Has Your Attorney Undergone Specialized Training?
If you’re facing a driving while intoxicated charge (DWI), you will want to find an attorney to represent you and fight for your rights. When looking for that attorney, you should ensure that they are an experienced and knowledgeable DUI/DWI defense attorney, not someone who focuses only on creating wills and trusts.
On top of that, you also will want to confirm whether that attorney is well-versed in the particular charge you face. Has the attorney defended others in your situation, and what were the results?
In short, you probably want to seek out an attorney who specializes in the area of the law you need for the best chance to win your trial if it gets that far. Maybe this attorney can even get the charge lessened or dropped before matters even end up in court. Specialization does indeed offer an edge when it comes to your fate in the hands of prosecutors.
In Kansas City, Missouri, if you’re looking at a DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge, you can face serious consequences, fines, jail time, and the loss of driving privileges. Your life can be plunged into turmoil quickly. For your defense, you should seek out an attorney who specializes in the area of driving while intoxicated. For that, and other reasons, you should contact me at the Guilfoil Law Group.
Not only have I defended countless Missourians facing DWI charges, but I have also written a chapter for The Missouri Bar Association’s “black book” series on “Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and Cross-Examination of the Arresting Officer,” which is used by attorneys throughout the state. In addition, I am a member of the American Association of DUI Trial Lawyers and am a certified operator of both breathalyzer test machines used by Missouri police.
My firm serves those facing DWI charges in the counties of Clay, Platte, Jackson, and really anywhere in the state of Missouri.
What Is Specialized Training for Lawyers?
The American Bar Association (ABA) accredits specialty certification programs for lawyers in particular fields of law offered by private organizations that certify lawyers as specialists. The Standing Committee on Specialization presently accredits 18 specialty certification programs offered by eight different private organizations. These specialties range from bankruptcy, estate planning, juvenile law, DUI defense, and more.
For DUI/DWI, the ABA recognizes the National College of DUI Defense, Inc (NCDD)., of which I am a member. I regularly attend summer sessions of the NCDD at Harvard University.
The Importance of Specialized DUI Training
In this day and age, you could be pulled over and taken in after a roadside breathalyzer reading of .008 percent blood alcohol content (BAC), or if you refuse the test, authorities can take you to the station and have a blood test administered. When your BAC reaches that .008 percent level, prosecutors will have a strong case against you and a DWI conviction weighs heavily.
However, these breathalyzers – the Intoxilyzer 5000 and the Datamaster – need to be calibrated regularly, and the officer administering the test must follow certain procedures. A lawyer trained in the operation of these devices, as well as in the regulations and laws governing their use, can challenge the results based on calibration standards and the procedures employed.
Even a laboratory blood sample can be challenged on the issue of mishandling. Specialization does help when it comes to fighting a DWI charge.
What to Look for in a Defense Attorney
When you’re facing a criminal charge, you need to find a defense attorney with a track record in criminal defense, and it helps immensely if that person also specializes in the type of crime with which you’re being charged. You wouldn’t want an attorney who spends most of their time fighting elder abuse cases representing you in a drug possession charge. You’ll need to find someone who specializes in drug crimes for your best chance of success.
It also is highly advantageous to find a lawyer who is familiar with the court system in which your case will be tried. An attorney who is familiar with the prosecutors and judges handling your case will be able to fashion a more focused pre-trial and trial strategy to obtain the best possible result for you.
Finally, of course, you want to find an attorney with whom you can communicate easily, not someone who shuffles you off to legal assistants. Your attorney should treat you as a partner and involve you fully in the decision-making process.
Knowledgeable Legal Advocacy
My specialization is defending those facing DWI charges. As I mentioned earlier, my writings for the Missouri Bar Association are read and relied upon by attorneys throughout the state. At Guilfoil Law Group, I am certified in the use of breathalyzers and understand the legal requirements for their deployment on the streets of our state. I have also instructed numerous courses on DWI and other topics to lawyers, police, and other law enforcement officials in Kansas and Missouri.
If you’re looking at a DWI charge in or around Kansas City or anywhere in Missouri, contact me immediately. I will bring my knowledge and experience to fight aggressively for you and your rights to achieve the best result possible.