There are a few things to look for when considering who to hire to represent you as your Suffolk criminal defense lawyer. 

The first thing that is very important is experience. Some attorneys are “jack of all trades” kinds of lawyers where they handle cases from many different law practices including criminal defense. I do not recommend hiring these types of attorneys because they don’t have substantial experience focusing on the ins and outs of criminal law. Instead, I recommend hiring an attorney that focuses solely on criminal defense, and even further, has experience handling the specific facet of criminal defense that you are looking for. 

Also, experience in the area you live and need representation is also important. My criminal defense law practice is devoted entirely to Suffolk and Nassau county. 90% of the cases I handle are on Long Island, and over the years I have been in every court and forged relationships in every area. 

It is a good idea to meet with the attorney and see if you are comfortable with them on a personal level. A good criminal defense attorney needs to be a good communicator, and it should be easy for you to build a rapport with them so you are comfortable with them representing you. They should also be straightforward and be transparent about fees, costs and what to expect for the next steps.

Finally, reputation is key for helping you decide who to hire. Recommendations from friends or family is a good place to start. Even if you don’t have a personal recommendation there are plenty of places to look online for reviews. Avvo, Google, Lawyers.com are all good resources for online reviews. Take the time to read why an attorney received a good or bad review to determine what it really is like should you hire them.

Each attorney bases their fees on several factors, the first being the severity of the charge. The more serious the charge, the more work that is going to be involved in the case and ultimately the more it will cost you. The fees the attorney may charge though will vary. One attorney might be cheaper, but this could actually be a red flag. The cheaper option could also indicate that the attorney is not as experienced or well-versed in the circumstances you are facing for your criminal defense case. 

Additionally, most criminal defense attorneys charge in one of three ways. An hourly rate, a fee per court appearance or a flat rate for the whole case. Most attorneys will have two fees depending on how far the case progresses. One if the charge is resolved as a plea bargain before trial, and one if the case needs to go to trial. Personally, I charge a flat rate for all of my clients. So my clients know exactly what to expect to pay if the case is worked out in a plea bargain as well as how much it would cost if the case goes to trial

The most important thing to do is hire an experienced DWI lawyer with a very strong background in favorably resolving DWI cases.  This fact can not be stressed enough.  DWI is a very discreet area of law with specific prosecutors, judges and other court resources devoted to it.  Your attorney must be thoroughly familiar with these people and places in order to navigate you to the best possible resolution.  Do your homework and only higher an attorney who concentrates his practice in defending those accused of DWI.

This answer requires nuance. It really depends on the scenario. Did you consume alcohol before driving?  If yes, what type of alcohol and what quantity? Were you involved in a motor vehicle accident or stopped for some other reason? Were you stopped a a police check-point? Have you been arrested before for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Has your license previously been suspended in the last five years for any other reason? Rest assured, no matter whether you submitted to the test or refused, I will develop a tailored strategy to favorably resolve your case and get you back on the road as soon as possible. When I talk to a new client, I have them answer the above questions and I then discuss the next steps to move their case in a positive direction. I am often able to lay out the road map for success early in the representation. This decisiveness always makes my client feel less stressed and confident about the future outcome to his or her case.

When I first started practicing 26 years ago I felt that I could win every case that I handled.  I quickly learned the value of day in and day out experience.  Not only do we live in a world with many laws and rules, the professionals who enforce those rules (judges, prosecutors and court personnel ) are all individuals with the same personality variations that we all have. There is no way to be your best at DWI and criminal defense until you have spent many years in the trenches with the Judges, lawyers and court personnel who handle these matters.  My experience has brought me to the point where I can assess the facts of a case and my client’s background efficiently to develop not only a legal strategy, but what I like to call a “personal strategy”.  Simply put, my personal strategy is my decision making about not only how to approach and negotiate with prosecutors, but also which supervising prosecutor to approach based on my assessment of my client, their case and their background. I could never have done this with the level of efficiency I now possess, when I first started practicing.  The years of day-in and day-out experience have honed my skills sharply and allowed me to be one of the most successful  attorneys practicing criminal and DWI defense in Suffolk and Nassau Counties.