DUI Attorney: Pleading Your Case
A single DUI violation can change your life. From serious legal and financial consequences to potential discipline at work, DUI citation can be nightmarishly haunting. A DUI lawyer can help plead your case with the courts and protect you from unlawful disciplinary measures at work.
Contesting in Court
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious lapse of judgment. Your DUI lawyer can help you come to terms with your mistake and plead for leniency in court.
Contrition: Admitting that you've made a mistake can be difficult. However, in a DUI case, your lawyer can plea for less severe punishments if you're able to show clear contrition for your mistakes. For instance, your lawyer can enter a plea of no contest in exchange for less onerous penalties. When you negotiate these types of plea deals, you'll need to acknowledge your mistake and argue that the citation can serve as a learning opportunity for future personal growth. Your DUI lawyer can help you draft a letter and/or prepare a statement to be delivered orally to the court. Contrition is a great bargaining tool for first-time DUI offenders with relatively clean driving records.
Community: Giving back to the community is a constructive way to atone for your mistake. Your DUI lawyer can negotiate community service participation in exchange for shortened probation and/or supervised house arrest. When pivoting toward community service, your DUI lawyer will need to prove that you see this moment as an opportunity to give back to a community you jeopardized when you drove drunk.
Protecting Yourself at Work
Although you probably didn't read all of the fine details when you went through the HR process at work, a DUI citation can lead to serious consequences at work.
Termination: If your employer terminates you for violating a code of conduct, their decision can likely be contested in court. Your DUI lawyer can scour your employment contract and code of conduct to argue for a severance package or appeal their decision. This is particularly true if you work in the public sector or for an employer with government contracts. Unless you were cited for a DUI in a work vehicle or during work hours, your employer cannot terminate you until you're found guilty of a serious crime.
Retaliation: If you feel like your employer withheld a promotion or punished you for a DUI violation, they have effectively discriminated against you. Your DUI attorney can help you file a lawsuit to recoup lost income.