A DUI conviction in Ohio can have life-changing consequences. You can be subject to steep fines, time spent in jail and an extended loss of your driving privileges. One fateful decision you already regret can alter the course of your life as well as the lives of your loved ones. This is a criminal offense that must be taken seriously and it hiring the best Columbus DUI attorney possible is the best way to make sure you are defended adequately in a court of law.
There are several resources you can use while searching for the right DUI lawyer in Columbus to represent you. You can go the old fashioned route and try the phone book, but do not just choose the first ad you come across. Make a list of several names you see, but also utilize the World Wide Web as best you can. You can also make contact with the Ohio state bar association, as they can provide you with a list of DUI lawyers in your area, as well as what their specific credentials are.
Often, the court can provide you with a list of possible attorneys, as can friends or family who may have been through the same thing. You want to hire someone who is knowledgeable about the ins and outs of Ohio DUI laws and is familiar with the various changes that were made in 2008, especially if this is not your first driving under the influence offense.
Once you have compiled a list of lawyers, make some phone calls and talk to a few of them. Explain the details of your case in brief and see if you can get a feel for which attorney may be the right one from you. It is possible to make that short list even shorter that way, with your next step being setting up appointments with one or two and see how you get along in person. The right rapport with your Columbus DUI attorney is extremely helpful, as you two will be spending a lot of time together as your defense is prepared.
Look for honesty in whoever you choose and not someone who promises you an outcome that seems too good to be true. You have a long journey ahead of you and your DUI attorney in Columbus needs to inform you of that, as well as educate you on what you may be up against in court.