This is a common question after someone gets charged with a DUI,
and it is really a personal decision... if you are given the option.
The Public
Defenders Office is set up to represent "indigent" clients - people
who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. It is up to the individual
court system and individual judges whether you are designated
"indigent."
If you are
assigned a Public Defender, you will be represented by someone who graduated
law school, and passed the Arizona State Bar Exam. Your Public Defender
may be fresh out of law school, or someone who is looking to escape the
business world of working for a law firm.
Whether a Public
Defender, or a Private Attorney for that matter, is experienced and knows how
to handle DUI cases is an individual characteristic. All Public Defenders
are not good, nor bad, experienced, nor inexperienced. The same with
Private Attorneys.
Two people who
went to the same law school, graduated at the same time, and passed the Arizona
State Bar Exam, one goes to the Public Defender's Office, and one goes into
Private Practice. Neither would really be considered
"experienced," but they have the separate labels of "Public
Defender" and "Private Attorney."
One of the biggest
issues with the Public Defender's Office that everyone should know is that you
will be one of probably about 30-40 clients of an individual Public Defender.
You will be given an office phone number, and will likely have to leave a
message and wait for a return phone call in order to talk to your assigned
attorney.
Also, in the
Public Defender's Office, there is no reward for doing well in your case, nor
punishment for doing poorly. The Public Defender can work hours on your
case, write lots of motions, and fight hard, and still get the same salary as
the Public Defender that meets with you once and pushes a plea agreement on
you.
Surprisingly, the
big law firms are somewhat similar to the Public Defenders Office. You
are one of many clients, you usually have to call a general phone number and
leave a message for your attorney, and the individual private attorney that
represents you gets no reward, nor punishment, for how they handle your case.
The big law firms
are big because they charge lots of people lots of money, to then spend on
advertising, to then get more people to spend more money. It is unusual
for a former client of a big law firm to have good things to say, despite the
"testimonials" you might see around the Internet.
Just about every private DUI lawyer on the first page of search engine results will fall into this
category.
So what do you do
if you don't want to be "just a number," and you want excellent
representation from an Experienced DUI Defense Lawyer.
Call the AZ DUI Team at 602-DUI-Team.
Each member of the AZ DUI Team is an Experienced Lawyer that focuses on DUI cases.
Each AZ DUI Team Attorney has represented numerous DUI cases, and knows the ins and outs of the legal system.
With an AZ DUI Team Attorney, you will receive personal representation, with the cell phone number of your actual Attorney for easy access when you have questions.
The members of the AZ DUI Team have done amazing work for their clients, and know how to handle DUI cases.
Don't take a chance on being "just another number," getting a fresh-out-of-law-school lawyer who doesn't know what they are doing, or being taken advantage of.
If you are currently charged with, or expect to get charged with,
a Misdemeanor DUI or Felony DUI, it is important to talk to an Experienced DUI
Defense Lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact the AZ DUI Team
for a Free Consultation:
602-DUI-Team
(602-384-8326)
