Q= Now that I have been charged and hired you as my lawyer, what are some of things I should be doing?

Q= Now that I have been charged and hired you as my lawyer, what are some of things I should be doing?

A= There are many things you should do (and not do). Once I have been retained, you should put all of your legal worries on my shoulders. You should focus on yourself, your family and your employment—get back to your normal life. Let me worry about your legal matter and carry that burden as best you can—no matter how serious it may be.

In addition, besides the obvious, such as remaining law abiding and staying out of trouble, you should:

ü Abstain from the use of alcohol and non-prescribed drugs.

ü Continue with any treatment or counseling.

ü Complete a Chemical Assessment (CA) (a/k/a “a Rule 25,” “a Chemical Use Assessment,” “a Chemical Dependency Assessment,” or “a Chemical Evaluation”) as soon as possible (preferably prior to your first/next court appearance).

ü Continue with (or start) any recommendations of your CA.

ü Comply with any Pre-Trial Orders or Conditions of Release.

ü Refrain from driving unless you are valid to do so (and have insurance).

ü Provide me with any and all information concerning your case, e.g., witness contact information, documents you received, family contacts, etc.

ü Stay in regular contact with me and respond quickly to any of my requests.

A CA is very important in all cases where there are allegations of alcohol and/or drug use. A CA involves an assessment by a trained and experienced counselor/assessor in the field of chemical dependency education. The counselor/assessor will provide a written CA, which includes a prognosis and recommendations, e.g., 8-hour Educational Course, to provide you, the courts and/or probation with information regarding what you may need to improve your life.

Not only is the CA generally required in all alcohol/drug-related incidents, it is also important because it shows that you are being proactive by taking responsibility for your matter—even before the court or probation tells you to do so.

Of course, if applicable to your case, you will also need to be aware of the status of your driver’s license (DL) at all times. You can verify your DL status online at:

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/

Ø by clicking on "Online Services"; then

Ø by clicking on "DL Status"; and then

Ø entering your DL #; or

Ø by calling the DPS at (651) 296-2025. I recommend that calls to the DPS be made as early in the morning as possible, and that you have your DL # readily available. Be prepared to be put on hold for an hour or more.

Call Me, Matthew L. Thornton, Esq.: (651) 699-2007