A first consultation goes quickly. These questions, grouped by topic and tied to the statute guides, help make sure the important ones get asked. Tick them off as you go; your progress stays in this browser.
30 questionsPrints on one or two pagesLast checked November 2026
Why a Written List Helps in a DUI Consultation
Most people meet a Denver DUI lawyer for the first time within days of an arrest, holding two sets of papers they don't fully understand and facing a DMV deadline they may not know exists. Consultations are often short. A written list keeps the conversation on the questions that matter for Colorado law specifically: the separate DMV case, the subsections charged, the evidence rules and the effect of prior convictions.
This checklist is information, not advice, and it doesn't replace anything a lawyer tells you. It also doesn't recommend any lawyer. Use it with any licensed Colorado attorney you choose.
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01The lawyer and the arrangement
02The DMV license case
03The charges and the evidence
04Possible outcomes
05After the case
06Before you leave the meeting
How to Check a Lawyer Before the Meeting
Two checks take five minutes. First, look the lawyer up in the attorney search run by the Colorado Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which shows registration status and any public discipline. Second, read the lawyer's own website for what it says about DUI work, and note anything that sounds like a promise. The Colorado Bar Association also publishes general information for the public about working with a lawyer.
Red Flags Worth Noticing
If you hear this
If"I guarantee this gets dismissed"
Thenask what the realistic range is and what it depends on; no one controls the outcome
Ifno one mentions the DMV hearing
Thenask directly about the deadline on the revocation notice
Ifthe fee is unclear or unwritten
Thenask for a written fee agreement that lists what is and is not included
Ifyou are pressured to sign immediately
Thenask how much time you have before the first real deadline, and take it
What to Bring, and What to Keep Private
Bring every piece of paper: the summons or complaint, the DMV revocation notice, release or bond documents, any receipt or printout from testing, your license, and a list of medications. Write a short timeline of the day while it is fresh, and keep it for the lawyer's eyes only. Our general inquiry form is for questions about this website; please don't send case details to it, because messages to an information site are not confidential and create no attorney-client relationship.
Check the lawyer's Colorado license status before the meeting.
Ask about the DMV hearing deadline first; it is usually the closest one.
Treat promised outcomes as a warning sign, not a selling point.
Share case details with your lawyer, not with websites.
Verify Colorado amends its DUI statutes often. Check the current text of any rule mentioned in a consultation on the Colorado General Assembly site and ask a licensed Colorado attorney how it applies to you. Last reviewed November 2026.
Sheet 06 / Before the meeting
Four Checks Before You Hire a DUI Lawyer
Hover or tap a cell to read each check; click to hold it. None of these require sharing a single detail of a case.
01 / Check
License status
Look the lawyer up in the Colorado attorney search run by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. It shows registration and any public discipline.
02 / Check
DUI focus
Ask how much of the practice is impaired driving defense, including DMV hearings, and who on the team does the day-to-day work.
03 / Check
The DMV deadline
Ask on the first call who will request the DMV hearing and by what date. It is usually the closest deadline in the file.
04 / Check
Written terms
Ask for a written fee agreement that says what is included (DMV hearing, motions, trial) before any work starts.
Sheet
06 / 06
Checks
04
Time needed
About 10 minutes
Last checked
November 2026
License / Focus / Deadline / TermsNo case details needed for any check
Questions readers ask
Choosing a Denver DUI Lawyer: Common Questions
How do I check that a Colorado lawyer is licensed?
The Colorado Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel keeps a public attorney search that shows whether a lawyer is registered and in good standing, and any public discipline. Check it before a first meeting.
Should a DUI lawyer promise a result?
Be cautious of any promise of a specific outcome. Colorado's rules of professional conduct restrict lawyers from making misleading statements about the results they can achieve, and no one can guarantee what a prosecutor, hearing officer, judge or jury will decide. A good answer explains the realistic range and what it depends on.
What should I bring to a first meeting with a DUI lawyer?
Bring the paperwork: the summons or complaint, the DMV revocation notice, any bond or release papers, your driving record if you have it, and a list of prescriptions. Write down the timeline while you remember it, but share case details only with the lawyer, not with sites like this one.
Is a first consultation confidential?
Conversations with a lawyer about possible representation are generally treated as confidential under the rules of professional conduct, even if the lawyer is not hired. Ask the lawyer to confirm at the start. Messages sent to an information website like this one are not confidential and create no attorney-client relationship.
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