Criminal Defense Law Center: 5 Things To Look For In A Criminal Defense Attorney
When you’ve been arrested for a crime, you need to hire an expert criminal defense lawyer to represent you in court. You simply cannot risk your freedom with a public defender, court-appointed attorney, or represent yourself. While the price may be an indication of competence, you should not simply hire the most expensive attorney you can afford.
The hard truth of the matter is that sometimes bad lawyers also charge high prices.
There is no golden rule to follow when it comes to retaining a great criminal defense attorney to work with. There are traits that all good defense lawyers have that you should look for when looking to retain counsel.
Never forget that if you are facing criminal charges, you will be hammered with stiff fines, incarceration, and probation if you are convicted of the crimes you are accused of. The right lawyer might win your case or at least mitigate the damages of a criminal conviction. The wrong lawyer will cost you money and could make things worse for you. Before you take the dive and hire a lawyer to help you out, consider these important factors.
How Much Experience Does The Attorney Have?
Always hire a lawyer who only practices criminal defense law. Even within this complex area of law, there are niches. There are some lawyers who only represent people charged with a DUI. Others may specialize in handling cases that deal with criminal sexual conduct. If you retain a lawyer who practices family law, business law and criminal defense law, you risk working with a lawyer who doesn’t have the vast experience in criminal defense needed to get their clients the best results possible.
Local Expertise
In some jurisdictions, judges are more friendly towards defense attorneys. There are certain prosecutors that are easier to negotiate with. Criminal defense lawyers also know that there are certain judges who dish out much tougher sentences than many other of their colleagues do. Before you retain an attorney to represent you on a criminal charge, make sure you find a lawyer who practices law frequently in your jurisdiction. You must hire a lawyer who knows local prosecutors and judges like they know the back of their hand.
What Type of Reputation Does The Lawyer Have?
There are some people that think a reputation is simply based on a person’s honesty. Criminal defense lawyers carry many different reputations. Do they have a reputation for being a tough trial attorney? Do they have a reputation for getting great results through negotiation?
Here are two ways to figure out the reputation of the attorney you want to hire.
- When you have your sit-down consultation with a lawyer, inquire if you can talk with their previous clients about the quality of work they were provided. If these clients are telling you a completely different story than what you are reading online, strongly consider retaining a different attorney.
- Read testimonials and reviews you find online. Do not only read the good reviews if there are bad reviews online. Read the bad reviews as well and read the responses to the bad review by the lawyer. The best lawyers respond to all reviews, either good or bad. If the responses by the lawyer to bad reviews simply attack the reviewer, proceed with caution if you are considering retaining that particular lawyer.
Likable With A Charismatic Personality
While it is important to have a tough lawyer on your side who knows how to legally fight for you, you need to have an outstanding personal relationship with them.
During your case, you are a partner with a lawyer. Each and every important decision made will be done by both you and the attorney. It is not easy to make a choice that both client and attorney can agree on when there is no connection between the two. In order to hire a lawyer with a good likable personality ask yourself the following questions:
Does the attorney genuinely care about my case and me as a person?
Does this lawyer have the type of personality and can open up to?
Is this a lawyer I can talk honestly and openly with?
Can this lawyer earn the trust of a judge, prosecutor or jury?
Does this attorney explain this in a manner I can understand?
There are plenty of lawyers who have the skill needed to be a great criminal defense attorney but lack the personality and charisma needed to win over people.
Responsive And In Control
During the course of your criminal case, you will need to talk a lot with your attorney. If you hire an attorney that does not respond to their client’s phone calls, e-mails or letters you need to move on in another direction. The more your attorney keeps you updated on your case the more you will feel at ease. A lawyer who is in control will be able to keep their clients updated. If they can’t control their caseload and keep their clients informed, they are failing a key component of being a good attorney.
Final Thoughts
Always do your due diligence before you hire an attorney to represent you when you are facing criminal charges. Always remember that when you have been arrested, even after you post bond and are released, you could end up back in jail or prison if you are convicted of the charges you are facing. Do not face criminal charges without the best attorney you can find to represent you. Consider the points above, ask the questions above and you will be in good shape to hire the right counsel to help you out.
