As a lawyer, there’s one compliment that always gives me mixed feelings. Someone hands me a complicated case and says, “I’m sure you’ll work your legal magic and everything will be ok.” It’s a nice thing to hear, but the reality is far from “magic.” Lawyers aren’t wizards, and what most people are talking about when they say “legal magic” is the complete opposite, and most lawyers don’t even know how to work it!
When it comes to fighting DWI and criminal intoxication charges, knowing the law is only half the battle. The other half? Science. For the strongest possible defense, only a lawyer-scientist will do.
What is a Lawyer-Scientist?
A lawyer-scientist is an attorney with a strong knowledge of biology, forensics, chromatography, toxicology and other related fields who puts these sciences to legitimate use in the court of law. In plain English, this means that your lawyer knows just as much as the science behind the laws as they do about the laws themselves.
This doesn’t mean a lawyer can just read a science textbook and declare themselves a lawyer-scientist. Lawyer-scientist is a highly exclusive designation (only 44 in America) given out by the Chemistry and Law Division of the American Chemical Society. In addition to their own independent studies, lawyer-scientists have to pass a series of ACS courses (in some cases, TWICE), maintain strong standing with the bar association and remain an active member of the ACS-Chemistry and the Law Division so that they can stay up to date on the latest scientific advances.
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer-Scientist?
To put it simply, hiring a Lawyer-Scientist can be the difference between a conviction and a “not guilty” verdict. A typical DWI attorney will take a .12 breath test and convince the district attorney to let you plea to reckless driving. A lawyer-scientist will analyze the scientific factors at play in your breath test, and bring any possible issues into evidence during your day in court. Both blood and breath tests have a lot of room for error, and it takes a special set of skills to poke holes in the test results without resorting to smoke and mirrors (you know, like a magician would).
Continue reading: To blow or not to blow breathalyzer
Put Science to Work for You
Only 5% of criminal defense attorneys can beat a breath test in court, and only 1% can beat the results of a blood test. Mark Thiessen has beaten both on several occasions. As one of only 44 lawyer-scientists in America, Mark uses a strong knowledge of biology and toxicology to help the jury see the real story.
Bad things can happen to good people, and bad technology has a lot to do with it. Don’t let junk science come in between you and your freedom. You deserve the best possible defense.
If you or a loved one are facing DWI or other criminal charges, schedule a free consultation with lawyer-scientist Mark Thiessen to get your case off to the right start.
