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DWI ATTORNEY WARNING Watch out for “dump truck lawyers” and “escort lawyers”. These guys will take your money and then walk you off the plank of “guilty” without a fight. Dump truck lawyers sign up as many cases as possible and then dump them all on the guilty plea docket. Other lawyers walk you up to the judge like a high paid escort service, plea you guilty and then disappear. We will stay with you throughout the ordeal of a DWI arrest and courtroom representation. After acquittal - your expunction is included in your fee. Question: How do I know if an attorney is a qualified DWI attorney and how do I choose a qualified DWI attorney? Answer: Look at their qualifications, examine the website for substance not fluff, and ask them the tough questions about your specific case.
WARNING: FINDING A LAWYER ON LAWYER DIRECTORY WEBSITES OR ON A NATIONAL DWI DIRECTORY... Question: When I type in a search for a local DWI attorney, why does a National listing appear? Answer: Most National DWI directories work by charging the attorney an advertising fee to be posted on the site as a “qualified DWI defense attorney”. The directories don’t actually monitor if the attorney is qualified in the area of DWI defense. As long as the attorney has the money to be listed- he or she will be listed as a qualified DWI Attorney. The directory doesn't investigate whether or not the paying attorney has ever tried a DWI before! An example of one such website is www.dui1.com. Not only do they try to persuade criminal defense attorneys (inexperienced in DWI trials) to practice in the area of DWI Defense, for a fee, they will list them as “qualified DWI defense attorneys” and refer them to unaware citizens, that will soon be "defenseless clients". Below is an excerpt from the actual pitch they use to try and get attorneys to pay money to be listed in and advertise with the DUI directory: "DUI Defense is the most lucrative area of criminal practice: Here is why... Most DUI cases are settled before going to trial because there is really no defense…..Many dui defense attorneys file frivolous motions and in the process run up even higher fees for the client….. So the most successful DUI Defense attorneys simply plea bargain and collect their fee from the client. Most DUI defendants are average people… the last thing they want on their record is a DUI. They are willing to pay as much as you ask for hoping they can beat the wrap. We, www.dui1.com are the number 1 result when you search Google… we dominate the web. We are number 1 under natural results, meaning we don’t pay to be up there. For this reason advertising on dui1.com is the least expensive advertising avenue on the web. If you do any type of criminal defense, throw your hat in and sign up at dui1.com. When you get your first client you will make more than several times of your investment.”
Does this sound like a website that would be filled with qualified DWI attorneys? They don’t even care if the attorneys actually practice DWI defense, they will advertise them as being qualified to do so. Obviously if you hire a DWI/DUI attorney from this website directory, do not expect the lawyer to go to bat for you; do not expect to fight your case at trial. Do, however, expect to pay extremely high fees for a guilty verdict. Not ironically, many of the National DWI Lawyer Directories claiming to provide a public service by referring qualified DWI/DUI lawyers are created and owned by the lawyers themselves. Think about it, they can advertise their own law firm in the city where they practice while making “referral fees” and “advertising fees” by helping lawyers in other cities and states. For example one of the “DWI” search engine machines is created and owned by a local law firm in Austin, Texas. They claim they are a national DWI lawyer directory listing only the most qualified DWI attorneys, but guess which and only law firm pops up when you search in Austin Texas? Right, that very same law firm! (Nice biased public service.) And I was present when they started the business presentation and were selling the “advertising spots” to the first come - first served lawyer - with a check in their hand. This is not to say that some very good lawyers are not listed on their website (some of my nationwide friends are) but it can be misleading if you don’t take the time to check the attorney out. The sad part is that simply by doing a web search, the citizen cannot know which attorney is a real DWI trial lawyer and which is a “poser” waiting to grab your money and plea you out at the first opportunity. Finally, beware of directories claiming they can get your DWI dismissed. Not only is it unethical** to make such claims, it is misleading and false advertising to the client. In the title bar of an internet search one of these website engines mentioned above states: “Want your DWI Dismissed?” This law firm also uses 1-8XX-DISMISS as their phone number and slogan to hook clients. When you read the actual words on the website, they change it to “dismissed or reduced”. A good attorney will not promise a specific result and those that do are being dishonest. Again, perhaps they can get some cases dismissed but tossing a bone at a desperate citizen is not something you will see at “DWI DUDE.com” Site: RULE 7.02 "Communication Concerning a Lawyer's Services"State Bar of Texas LEGAL ETHICS OPINION 1750 ADVERTISING ISSUES The Standing Committee on Lawyer Advertising and Solicitation (a) Subject to the requirements of Rules 7.1 and 7.3, a lawyer may advertise services through written, recorded, or electronic communications, including public media. In the determination of whether an advertisement violates this Rule, the advertisement shall be considered in its entirety, including any qualifying statements or disclaimers contained therein. Notwithstanding the requirements of Rule 7.1, an advertisement violates this Rule if it: 3) advertises specific or cumulative case results, without a disclaimer that (i) puts the case results in a context that is not misleading; (ii) states that case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case; and (iii) further states that case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case undertaken by the lawyer. The disclaimer shall precede the communication of the case results. When the communication is in writing, the disclaimer shall be in bold type face and uppercase letters in a font size that is at least as large as the largest text used to advertise the specific or cumulative case results and in the same color and against the same colored background as the text used to advertise the specific or cumulative case results.
If you are looking for an exceptionally trained and educated, DWI / DUI attorney to aggressively represent you on your DWI case or any criminal matter, call 512.278.0935 (Austin) or 210-DWI-DUDE (210.394.3833) (San Antonio) or contact me by e-mail at jamie@dwidude.com If I am in trial, my personal assistant Ashley Nichols can assist you. |
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