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You got pulled over and the officer arrested you for DUI. They took you to the station and now that you’ve been processed and released, you’re wondering what’s next. Most drivers who wind up with a DUI have never had any trouble with the law before, and it makes it that much harder to try to determine the next steps to take. You may even be wondering, do I need a lawyer for a first DUI in Illinois?
While you aren’t required by law to have legal representation for your criminal case, you have the Constitutional right to hire an attorney, and you should not try to navigate the process on your own. The Conner Law Firm is a Belleville, Illinois is a criminal defense firm led by a former St. Clair County prosecutor who personally handles DUI cases. You’ll get the advantage of insider experience that knows how the State will build its case against you and challenge every point to work toward the most favorable outcome possible. Even a first-time DUI can stay on your record forever, and this guide explains what you need to know about hiring a DUI lawyer in Belleville to give you the best chance of finding the right one to protect your interests.
Start With the Outcome You Actually Want
There are many lawyers who can help you fight your DUI in Belleville. Any licensed attorney can get you the State’s standing offer, though it may not be one you can live with. If you’re a first-time offender, court supervision is often available, though it does leave a permanent impact on your record. A plea may be available which can help you get a lesser charge, one that may not have the same permanence.
At the same time, you’ll be fighting for your right to drive with the statutory summary suspension running in tandem with your criminal case. When a DUI arrest leaves your future hanging in the balance, it’s essential to think about what your priorities are, whether you are more concerned with protecting your job, keeping your driving privileges, or fighting the legitimacy of the traffic stop in the first place. Assessing the State’s offer requires understanding what that means for you too, and for some, it may be the best option while for others, pushing forward with motions or a trial may be a better fit.
Learning what you are up against, what all your options are, and what you actually want to see out of this is key. If you want to get the best available outcome to you, then you need to find a DUI defense attorney who aligns with that.
Trial Experience Is the Dividing Line
While it is imperative that you get started on your defense right away, choosing the right attorney who has trial experience is essential. You’ll want to find out how many DUI cases the attorney has taken to verdict, not just how many they’ve handled in their career. That’s a drastic difference.
The State negotiates differently with attorneys who try cases, and that’s why a former prosecutor matters so much for leading your case. Erin K. Conner’s background puts her in a unique position where she can pick apart the evidence and challenge it as well as negotiate for the outcome that would best serve you. There are never any guarantees, but this kind of background gives you a distinct advantage when fighting the State’s allegations against you.
County Experience Matters More Than People Expect
Perhaps more than other areas of the practice of law, your attorney having a reputation of professional ability and ethical practice with prosecutors and judges in the county of a client’s case is critical to getting the best for the client. Attorneys with that baseline don’t get better offers because of some good-old-boy system, they get it because the prosecution is aware of who they are up against, and what that attorney can do to their case.
Additionally, the legislature left significant discretion to prosecutors and courts for specialty probations and diversion programs, meaning those stakeholders get to set admission criteria for a program that could save you from a conviction. With so many counties and court circuits having a limited amount of resources, becoming a priority for entry into these programs shouldn’t start with the uphill battle of your attorney having the build a reputation from scratch. One of these tracks is much more likely to get the offer you need to preserve your interests, and it involves bringing in an experienced attorney who knows the prosecutors, knows the judges, and has the reputation to be taken seriously when they advocate for you.
Who Actually Handles Your File?
What questions should I ask a DUI lawyer? Among the many questions you’ll surely have about your legal situation, you should never skip asking whether the attorney you’re meeting with is the attorney who appears in court with you. At high-volume law firms, associate handoffs are common. You might meet with a senior or founding attorney and then on your court date, meet an associate who’s been sent in for your defense.
At The Conner Law Firm, founding attorney Erin K. Conner handles your case personally. When you pay for her abilities, experience, and reputation to be on your side, Ms. Conner is what you get.
Understanding Cost
Another natural question that comes up when seeking defense counsel is how much does a DUI lawyer cost in Illinois? You should know that attorney fees depend completely upon the specific needs of your case. A first-time DUI offense tends to be less complex than a second DUI offense or an aggravated DUI, which is a felony that comes with stricter penalties and the potential for mandatory time behind bars depending on the felony class.
Cases that involve chemical tests and car accidents tend to need more support from investigations and expert witnesses, and that is reflected in the cost. Resolving a case through an early plea or court supervision tends to require fewer hours than it takes to fight the charge through formal hearings and a jury trial, however, your future hangs in the balance.
The short of it: You get what you pay for. Some firms can charge $1000 on your case, because they are only going to appear in court one time, get you the initial offer, and walk you through to plead to an offer you probably could have gotten yourself. A firm that is going to leverage relationships, advocate for offers outside of your court dates, and scrutinize every piece of evidence against you for weaknesses is worth a premium, and that’s why our firm doesn’t attempt to compete on low-price business models.
The Cost of a DUI Lawyer vs. the Cost of a Conviction
Hiring a DUI lawyer in Belleville is an upfront cost, though there are longer-term financial and personal costs that come with a DUI conviction. If convicted, this goes on your permanent record where it can’t be sealed or expunged.
The only chance of not having it follow you around for your entire lifetime is if the court issues a not guilty verdict, your case is dismissed, or your case is plead to a different charge. That means you may not get the jobs you apply for, promotions, or be able to work in certain fields.
It also means you’ll have your license suspended and will need to pay high reinstatement fees, formal hearing costs, and hundreds of dollars for a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID). There are fines, alcohol education courses that are mandatory, and higher insurance premiums as well. Whether it’s a financial cost or the cost of permanently blemishing your record with a DUI, investing in DUI defense helps level the playing field and gives you the best chance to get a more favorable outcome.
The Timing Problem
There is another concern when hiring a DUI lawyer in Belleville, and that’s understanding that time is not on your side. Generally, for a first-time DUI, you will be issued your notice for this citation where the 46-day suspension clock begins ticking in tandem with your criminal case.
Not handling the administrative side of things at the same time is how people wind up losing their right to drive, even if their DUI case is dismissed or results in a not guilty verdict in criminal court. While you’re looking for DUI defense, this clock is running against you day and night. Retaining legal counsel as soon as possible preserves options that will expire before you know it. Don’t just settle for the first attorney you find in the local area. Although you don’t have the luxury of being leisurely, make sure that you ask the right questions, including whether the attorney you meet with will be handling your file, and take the time to make the best decision for your representation to fight for the outcome you’re hoping for.
Attorney Insight
“Selecting the right defense attorney for you is dependent upon the outcome you are seeking. Any licensed attorney can get an offer on your case, but that may not be an offer you can stomach. Hiring an attorney with extensive experience in DUI cases means I know what weaknesses exist in your case early on and leverage those weaknesses in negotiating to an outcome others don’t know how to achieve.” — Erin K. Conner, Founding Attorney and former Chief of the Criminal Bureau, St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office
Schedule a Consultation
If you are searching for a Belleville DUI defense lawyer to represent you after your arrest, don’t waste time. You have a lot to lose, even if you’ve never been in trouble with the law before, and that statutory summary suspension of your license begins the 46th day after you’ve received notice. Getting your driving privileges back after that is far more complex, but working with an attorney can help you avoid the added turmoil.
The Conner Law Firm is a Belleville, Illinois, criminal defense firm led by Erin K. Conner, a former St. Clair County prosecutor who personally handles DUI cases in St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe Counties, and throughout southern Illinois. While we can’t guarantee specific outcomes, Ms. Conner works every angle of your case to achieve the best outcome possible. Schedule a consultation today by calling (618) 277-2421 or texting (314) 944-5553.
