Can a lawyer help me after I have been to court?

If you are waiting to call a Georgia DUI Lawyer until after you are convicted, it may be too late. There is very little an attorney can do to help if you have already pled guilty.  We frequently receive calls from those who pled guilty to a DUI or Hit and Run charge, and they are now facing the effects of their conviction. Do not wait to call a Georgia DUI Attorney until you have already been to court. It will most likely be too late.  In almost all instances, a lawyer cannot help you after you have been to court.

5 Reasons Why You Should Not Wait to Call a Georgia Attorney:

1. Having Representation BEFORE Court is your best chance at a reduction or dismissal of the charges: 

Hiring an attorney immediately after your arrest will enable your attorney to handle your case from start to finish. The legal system is not designed for self-service, and navigating the legal system by yourself can have detrimental effects on your case. Placing your case in the hands of an experienced attorney who is familiar with court deadlines and filing requirements is the best thing you can do for your case. Pleading not guilty at your arraignment without a lawyer can affect your right to file motions in your case, which will ultimately limit your defenses.  

2. An experienced attorney will be familiar with any license effects a conviction may have: 

Your criminal case may have severe effects on your driving privileges. Many traffic offenses include a license restriction or suspension if you simply plead guilty or pay the fine before your court appearance. For example, paying a super speeder ticket if you are under the age of 21 will suspend your license for points. Pleading guilty to hit and run will cause a license suspension with the possibility of a limited permit. An experienced attorney can help you navigate through any license issues that may arise.

3. Pleading guilty can have ill effects on your career in the future: 

Whether you plan to drive for Uber in the future, or you must recertify yourself with a professional licensing board, having to report a conviction may affect your career. We hear from CPAs, Nurses, Doctors, Uber Drivers, CDL Drivers, etc. on a weekly basis who seek our help to remove a conviction from their record. Criminal record restriction in Georgia is only possible if your charges are dismissed, or you completed a court-supervised conditional discharge or diversion program, or you were found not guilty of all charges by a judge or jury. Calling an attorney once you have been convicted may be too late to help with your career.  Georgia no longer has expungement. 

4. An Attorney can advise which legal route is best: 

An attorney can help you navigate through the legal process and advise you whether a trial is a good alternative for your situation. Fighting your case gives you the possibility of having the charges completely dismissed if you are found not guilty. Pleading guilty forfeits your right to a bench or jury trial. 

5. An attorney can help minimize the punishment in your case:

The best time to negotiate the best possible outcome is before you plead guilty in your case. Having an experienced attorney who knows the ins and outs of your case along with every possible legal and factual defense can help to mitigate your sentence. An attorney can help with sentence alternatives such as house arrest or work release instead of jail time.  Once you have accepted the sentence and have pled guilty, it is very difficult to receive a sentence modification from the courts. 

Most of the time we have to tell callers, who have are closed their case,  there is nothing we can do to help.  Call while your case is pending, not after.  Think of your long-term future while you still have one.