawyer, and not an assistant, should address them.

Professional accessibility means your lawyer is your lawyer. Accessible lawyers don’t over-delegate tasks to associates or paralegals. Professional accessibility also means that your lawyer is with you until the end of the line. S/he doesn’t work with clients for a while and refer the cases to other lawyers when the going gets tough.

Count on a Savvy Loudoun County Lawyer

There’s a big difference between an arrest and a conviction in criminal law. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Leesburg, contact Simms Showers, LLP, Attorneys at Law. We routinely handle matters throughout Northern Virginia.