How to Choose a Good San Antonio DWI Lawyer

Kyle Simpson • Nov 16, 2023

How to Choose a Good San Antonio DWI Lawyer

Finding the right San Antonio DWI Lawyer is similar to finding the right Doctor. At a minimum, you are looking for a professional who is competent in the subject matter that you are confronted with and knows the San Antonio court system. This individual must clearly understand your defined goals and be able to offer their services to you at a price you are willing to pay. The right person for the job will be the professional who can complement their qualifications with a personalized level of service to you.


Where Do I Start?

You must first narrow down the list of attorneys you are going to contact. The goal is to interview three or four attorneys that are well qualified to handle DWI cases. In choosing which attorneys to meet with, focus on criminal lawyers that regularly handle DWI’s in the county where you were arrested. The internet is an excellent place to begin your search. The lawyer’s website should provide enough information to help you choose who you interview. The potential attorney should meet the following basic criteria: have a criminal practice, focus on DWI cases in the San Antonio area and surrounding counties and have the principal office in or near the county of your arrest.


Interviewing the Attorneys

It is important to understand the basics of Texas DWI before you go into the interview whether your attorney is located in San Antonio or not. This will help you to ask intelligent questions and verify that the attorney knows the subject matter. You need to carefully think about the realistic expectations you have for your case and be prepared to communicate them to the lawyer.


The lawyer/client interview is protected by the attorney client privilege. You should candidly explain the facts of you case and have the lawyer analyze them. Ask the lawyer if they have dealt with cases similar to yours and what the outcomes were. Have the lawyer outline a strategy that will help you achieve your goal in the case. It is important to inquire about the lawyer’s experience: do they have experience as a prosecutor, have they tried a case in front of your judge, do they know the reputation of the prosecutor.


Finally, you need to determine what the cost will be and exactly what it covers. You will be best served with a fee that covers the license hearing, pretrial motions and ultimately trial. Other potential costs can be anticipated as well. Determine what miscellaneous fees can be expected and how you will be billed for them. These issues need to be specifically addressed in the contract.



Making Your Decision to Hire

You will develop a deeper understanding of your situation after you have interviewed the several attorneys on your list. You will be spending a considerable amount of time with the attorney that you hire. You need to feel comfortable talking with the attorney about this intimate part of your life. You will likely interview more than one attorney who is qualified to handle your case. At this point, you will be prepared to make an informed decision on the lawyer best equipped to be the point man on your DWI case.

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