Courthouse
brian sloan profile picture

Is There a Difference between Representing a Client and Defending a Client and Does This Create Confusion When You Need a DUI Defense Attorney?

Brian Sloan: I am Attorney Brian Sloan, discussing DUI and vehicular-related cases.

Interviewer: How long have you been practicing, first of all?

Brian Sloan: I’ve been practicing a little more than nine years now. Actually, I’ve defended over 2,100 DUI clients, and there’s a difference between defending and representing. They’ve all been felony or misdemeanor DUI charges.

Interviewer: What would be the difference between defending and representing in a DUI case?

Brian Sloan: It’s, in a way, an advertising point. I have defended DUI clients my entire career for the entire nine-plus years. All I’ve done is defend DUI cases. There are a lot of former prosecutors that will indicate that they have, quote, unquote, “represented” over 2,100 DUI cases or however many DUI cases they’ve done.

However, the problem is when they have represented on DUI cases, they have represented the prosecutor, they have prosecuted DUI clients, and they have done a number of trials and convicted those DUI clients, but that isn’t defending a DUI client.

Defending DUI clients is much different than prosecuting or representing DUI clients.

When Considering Retaining an Attorney, Don’t Be Misled by Claims of Experience

Interviewer: Do you think some people get that confused as far as when they’re looking for an attorney?

Brian Sloan: Absolutely. That’s what the former prosecutors rely on. A lot of former prosecutors will indicate that they’re former prosecutors to try and use it as a selling point, but when they have been on the side of prosecuting DUI clients for years and have only been defending DUI clients for maybe a couple months, they don’t want to advertise that point, so they will use the term “representing” rather than “defending.”

I have represented and have defended.

Is DUI a Selective Charge or Are All Drivers Susceptible to Being Charged?

Interviewer: Is there a typical DUI defendant that you deal with as far as age or background?

Brian Sloan: It really spans all ages, all ethnicities, all races; all different types of people. We are seeing more clients that are over the age of 50, simply because the types of DUIs that are being charged have seemed to flourish.

The Number of Prescription Medication Related DUIs Are Rising

We are seeing a lot more people that are charged with DUI prescription medication because the medication that they’ve been taking for years or sometimes decades all of a sudden is blamed for the reason someone has run a red light or failed to fully stop for a stop sign or failed to use a turn signal.

If someone is taking their prescription medications, even if they’re taking them as prescribed and even if they’ve been taking them for years, they are still in a position to possibly be charged with a DUI.

Drug-Related DUIs Have Increased Since Arizona Passed the Medical Marijuana Laws

Interviewer: When did that law become a little bit more relevant?

Brian Sloan: It’s been on the books for years. Probably the last five years or so, we’ve been seeing more and more of those, and we’ve been seeing more DUI drug charges when Arizona passed the medical marijuana laws.

Interviewer: People are still generally unaware about their prescription medications when they’re getting pulled over. They’re just generally unaware; is that correct?

Some Drivers Are Unaware That Their Prescribed Medication Can Impair Their Driving Skills

Brian Sloan: Yes. People take medications to help them. They’re not taking them recreationally. Most people take medications not to impair them but to make their daily lives easier. Unfortunately, if you take this medication and you do any sort of traffic violation, you open yourself up to a possible DUI charge.

Occasionally, those do end in convictions, sometimes to people who have never been in trouble with the law before and all they’ve done is be a law-abiding citizen and taken their medication, and one day it just catches up with them and the state decides to prosecute.

By Brian Douglas Sloan

city view

Call me today for an
‘In Depth’ Free Consultation

brian sloan profile picture
Brian Douglas Sloan

DUI ATTORNEY


aerial view of arizona
Best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix

Why DUI Attorney Brian Douglas Sloan?

19+

19+ Years SOLELY Focused on DUI Defense

4,200+

4,200+ DUIs Successfully Defended

Top Accolades

  • Only DUI "Power Lawyer" in the Nation Featured in USA Today, 2022

  • Top 10 in Arizona

Top 1%

Top One Percent in the Nation

Superb 10/10

AVVO.com

Preeminent
4.9 / 5.0

Martindale-hubble

brian sloan on the cover of attorney at law magazine

“I am one of only a handful of Phoenix DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.”

I have spent my entire career focused on Arizona DUI Defense representation, having personally defended over 4,200+ DUI clients in the past 19+ years.

If you’re looking for a divorce attorney, tax attorney, or civil attorney, I can comfortably say, "I’m not the one for you."

Coming up with traditional, as well as outside-the-box motions and defenses for my clients, often with good results, is the hallmark of my practice.

Lawyers that say they are "aggressive" or "will fight for you" are a dime a dozen. They use these phrases because they think people want to hear them. Being "aggressive" isn’t the same as being good and is often used to put on a show to hide the fact that they aren’t doing anything meaningful for the client.

The same is true for the lawyers claiming to do DUI Defense, Criminal Cases, Accident Cases, and Divorces. A Jack-of-all-Trades is a master of none! By handling all sorts of cases, they take away from their ability to truly focus on DUIs, and keep up to date on the latest changes in Phoenix DUI Defense Representation.

What I offer is intelligent, quality DUI Defense at an exceptional price.

I have not only taught other lawyers how to do DUI Defense Representation at statewide seminars, but I produced DUI Legal Guides used by defense lawyers across Arizona.

I am one of Arizona's most award-winning DUI Defense Lawyers, recognized nationally, including in a 2022 issue of USA Today.

There are no other private DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona that have personally defended more DUI cases than I have. And as a bonus, I offer a flat rate for my legal services without any hidden charges. This guarantees that I offer some of the most competitive rates among all Arizona DUI Attorneys, while being the preeminent leader in the field of DUI Defense Representation.

Over the years, countless people have come to me after discovering that their first lawyer made a mistake, gave them false hope or false promises, or simply took their money and didn't do much to advance their case. And you would be surprised at how often this happens.

So, instead of wasting time and money on the wrong DUI Defense Attorney, do yourself a favor and get the proven and documented best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix and the surrounding areas of Maricopa County.

You can reach me on my cell phone: 480-720-7839.


dui attorney brian sloan headshot

Brian Douglas Sloan

DUI Attorney

Free Initial
Consultation

small mail icon
Email address:
Sloan@ArizDUI.com
small location icon
2 N. Central Ave Suite 1929
Phoenix, AZ 85004
triangle pattern