Guide to Finding Nevada DUI Lawyer

A DUI charge doesn't have to ruin your life. If you have been charged with DUI in the state of Nevada, you need to consult with a Nevada DUI lawyer to understand how your DUI charge could impact you. NV DUI lawyers can help you to navigate the criminal legal system and aid you in beating DUI charges.

If you need a NV DUI lawyer, this guide can help. In this guide, you will learn about the penalties for driving under the influence in Nevada, as well as how to find a Nevada DUI lawyer in your area. At the end of this guide, you will learn what to bring to your initial consultation with a NV DUI lawyer and how to get the most out of your first consultation.

Your Right to a Nevada DUI Lawyer

Because driving under the influence is a criminal charge, you have a Constitutionally-guaranteed right to have a NV DUI lawyer represent you. If you have been charged with DUI but cannot afford Nevada DUI lawyers, you will be given a public Nevada DUI lawyer by the state. These public NV DUI lawyers are called public defenders, and if your income and assets are judged to be too low to afford a private NV DUI lawyer, one of these lawyers will be chosen for you by the court.

While public defense Nevada DUI lawyers are competent legal representation, they are often less experienced than private NV DUI lawyers. You may also want to have the freedom to choose your Nevada DUI lawyer. Because of this, even if the court assigns you a public NV DUI lawyer, you may want to try to seek out a private Nevada DUI lawyer in spite of the costs.

Affording Nevada DUI Lawyers

You may be wondering whether you can afford the services of NV DUI lawyers. With the fines and economic hardships a DUI conviction can bring, perhaps the better question is whether you can afford not to hire Nevada DUI lawyers. Ensuring that you keep your license or your freedom makes hiring a NV DUI lawyer worth it for many clients charged with DUI.

Most NV DUI lawyers work on a flat fee basis. Each Nevada DUI lawyer has two basic fee structures for each case: one for if you choose to plea bargain, and the other if you take the case to trial (which costs more and takes more time, but could lead to an acquittal). Depending on the level of expertise of the particular NV DUI lawyer, their fees may be lower or higher.

If you cannot find a Nevada DUI lawyer that you can afford to pay all at once, many Nevada DUI lawyers may be willing to work with you to make a payment plan that suits your financial needs. NV DUI lawyers are used to working with people with troubled finances, so don't assume that you can't afford a NV DUI lawyer just because you can't afford the fee upfront.

Penalties for DUI in Nevada

Nevada takes drunk driving seriously, and your Nevada DUI lawyer can help you to understand the penalties that are involved in your particular drunk driving case. If you are being charged for the first time with DUI, Nevada DUI lawyers can help to reduce your sentence or even get you acquitted. Because the penalties can vary so widely even on a first offense (you could spend two days in jail, or sixty), your NV DUI lawyer can help you get back on the road as quickly as possible.

If you are convicted of DUI in Nevada, your driver's license will be suspended. After half of your suspension, if it is a first-time offense, NV DUI lawyers can help you to seek a restricted license that will let you drive to work or school. You may be required to have an ignition interlock on your vehicle that registers whether you have been drinking.

Nevada DUI lawyers can reduce your sentence or negotiate with the district attorney to have you do community service instead of jail time for your first offense. On the second offense, your minimum jail time will be 10 days if your Nevada DUI lawyer doesn't get you acquitted, and on the third offense, you will spend at least one year in state prison. You can talk to NV DUI lawyers about these penalties.

Finding Specialty Nevada DUI Lawyers

One of the best ways to find NV DUI lawyers to represent you is to ask any friends or family you may know who have hired Nevada DUI lawyers in the past. However, if you cannot find a word of mouth recommendation, the State Bar of Nevada has a Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) that can connect you with NV DUI lawyers to take your case.

If you call the LRIS, they will ask you for some quick information about your legal issues and give you the information of one of the Nevada DUI lawyers that has signed up to have client referrals come in through the LRIS. The NV DUI lawyers you will be put in touch with have agreed to charge no more than $45 for your initial consultation. During this first consultation, you can ask the Nevada DUI lawyers you have been referred to about their costs for the remainder of the case.

Your First Consultation

Your first consultation with NV DUI lawyers can be informative and helpful if you follow a few basic guidelines. First, write down any questions you would like to ask potential Nevada DUI lawyers about your case. If you bring these questions along, you won't forget any when you talk to your NV DUI lawyer.

You should also bring a pen and paper to write down the answers to your questions, as well as the information your Nevada DUI lawyer tells you about his or her fee structures and experience. Feel free to ask about the depth of experience and percentage of acquittals your NV DUI lawyer has—proven experience can make the difference in helping you beat your DUI charge.