Timothy A. Dinan

I am a recovering alcoholic who had five years of sobriety when I relapsed and was arrested for DUI. It was my third DUI and that is a felony. My fears were twofold. I was worried both about the legal consequences I would face, as well as the impact this incident would have on my long term recover...y from alcoholism. When I first hired Tim it quickly became clear that he was not only professional and highly skilled in the law, but also had a meaningful grasp of the human element involved in his work. I was not simply a client on paper to be rammed thru the legal system. He had an awareness and sensitivity to my individual issues, and that played a huge role as my legal situation unfolded. The incident that resulted in my arrest was pretty straight forward and I never had any illusions that I would somehow walk away without any consequences. What I was hoping for was to find an attorney who could help me navigate the process and clearly communicate to me what was happening at each stage. Like anybody, I also hoped that my consequences would be minimal and that in my case they would not only satisfy my debt to society, but would also serve to bolster my recovery from alcoholism. I am happy to report that with Tim's guidance and expertise, I was able to meet all of those goals. A felony DUI carries a mandatory jail sentence of 30 days to 5 years. Not only did I receive the bare minimum of 30 days, it was worked out that I was allowed to serve that time on weekends. In doing so there would be no interruption to my job, my recovery activities, weekly counseling, or contact with my family and other people in my support network. I received two years probation and, again, the terms were such that they both satisfy the court as well as help me to re-establish my recovery from alcoholism. I was 100% satisfied with my experience from start to finish and I would absolutely recommend Attorney Tim Dinan to anyone in need of legal assistance. He made the process bearable, and in doing so helped set the stage for my continued recovery. This was a tough season of my life, and I don't think I could have picked a better lawyer to be at my side.

In 2016, after taking the bar, I was flagged by the Character and Fitness Committee for a DUI that I was convicted of my first year of law school. I was really nervous, scared and anxious, especially since I knew my career was on the line. I also knew I had to hire an attorney, which made me ten... times more nervous, as the attorney who represented me in my DUI case did not have my best interests in mind. Luckily, I had no reason to be concerned. From the consultation through the end of the case, Tim was kind, upfront, comforting and incredibly helpful. I am so glad that he was the one with me at my hearing with the Character & Fitness panel. I know his preparation and work ensured a favorable result in my favor. He really made sure I was ready and able to show the panel that I was not the person I was at the time of the DUI and that I would be a competent (and sober) member of the state bar. I have now been an attorney for a little over a year, and my experience with Tim has greatly influenced how I treat my clients and cases. I strive to be as kind, helpful and supportive of them as Tim was of me. Thanks, Tim!

I contacted Tim after I received my Bar results and found out I was 4 points off. He understood my anxiety, and disappointment. He told me that he would review my bar essays and let me know what the odds of a successful appeal. He reviewed my essays for free, and promptly got back with me. He told m...e that he saw points to be won, but would not feel comfortable proceeding without more. Although disappointed, I appreciated the honesty, and knowledge of his expertise to know the likelihood of success. He knows anyone who has contacted him is willing to pay, and could've convinced me to retain him knowing I wouldn't succeed. But instead he encouraged me to sit again. His candid honesty is priceless.

When I found out I had failed the MI bar by 1 point (2 raw), I was strongly urged by friends and past professors to contact Tim. Doing so was the best decision I could have made. From the first phone call, I could sense that Tim understood my situation. Not only could he empathize, but he helped me p...ut my situation into perspective and gave me straightforward and realistic expectations for my appeal. Tim has a deep understanding of what a successful Michigan bar exam appeal requires, which can only come from years of experience. He gave every essay of my exam a meticulous review. The arguments he posed were backed not only by a clear understanding of MI law and the utility of model answers, but a vital understanding of what the Board of Law Examiners look for in an appeal and how to illustrate your answer before them in its best light. He delivered quality performance with his process and kept me appraised and involved in the decisions he made. By the time I received his free consultation and advice on which questions had the best chances on appeal, I was confident in leaving the work to a professional such as Tim. When I reviewed his draft of my appeal, I was so glad that I did. I received a call from Tim about my successful appeal results and welcoming me to the profession just before Christmas Eve. Tim is the reason I will be practicing law instead of studying for the next bar exam.