Month: May 2017

The day a person is arrested on suspicion of a California DUI is very often the worst day of that person’s life. As the handcuffs are being slapped around the wrists, thoughts flood the mind of the person who has just been arrested for a California DUI: How long will I be under arrest? What will happen in court? What am I facing?

The first step is research. You don’t buy the first car you see at the dealership. With so much at stake, why would you hire the first attorney you talk to? Ask family and friends if they know a lawyer. You’d be hard pressed to not find anyone who hasn’t used a lawyer in the past. Lastly, check the California Bar Association’s website at Calbar.org to check if a lawyer has had any disciplinary action taken against them for misconduct.

It’s no surprise that lawyers can be expensive. But remind yourself that you’re paying for someone with the experience to help you make it through one of the most difficult times of your life. Make your decision to hire a lawyer based on experience, not cost. Fees for California DUI lawyers range from $1000 to $10,000. DUI defense lawyers almost always charge flat fees, not hourly fees. Often, the price of a DUI lawyer corresponds with their experience and what is included in the service. Sometimes, however, it isn’t. Make sure that you’re getting what you’re paying for.

I can’t say it enough. Hiring a lawyer is an extremely important decision and one that can have lasting effects on your life. Do your research and find the right California DUI attorney.

“What made you want to practice law now?” My mentor asked me recently. Except it wasn’t really the right question. The question needed to be “What made me want to take private clients?”  As in-house counsel for my company Ziba Beauty, I have been blessed to have only one client, yet there was  part of me that wanted to do more than that. I truly wanted to be in service to others. It hit me that there were many who could be helped with my license rather than just one entity so, almost two years ago, I began taking on private clients.

It’s been an amazing journey. From wondering “who would really come to me” to “oh wow, I am glad I brought in my best friend to help with the load,” I feel that when the desire, learning, and trust are there, clients do come. It is a great feeling that I am able to help people with solutions that make a difference in their live. That’s not to say that they get the resolution they want, however they do get certainty for the future. And that’s why I took this on: to provide clarity where often there is none.

Today, I got the chance to go to a networking event where a lawyer explained the elements of a lawsuit. What he really honed in on, and I agreed with immediately is that communication is key when deciding to sue someone. A lawsuit should be the last resort in a disagreement that has caused monetary, physical or emotional loss. Many do not realize that even if attorneys cut their hourly rates or did the work pro bono, court courts could still be in the thousands of dollars in fees, bonds, and filings. Not too much the time.  It is easy to say “see you in court.” Yet there is more to that.

You better be right, and even if you are, the reality is that sometimes you won’t still wont recover what you lost or nothing at all. Don’t get me wrong. This is not to suggest to not seek legal help, however, it is not appropriate for all matters. Which is why communication is key. Only when communication has completely broken down should one consider taking it to the courts. Trust me, you don’t want to spend thousands of hours and dollars to be proven wrong especially if all it would have taken was a clear head and communication!