Grieve Law's 21 Most Asked Questions Attorney answers to help you beat your charges.

Q: What kinds of cases are you able to beat?

A: The attorneys at Grieve Law have had all types of cases dismissed or reduced including, but definitely not limited to, drunk driving, felony drug charges, identity theft, and domestic violence.

Q: Where do you take cases?

A: We are a statewide law firm with offices in Brookfield, Madison, Milwaukee, and Appleton. We practice in all 72 counties in Wisconsin including Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, Dane County, Columbia County, Racine County, Ozaukee County, Washington County, Dodge, County, and many more.

Q: Do we need to meet in person?

A: We are always happy to do consultations over phone, Zoom, or in person. If your consultation is done over the phone or virtually, we can accept payment over the phone and get your paperwork electronically.

Q: What should I do if police want to question me?

A: It is true that anything you say to the police can be used against you. If police want to question you, your first step should be to call an attorney. It is extremely difficult, and often impossible, to take back any statements made to police. Before you agree to speak with police, you should consult our attorneys to discuss your options.

Q: The police want me to sign a consent to search — should I do it?

A: No, you should not sign a consent to search form without speaking to an attorney. Police must have probable cause or a warrant to conduct a search unless you give them consent. Do not give up your right to be protected from illegal searches just because the police ask nicely.

Q: Should I give any information to the police before I hire an attorney?

A: You should not provide any information to the police before you speak with an attorney. Anything you say can be used against you, and even if you are innocent, the police can misinterpret statements you make.

Q: What if cops want to search my car or home?

A: The police must have probable cause or a warrant to legally search your car or home. If the police want to search your car or home and don’t have a warrant, do not consent to any searches and call an attorney. If the police begin searching anyway, do not resist, but do not give any consent. Illegal searches can be challenged by our skilled attorneys.

Q: Do I need a lawyer if I’m only charged with a minor offense?

A: Even minor offenses can have life-long consequences. You may be required to report any conviction on job applications, leasing or mortgage applications, or applications for professional licenses. You may also find it more difficult get a job with even a minor conviction on your record. You should always hire a lawyer to help you avoid as many consequences as possible in any case.

Q: Isn’t a First offense OWI just a ticket?

A: In Wisconsin, a first offense OWI is not a criminal offense – it’s a ticket. However, the consequences of an OWI 1st are far greater than “just a ticket”. You will face a driver’s license revocation, potential ignition interlock device, fines, alcohol classes, and increased insurance costs for many years. Additionally, you may be required to report an OWI 1st conviction on employment applications or other applications such as a lease or mortgage, or a professional license.

Q: Do I still need an attorney if I am innocent of the crime I am being charged with?

A: Yes! Just because you are innocent does not mean the prosecutor will agree that you are innocent. If they believe they can proceed with the case against you, they will. You need our experienced attorneys to properly present the evidence of your innocence.

Q: If I plan on pleading guilty, do I still need a lawyer?

A: You should never go into court without the help of a skilled attorney. Even if you plan on pleading guilty, an attorney can help make sure that you take advantage of any defenses you might have, and also help to minimize whatever consequences you may face, including jail time and fines.

Q: Can I hire any lawyer for my criminal case?

A: You can hire any lawyer that will take your case to handle your criminal legal matter. However, not all criminal attorneys are created equal. Most attorneys handle a little bit of a lot of different types of law. To get the best results in your case, you want to hire an attorney who focuses on criminal law and knows the ins and outs of the criminal justice system. Just because they are an attorney who handles criminal defense doesn’t mean they are a good criminal defense attorney.

Q: Can a criminal defense attorney guarantee a good result?

A: No attorney can guarantee you any specific result in a case. There are too many variables that are outside of the control of the attorney to be able to guarantee a favorable result.

Q: How do I choose the right criminal defense attorney?

A: Choosing the right defense attorney can make the difference between suffering life-long repercussions from one bad night and putting that bad night behind you as only a blip on the radar. When choosing your criminal defense attorney, you should consider many factors. Whether criminal defense is the attorney’s primary area of practice, how long they have been handling criminal defense cases, and online reviews are good pieces of information to consider when choosing your attorney. These are not the only important aspects of representation to consider, but they are a good place to start.

Q: What do I do if there is a warrant out for my arrest?

A: It is very important that you contact one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys to try and figure out if and why you may have a warrant for your arrest. During the consult, you can use that time to figure out a plan to quash the arrest warrant and see what your options may be.

Q: I was arrested and now I have a court date with criminal charges. What do I do?

A: It is now imperative that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible. You have had police contact, which means that you need to make sure your future is protected. Any of our attorneys will be able to walk you through any phase of a criminal investigation. Additionally, if police have reached out to you and you have not responded, it is very important that you speak to an attorney before reaching out to the police.

Q: When should I hire an attorney to help me?

A: While we can be brought on at almost any stage of a case, the sooner an attorney is involved, the better. We can work on a case pre-charging to work and see if we can prevent charges from being filed after a police encounter. Because a lot of our attorneys are former state prosecutors, we know what the charging process looks like and can sometimes pluck a case from turning into charges if we have enough time. As soon as you are charged, though, it is imperative to have an attorney by your side. Even the first court, also known as the initial appearance, has a lot of moving parts that will require an attorney by your side. This includes things like bail, bond conditions, whether there is probable cause to charge you, and many other things.

Q: How much should I tell my lawyer?

A: Your attorney will be able to do a much better job for you if you are honest and give them every detail of your case. The smallest things can be very important to your case. Attorneys do not like surprises, so it is important to be upfront, even if it is embarrassing. In negotiating, trials, and anywhere in between, the truth will come out, so it is better to prepare and plan so that we are ready. The nice part about honesty with your lawyer is that it remains confidential between you and your attorney. So, even if you tell us something that is incriminating or something you do not really want to admit, your attorney cannot tell anyone else without your permission. Judges, police, and prosecutors are not allowed to listen in on attorney-client phone calls, and this allows you to freely speak without fear it will be held against you later on. This occurs as soon as you call us for a consultation, even if you decide not to hire us.

Q: What are your fees?

A: Each case will have its own unique fee based on the number and type of charges, their complexity, where the case is located, and many other factors. A majority of our cases are done on a flat fee basis.

Q: Do you accept payment plans?

A: Yes, we sure do! We understand that you are certainly not planning for new criminal charges and understand that you will not have all the money upfront. We will work with you to find a payment plan that fits your needs and finances.

Q: Do you accept credit cards?

A: Yes, we do. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders.