I just had an arraignment and I already have a schedule for my pre-trial conference. I don’t know if it worked out just fine because I went without a lawyer during my arraignment. Do I need to have a DUI lawyer at a pre-trial to work out a plea deal?

Stella

Tulsa, OK

Technically and legally speaking, you could possibly represent yourself. But quite literally, you would be at the mercy of the court. Remember that the prosecutor would never be on your side. Some judges could be fair, but some of them are extremely harsh to those accused of DUI. This means that the risks are significant and these risks include jail time.

Your DUI lawyer could evaluate your DUI case to make sure there are no legal or police mistakes that should qualify for a dismissal. He/she could nearly negotiate for the minimum penalty allowed under Oklahoma law. He/she can also fight to have lesser criminal and civil charges dismissed, or entered as suspended/concurrent, so they don’t affect you, or further impact your auto insurance rates. The DUI lawyer could also your stress level by walking you through the process every step of the way. That way, you would understand what is happening and you wouldn’t have to worry about being treated unfairly.