The NC DWI Guy

In today's episode we talk about how to grow your practice through referral marketing. Like most building blocks to a successful business, there is no secret recipe for referral marketing. At the end of the day, referral marketing is relationship marketing. It takes significant time, intention, and energy to build a referral-based practice. However, a potential client that has been referred your w...

On today's podcast the NC DWI Guy sits down with Jody Lanier . Jody originally handled a wide range of criminal, traffic, and DWI cases before focusing his practice on traffic ticket defense. Over time, Jody has developed his firm into a near virtual practice, something that is rare and cutting edge when it comes to criminal District Court matters. In 2020, Jody decided to move west to Boulder, Co...

On today's podcast the NC DWI Guy explains how to use N.C.G.S. 20-16.2 to attack the admissibility of the breath test. Under the theory of implied consent, a chemical analyst (typically a law enforcement officer) can request a breath sample from a person that is legitimately charged with driving while impaired. However, there are procedural requirements prior to the officer obtaining a breath samp...

On today's podcast the NC DWI Guy sits down with Ron Shook . Ron founded his law office in 2011 and practices criminal, traffic, DWI, and immigration in Gastonia, NC and surrounding areas. Ron is a superb storyteller and has an innate ability to connect with jurors of all different socioeconomic backgrounds. Ron taught a CLE earlier this year on Closing Arguments and brings much of his material fr...

In today's episode of the NC DWI Guy Podcast, Jake Minick talks about why it is important to spend some time looking at the wins and losses of your firm in 2020. Just like NFL coaches and players watch the game film from the previous week's gridiron battle as the first step to prepare for the upcoming opponent, you should take some time to reflect on the positives and negatives of 2020 before step...

On today's podcast the NC DWI Guy sits down with legal legend, Robert Reeves . Robert began practicing law in 1989. Over the last 30 years, Robert has seen the twists and turns that legal marketing and law practice management have taken and has a plethora of engaging and entertaining stories to share about the evolution of the practice of law during that period.      Highlights: Hear tales of the...

In today's episode of the NC DWI Guy Podcast, Jake Minick discusses the importance of getting a game plan for 2021. Following a year of uncertainty and chaos that has been 2020, it is vitally important to enter 2021 with a strategic plan for your firm that supports the strategic vision for your life. If you have not listened to Episode 1 on Firm Culture, go back and listen to that before you tune...

On today's podcast the NC DWI Guy sits down with Don Hammond. Don is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney with an emphasis on DUI defense. Don is a graduate of Occidental College and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.  Prior to completing his education, Don attended the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy, and since becoming a lawyer, Don has taken police training in St...

We complete our three-part series on DWI sentencing in NC. In this episode Jake Minick talks about the importance of getting your client prepared for a potential sentence from a DWI conviction at the earliest possible opportunity, the consultation. The NC DWI Guy goes on to lay out some of the best practices for representing a client charged with a DWI during the sentencing hearing itself.     Hig...

We continue our three-part series on DWI sentencing in NC. In this episode we discuss in detail the six sentence levels used in misdemeanor DWI sentencing in NC and the specific courtroom/criminal consequences of each sentence level.     Highlights: Review in detail the sentencing structure utilized by judges in misdemeanor sentencing hearings Learn the maximum and minimum jail sentences for each...

In this episode we begin a three-part series on DWI sentencing in NC. We kick off the sentencing discussion by doing a deep dive on the sentencing factors used by a judge during a sentencing hearing in NC on a DWI. Highlights: Review in detail the grossly aggravating, aggravating, and mitigating factors used by a judge in sentencing a DWI Understand the burden of proof when it comes to DWI sentenc...

A common question for clients charged with DWI is "how long is this going to stay on my record?" The answer to this question, like all good legal answers, is "it depends." It depends on the outcome of the case and also on what the individual is specifically asking when they pose this question.   Highlights: Learn about the timeframes that a DWI stays on a person's driving record, criminal history,...

Want to improve your chances of attacking a DWI based on a lack of probable cause. In this episode, Jake Minick, the NC DWI Guy, gives five easy-to-implement secrets for winning your probable cause motion. Don't miss out on these secrets to success!   Highlights: Learn how to tie the officer to his notes and cross examine based on the officer's report Discover the importance of sequestering the St...

This will go down as one of the most insightful and wisdom filled podcasts we will ever produce. On November 1, 2020 Jake Minick will celebrate 10 years since opening his firm. Today the NC DWI Guy sits down with his first ever employee, Henry Padilla, to discuss the successes and failures that Minick Law has experienced as a firm over the past decade. Henry has worked with Jake for 9 ½ of the 10...

In football, the announcers always talk about the value of playing with a lead and the disadvantage of playing from behind. The same holds true in business and in life. In this episode we dive deep into why playing with a lead is so important to your practice and discuss some practical ways for you to implement this into your firm.   Highlights: Why waking up at 5:00 a.m. (or finding that undistra...

Episode 26: Crush Q4 2020 With the uncertainty and stress caused by COVID in the legal industry, many district court criminal defense attorneys are ready to speed through the last three months of quarter 4 of 2020. Don't waste Q4. There is still time (90 days) to make Q4 a year that you can label as a "win" for your practice. In business, as in football, whoever is in the lead at the end of the fo...

In today's episode Jake Minick discusses some of the differences between NC Driving While Impaired and SC Driving Under Influence with SC attorney Christopher Brough. Chris is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and opened his own practice in 2005 which is located in Spartanburg, SC.   Highlights: Discover how a DUI case is processed in SC through the SC magistrates courts and circuit...

In today's episode Jake Minick talks with Megan and Scott Thomas who own and run Silver Lining Therapy in Asheville, NC. Megan and Scott provide a full range of addiction and behavioral help services, including alcohol assessments, ADETS (a.k.a. Prime for Life), and short-term and long-term recovery treatment. On today's episode Megan and Scott allow us to see behind the curtain of the alcohol ass...

In today's Episode we examine the recent Court of Appeals cases of State v. Kraft and State v. Eldred , both decided in 2018. These decisions are dynamite cases for the defense and every attorney in NC that regularly handles DWI cases should be intimately familiar with these cases. In this episode get an overview of the procedural and substantive value of these two opinions.   Highlights: Why it i...

Episode 22: NC Limited Privilege for Out-of-State or Federal DWI Conviction What do you do when you get a client that calls in who is a North Carolina resident that just got a nasty-gram from the DMV informing him that his license is going to be suspended for an out-of-state or federal conviction? James Minick walks you through the process of filing a limited driving privilege for a DWI conviction...

"Wanna Get Away?" is the famous Southwest Airlines advertisement. In contrast to this mantra, today we talk about the importance of proactively planning to get away in order to work on your business instead of in it. Get some practical tips on how to run an effective marketing retreat whether you are a solo or for your team. Highlights: Understand the value of holding an annual marketing retreat L...

In today's episode Jake Minick talks with Anthony Palacios of Impaired Driving Specialists LLC. Anthony is a former Drug Recognition Expert Instructor and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor. While in law enforcement, Anthony trained approximately 3,000 law enforcement officers in the detection of drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs.  Since forming IDS Consulting in 2008, A...

Work life balance is a misnomer. Your life is either balanced (i.e. centered on the right things) or it is out of balance (off center). Work is either contributing to your life being centered and balanced or it is detracting from the quality of your life. Today we consider the importance of work being at the service of your life.   Highlights: Listen to James' rant on the idiocy of the term work l...

Without Core Values your firm lacks an identity. Don't leave your legal business with a personality disorder – give your firm reality with Core Values. In today's episode, the NC DWI Guy discusses the important of Core Values to your legal business and gives an overview of Minick Law, P.C.'s Core Values. Highlights: Discover why uncovering your business' personality is important Why your core valu...

In today's episode Jonathan Dichter, of DUI Heroes in Washington state, reads an article he wrote for the Washington State Defense Journal entitled "I Will Stand With You." Jonathan was with us on Episode 9 of the podcast and is an expert storyteller, with a background in acting and stand-up comedy. Jonathan is the author of Innovative DUI Trial Tools which is a national strategy guide for DUI Law...