If you find yourself facing criminal charges it’s in your best interest to have a knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense attorney in your corner. Having one of these attorneys on your side could mean the difference between freedom and spending years locked up behind bars.
But what are the most important things to look for when hiring a criminal defense attorney? And how do you go about finding the best professional for the job?
In this article, we’ll share 5 helpful tips for hiring a criminal defense attorney so you get the best possible legal representation for your case.
Check That They Specialize In Criminal Law
Law firms will typically offer criminal defense services for potential clients, yet that doesn’t mean that this is a legal area that they specialize in! When you are looking to hire a Phoenix top Criminal lawyer (or in your local area), their experience in criminal law will be extremely relevant to your circumstances.
Hiring a private attorney specializing in this area could be the difference between winning and losing your case. If you live in Texas, for example, you should look at hiring attorney Mark Lassiter in Dallas to defend your case. Thanks to your knowledge of criminal law, these attorneys can effectively fight for your freedom and rights.
By inquiring about their criminal law experience, you can get a good idea about whether the attorney is well suited to your case.
For example, if you are looking for a Phoenix DUI lawyer (or one nearer your location), you will need to whittle down the choices available to you. Most of the lawyers that you encounter will have no problem giving you a breakdown of what they can do for your particular case.
Look At Their Experience
If you’re looking to hire a criminal defense attorney, you’ll want to ensure they have the experience to support you and help you to succeed in your case.
Generally speaking, an attorney with more years of experience in this particular field will have a much higher rate of success than a lawyer without this type of critical experience.
In an initial meeting, make sure that you inquire about successful cases in the past and for more information about their career background. If the lawyer refuses to discuss specific experiences or provides you with more vague responses, you may not want to hire them.
It might cost you more money in the long run but their expertise could prove to be invaluable!
They Are Proactive And Responsive
Time is of the essence when you’re being charged with a crime. As a result, you’ll want a criminal defense attorney who will begin working on your case as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. A proactive lawyer will be in regular contact with you to ensure they have all the correct information, which will allow them to properly handle your case.
This entire process can be confusing and stressful but a good criminal defense attorney will be accessible whenever you need them to address your questions or concerns. Note down their initial response time and whether they request that you leave them a message as this will be a good indicator of how effective their communication will be.
Fees Are Laid Out
A trustworthy criminal defense attorney will be very upfront about their fees, with no hidden surprises or additional fees. Make sure you have a written contract with the attorney that details the fee structure they have laid out so they cannot legally charge you more money or refuse any of the services that they’ve already offered.
When hiring a criminal defense attorney, you need to keep an eye out for super low or high service fees. If a potential attorney has a bad reputation they may begin with a low fee and then add some extra costs as the process moves forward.
If a firm has extortionate prices you might also want to look elsewhere to hire the best attorney for you. Chances are you won’t be getting your money’s worth.
They Are Confident
You’ll want to hire a criminal defense attorney who has confidence in their skills, knows what they are doing, and can be persuasive in court. This will provide you with the best possible defense. Obtaining such confidence will come with experience with the entire criminal process.
You’ll likely get a feeling for their confidence levels when you meet them in person. If they have a firm handshake, can hold eye contact and have confident body language, this is a great indicator of their confidence.
Summary
These are some of the tips you must consider when hiring a criminal defense attorney. Looking at their success rate, confidence, responsiveness, and confirming that they specialize in criminal defense will give you the best chance of winning your case.
Related Posts:
- How criminal lawyers can help you get off scot-free
- Here is how criminal lawyers can help you get off scot-free
- Why You Should Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer
- Questions to Ask When Meeting a Lawyer
- Top Reasons Why You Might Need to Hire a Lawyer
- How to Support Your Loved One Through Legal Troubles
- Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer Secrets
