Does Your Lawyer Have The Experience, Knowledge and Training It Takes to Win

For 17 years I have exclusively practiced criminal defense with the majority of that in the field of DUI and OWI defense. Since the very first day I have taken very seriously the trust that my clients have placed in me to handle these very difficult and emotional situations for them. As a professional criminal defense attorney, I believe it is extremely important to stay current and up to date on the most recent changes in my areas of practice. It is my professional obligation to never stop learning and to continually improve and find better ways to effectively represent my clients' interests.

From the very beginning of my career I have made a committment to attend at least three or four continuing legal education seminars or conferences every year. This helps to keep my mind sharp and prepares me with the latest information from the most authoriative sources on the lecture subjects and keeps me abreast of the constant changes that take place with the law. However, not all lawyers share this committment to continuing education. I know many lawyers who advertise or call themselves a "DUI specialist" or some other self-designated title that never attend any of these legal education seminars in their field. I know this because as a DUI attorney I take it upon myself to attend every one of these lectures in the state of Michigan and I see who is there. It makes me wonder how they can claim "specialist" status (which I'm not sure is ethical anyway) when they never go to any of these conferences or seminars.

Experience, training and knowledge are what make the difference in the results obtained for clients. Experience can only be gained with time. Older lawyers have it, younger ones don't. However, training and knowledge are easily acquired assets if you truly have the best interests of your clients at heart. I have attended the annual Michigan DUI Defense Update every year since 1995. In addition, I have also attended many conferences sanctioned by the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. As further evidence of my committment to my clients and my profession, I have most recently graduated from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Trial College and been certified on DUI Detection and Standard Field Sobriety Testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is the exact same training received by police officers engaged in alcohol enforcement. It is also my honor to have been admitted as a member of the prestigious National College for DUI Defense. I take seriously my obligation to my clients.

So, next time you are consulting with a criminal defense attorney or drunk driving lawyer, ask him or her what type of training they have taken or certifications they have obtained in order to call themselves a specialist.