I'm a DUI attorney with over 20 years experience yet I don't dare advise myself about tax laws. I hire a tax attorney for that. When I bought my house, in the eyes of the law I could have handled the closing documents myself, but I didn't. I hired a "closing" attorney with years of practice in real estate law. If a good friend comes to me looking for a lawyer to defend his child who was a arrested for a violent crime, I connect him with the best criminal attorney I know who defends that kind of case.  That is not my area of expertise.

So why would anyone hire a real estate lawyer to handle their DUI case? Because the real estate lawyer is hungry. His specialty has dried up. No one is buying houses anymore and he has his own mortgage to pay. So he invests in some new stationary, re-brands his website and viola - he is a DUI attorney. True story. Just ask my tax attorney colleague who shares office space with an amazing chameleon lawyer.

Here are some tips to make sure you hire the right attorney:

• Interview your potential lawyer in person if possible;
• Ask how many of the attorney's current cases are DUIs;
• Some firms use paralegals or secretaries to interview clients. Be sure you meet with a competent DUI defense attorney;
• Determine if you feel comfortable with the attorney and confident in his or her ability in your case;
• Make sure all your questions are answered to your satisfaction.