Let's say a traffic ticket is issued today, and if found guilty, it carries 3 points on the license for 1.5 years.
If the hearing is pushed off for 1 year, and the driver is found guilty then, do the points stay for only 0.5 yrs (1.5 yrs from the date of the violation), or the 1.5 yrs start from the time of pleading/being found guilty?

While on the topic, has anyone had any luck with the lawyers ganavim, who don't charge $1K and actually try to get the ticket dismissed?

It's from date of plea, not date of violation - sorry. I've known a few people who have successfully used lawyers, but they all charge huge amounts. People do successfully fight tickets on their own, too. If there are any discrepancies in your ticket (ie, make and model don't match your actual car) you have a better chance of getting off on the technicality.