I Never Get a Client's Seattle DUI Dismissed When They are DUI - They are All Innocent!

The blogosphere is a funny thing. Believe it or not, I am not the only Seattle DUI attorney running around here on the internet writing about stuff and letting everyone know what I think about stuff and hoping that someone reads it. Others are out there. And others are out there across the country. However, some of us are not so smart when it comes to the exposure something like a blog can give to a regular old Seattle DUI defense attorney.

What do I mean by that, you must be asking? Well, let me tell you. There is this guy running around in Houston Texas holding himself out as a great DUI attorney. And I don't know him, so maybe he is actually good. What I do know is that lately he's been in and out of the newspaper for some of his marketing methods that are, shall we say, less than honorable. First, he openly admits to bad mouthing other DUI attorneys specifically in order to get the business of that particular client. And second, he admits to leaving favorable reviews of himself on sites like Avvo.com, yahoo.com, and other outlets where reviews are available.

Although I don't really care how this guy acts, and I'm sure there are people like that in the Seattle area (though I don't know of any personally), it isn't really the best way to get business for yourself or promote yourself, particularly in a newspaper. Why not, you might be asking? Although those to methods may get you business when people don't know that you are doing it, when they do know that you are doing it, people immediately know two things about you, and both are dishonest. And, not only that, but the judges and prosecutors know about this, destroying your credibility in a world where credibility means a lot. I wouldn't want to be in this guy's shoes.

And the story doesn't stop there. Because I'm sure this DUI lawyer was a great quote and loved talking about himself, the newspaper just kept on asking him questions, and he just kept on answering them. One of the most boneheaded moves he made was to talk about his work for his DUI clients, namely that he'd gotten off a lot of people that were in fact drunk driving.

Why is this a bad thing, you might ask? Well, if you were one of the people he got off, then it probably wasn't so bad. But think bigger picture. Think about all of the people that read this newspaper and read this article. Think about the potential jurors out there soaking all of this in. Now, if you are representing someone accused of DUI in this area, all of the jurors may be thinking at least one thing, a lot of DUI lawyers get people off that were actually too drunk to drive - not exactly the mindset I'd like my jurors to have!

Additionally, if any of the jurors go home and research this attorney before they go to bed in between trial days, they will likely stumble across this article. And what is to stop them from assuming this guy is just trying to get off another one of his hammered clients? Opening your mouth can sometimes backfire, and here it may have backfired big time.

When my clients choose to go to trial on their Seattle DUI charge, it is not because they think I can get them off when they are guilty. It is because they were not driving under the influence such that they couldn't safely operate a vehicle and this is they only way they can clear their name. When you have junk science, junk field sobriety tests, and cops drooling over their next DUI stop, it makes sense that trials will occur. And it makes sense that those trials would occur not to get the guilty off, but to let the innocent go free.

If you are a Seattle DUI defense lawyer and want to market yourself that is fine and dandy. I do it. And I do it a lot. It must be done if you are going to be seen in this sea of criminal lawyers. It is unavoidable. But do it right. Stand on your reputation, encourage other DUI defense attorneys in your area, and don't be a jackass when talking to the newspaper.