If you’re facing a DUI charge in Oregon you might be considering self-representation. Are you allowed to defend yourself in court? Yes. But the better question to ask is, should you? While there are many more legal resources available today than ever before, DUI defense is one of the more complicated legal defenses and it requires experience, resources, and time.

As a matter of fact, if you show up for your first court appearance without an attorney, some judges will turn you away. DUI is a serious issue that can have permanent effects on the rest of your professional and personal life. A judge may want to make sure you understand that and give you more time to go hire a lawyer before moving forward with your case.

Even putting a judge’s recommendation aside, there are several other good reasons why you should seriously consider hiring an attorney to represent you, instead of choosing to represent yourself. We’ll review the top 5, below:

1. Make yourself less vulnerable.

While the court isn’t going to take advantage of anyone who doesn’t have an attorney, it certainly isn’t going out of its way to do them any favors, either. Simply because it isn’t the court’s job to help you, that is your attorney’s role. And if you show up in front of the judge on a DUI without a lawyer, you’re sending a message to the court that you don’t think that a DUI arrest is serious. Reynolds Defense Firm helps to show the court that you are a good person who deserves a closer look.

2. The power of experience is on your side.  

Even though you may be smart and articulate, if you don’t know the law and you don’t have experience in court, you won’t know what to look for in terms of a defense. You won’t know what paperwork to file, what deadlines to be mindful of, or what legal issues to look for. People spend many years going to law school to become a lawyer. And they spend many more years becoming a specialized DUI attorney. When you hire a firm like Reynolds Defense Firm, you’re gaining the experience of competent DUI specialists to help you navigate through the legal system.

3. Access to more resources means more options.

Non-lawyer resources are limited. There are online databases, libraries, books, documents, and much more that attorneys have access to because of their schooling, credentials, or their personal collections. Further, certain agencies tend to provide requested documentation much quicker when the request comes from an attorney. Defending yourself without experience requires hard work and research. And research requires access to resources. You can rest assured that our team works hard, utilizing every resource possible to help get you the best possible results.

4. Gain peace of mind.

Handling a DUI case is time consuming. Especially if you are just one person, and even more so if you lack experience. When you hire a team like Reynolds Defense Firm, we take care of the legal side, so you can focus on the human side. Your job, your family, yourself. We have a team of attorneys and legal assistants to work on your case, saving you time and stress. A lot of people feel that hiring an attorney is worth it just for that reason alone.

5. Save money

Long term, the costs of trying to defend yourself in your DUI case will be much higher compared to hiring an attorney. Your lack of experience, limited resources, and limited time could result in higher fines and more detrimental sentencing. Reynolds Defense Firm can’t get you ‘back-door’ deals, but we have worked hard establishing great working relationships with district attorneys and court staff. Our ‘solid’ reputation helps us get the best possible outcome for you and your family.

Finding the Best DUI Defense Attorney

While you may be willing to defend yourself, and confident in your abilities to do so, you should at least take the time to speak with an experienced DUI attorney. One that can help you figure out what steps to take to set you up for success, both legally and personally.

Don’t make the mistake of trying to represent yourself. It is not a matter of how smart or dedicated you are. At the end of the day, DUI law is what we’re passionate about and it’s what we specialize in. If you’re facing a DUI charge, contact our office today to set up a free consultation.

We’re solid, we’re here if you need us, and we are very good at what we do.