If your indiscretion of drinking and driving has landed you on the wrong side of law with a DUI or Driving Under Influence charge, the best way to save your skin is by hiring an experienced DUI lawyer. Since DUI is a serious offense in any state, selecting a good DUI lawyer will make or break your case. Though we all have a natural urge to save money wherever possible, this is not the place to do so. While browsing through the Yellow pages or the Internet for a good DUI lawyer, you are bound to come across discount lawyers that handle several cases simultaneously.

Opting for such a lawyer will relegate your case to the status of one of the cases handled by him instead of 'the' case he should focus on. Thus, though you may get a good discount by hiring such an attorney, it may prove more expensive to you in the long term. Since DUI laws are different in different states, you need to hire the services of a specialist. This rules out GP or General Practitioners as well as they do not have detailed knowledge of various laws pertaining to DUI. It is always better to go to a public defender with your DUI case as they have the necessary skill and expertise to handle these cases. Though their fee is a little higher, their service is worth every penny that you pay.

A common mark of a good DUI lawyer is that he will have a good track record in handling criminal cases. Such lawyers have very little or no experience in handling non-litigation cases like real estate and probate and will give their best to make sure that you do not get a DUI conviction on your record. Look for a specialist in this field who has a high success rate and has an experience of at least five years of more in handling such cases. The DUI attorney you hire should have sound knowledge about permissible blood alcohol level and how the body reacts to alcohol. In addition, he should be familiar with the breath testing procedures and devices that the police use in the state in which you are facing a DUI charge.

Goes without saying that the attorney you select to fight your DUI case should be an authority on all the laws pertaining to it and should have a good success percentage in court cases. A number of lawyers who boast about having won several DUI cases in the past have handled mostly plea-bargained cases. It is always better to cross check the lawyer's track record. While at it, also check if the lawyer has ever committed legal malpractice. If the answer to the last question comes in the affirmative, it is best to move on to the next lawyer on your list. Do not hesitate to quiz the short listed attorneys regarding these pointers when you meet them in person for free consultation.

Once you are satisfied with an attorney on all the above counts, discuss his fee structure and if that is well within your budget, retain his services.