| An all too common cause of accidents on the | | | | are subject to strict standards of professional |
| road is drunk driving. This is why the laws against | | | | responsibility. These standards are found in the |
| DUI (Driving Under the Influence) offenders are | | | | codes of conduct established by state |
| harsh and strict. | | | | associations. The specific rules vary from state to |
| However, alcoholism is a recognized as a disease | | | | state, but the basic ethical and professional |
| and thus, in some cases those charged with a | | | | guidelines are standard. They are that: |
| DUI who also can be proven to be alcoholic, may | | | | 1. A lawyer must represent his or her client |
| have an unusual means to fight charges. | | | | ethically, keenly and within the bounds of the law. |
| Alcoholism involves an intense craving for alcohol | | | | 2. A lawyer must competently analyze legal issues |
| that can be as strong as the need for food and | | | | as well as exercise knowledge of the law that is |
| water. Family, health, and legal problems are not | | | | applicable to the case he or she is handling. |
| adequate enough to convince an alcoholic to stop | | | | 3. A lawyer must communicate with his or her |
| drinking and there are those who experience | | | | client in a timely and effective manner and treat |
| chronic alcoholism their entire lives. Alcohol abuse | | | | his client as a member of a team. |
| can lead to drunk driving. But not all drunk drivers | | | | 4. A lawyer must be loyal to his or her client. |
| are alcoholics. | | | | 5. A lawyer must follow a client?s suggestions, |
| Thus, the line between deliberate and more | | | | unless they are illegal. |
| accidental drunk driving is a fine one. So if you are | | | | 6. A lawyer must keep his or her client?s |
| charged with a DUI, you?re next step will be to | | | | property separate from his or her own property |
| consult a DUI lawyer. Here?s what you can | | | | and funds should be kept in an escrow account. |
| expect. | | | | 7. A lawyer is expected to keep all information |
| The responsibilities of a DUI Lawyer | | | | about the case in confidence and should not |
| A DUI lawyer has expertise on laws of the road | | | | divulge anything, except in some rare |
| and the particular crime of driving while under the | | | | circumstances. |
| influence of drugs and/or alcohol. He has a great | | | | 8. Depending on the law governing a state, a |
| deal of responsibility, especially if his client is an | | | | lawyer is likewise prohibited from having a |
| alcoholic or alcohol abuser. An alcoholic client may | | | | personal affair with his or her client. |
| experience a car accident, but his or her illegal | | | | 9. A lawyer can only represent a willing client. |
| BAC (or blood alcohol content level) may have | | | | Aside from the above, a lawyer may have other |
| nothing to do with the accident. Proving beyond a | | | | responsibilities and they depend on the ethical rules |
| doubt that a car accident is not the fault of an | | | | that apply in his jurisdiction. Any violation of these |
| alcoholic motorist is a daunting task. | | | | rules may result in disbarment. |
| All lawyers, including those that specialize in DUI, | | | | |