 Can a DUI lawyer plead his client guilty without her knowledge?
There are lawyers out there who will happily take your money and then happily plead you guilty. If you hire the first person you talk to, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Not always—after all, I don’t know who the first person you plan on talking to is—but unless you talk to a few lawyers, how can you tell who is good? You don’t need a lawyer to plead you guilty. You can do that yourself and save a few bucks in the process. But to hire someone who is cheap who will then not fight for you: what is the point?
True story
In Gwinnett County court the other day, several seasoned DUI lawyers watched on in disbelief as an attorney we didn’t recognize (yes, we DO all know each other in Gwinnett and Fulton Counties) asked the judge for permission to plead her absent client guilty—without the client’s knowledge. I am happy to report to say the judge did not allow this, but we are all shocked that anyone would attempt to bamboozle a client like this. Stories from the front lines by Gwinnett area police officers and others who work in the courts a lot say they’ve seen an increase in lawyers who don’t know the first thing about how to handle a DUI case.
How is this possible?
In times of economic troubles you need to be especially wary. Everyone is hurting, from the gift shop on the corner to the dentist. Lawyers are small business people too. And those lawyers who normally represent a type of customer who has disappeared —like real estate law, small business law, etc—are hurting for money and business. But law degrees are generic; it doesn’t matter which type of law you normally practice, your JD says you can practice any type of law. A law diploma does not mean a person has any experience in any particular type of legal specialty. Experience takes years of work, mentoring, and training to achieve. And an amazing real estate attorney is going to make a lousy DUI lawyer, trust me.
How can you make sure you hire the best?
And what do you do if you realize you’ve hired a turkey? Read my related articles.
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David Clark's book "101 Ways to Beat a Marijuana Charge in Georgia" is a comprehensive guide to getting out of a marijuana charge in Georgia. Mr. Clark, a former Judge, provides inside tips from his 22 years of experience as one of Georgia's top criminal defense lawyers defending pot smokers. All proceeds benefit Georgia NORML.
Jessica Towne's FREE book "How to Choose a Georgia DUI Lawyer" guides you through choosing an attorney. A criminal defense and trial lawyer for over 22 years, Ms. Towne shows you how to cut through the talk and find the best qualified attorney for your case.