Proving My Innocence

When you enter the office of a DUI attorney for a consultation or for other reasons, you may see more than just the attorney present. In fact, there may be two or three others hustling about, typing, making copies, and so on. Here is what goes on behind the scenes of your DUI attorney's services, who is working there, and what they do in regard to your case. 

The Administrative Assistant

This is usually the person at the front desk who greets you when you come in the door. He or she has a degree in business administration, and quite possibly, an additional certification or degree in legal matters. This person does all of the greeting, phone answering, and typing of documents for your lawyer. He or she may handle a few other responsibilities around the office, too. From time to time, a paralegal may act as the administrative assistant, if a lawyer chooses to do that. This professional may be the one that takes your payments for the lawyer's service fees as well as doing all of the above. 

One or Two Paralegals

Paralegals do most of the legwork and research in a law firm. They dig up the necessary and applicable laws, find cases where clients were released, acquitted, and excused, and research individual records for each client that comes into the office and wants to hire a lawyer. They may also make copies of records, produce legal documents that are free of errors, and file the documents after the lawyers get a good look at the documents and approve them. Because paralegals may also appear in court with the lawyer(s), they dress professionally and look the part. This sometimes makes it confusing to know who is who in the office if you have not already spoken to the lawyer you want to hire.

Another Lawyer or an Intern

Another lawyer may work with the lawyer you want to hire, but that is more unusual where DUI lawyers are concerned. More than likely, the extra person in a suit you see moving about is an intern, who acts as a gofer in the office and is responsible for fetching coffee, lunches, office supplies, and so on. You can tell that someone is an intern when everyone else in the office is giving this person a task to complete and he or she seems to be the lowest in status in the office.

If you would like more information about what goes on in DUI attorneys' offices or you need the services of such an attorney, contact a law firm like that of Stephen M. Bonanno Attorney at Law.