How To Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney
When you find yourself on the trouble of expensive penalties and fines or time in prison for a legal charge, then you should be starting looking for a criminal defense attorney. Hiring an attorney from an established Legal Firm, with a proven track record in handling cases of the same nature and have areas of specialization is recommended to make sure you are in good hands. Having a legal defense is a must if you want to clear your name and live a normal, peaceful life. If you are qualified, you may be entitled to get a court-appointed attorney.
Simply put it this way, the legal structure is intended to execute proficiently a criminal trial, and defending yourself alone is impossible. It does not matter how genius, smart, rich, influential, and powerful you are, the legal system cannot solely work for your favor. Be it for a divorce lawyer, real estate lawyer or even a sex crimes lawyer, getting a strong attorney to represent you at court is ultimately necessary.
What is a Criminal Lawyer
Since there is no criminal case that’s exactly identical to each other, criminal defense attorneys are equipped to select parts of the criminal case to create a unique case. They are experts who have ample knowledge and experience to find strong evidence and reasonings that can help in winning the trial.
Additionally, the best defense attorneys are those who can spot specific arguments that can effectively mitigate a potential criminal charge. They have the necessary skills that include analytical, logical, and communication skills that can negate strong statements of those who are filing charges. On an event that you are guilty of the crime, they can still help you out when it comes to lowering the fines and your potential jail sentence time.
Duties of a Criminal Lawyer
The everyday lifestyle of attorneys that are usually seen in movies seems to be glamorous but apparently, it’s not since it generally rotates on the following responsibilities
- Communicating with clients through in-person meetings, emails, calls, and video meetings.
- Constantly studying case file and documents
- Inspection of evidence and laws
- Writing necessary information that’s helpful on his/her case
- Creating a strategic plan on how to win the case
- Interview witness and reviewing security footage that can help with the case
- Constant coordination with the other party regarding potential settlements
- Court meeting and trials
All the said activities can be overwhelming and boring but they are vital to building strong blocks for a winning case. Defense lawyers mainly spend most of their time preparing for the case in comparison to the time they are being in the courtroom. Case preparation can take months to even years, in this way things can run smoothly during the trial.
If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, you might be hard on finding the best one. There are so many lawyers out there and choosing who to work with can be overwhelming. After all, your attorney can change your life.
Free Consultations
A majority of criminal defense lawyers provide their clients with free consultations. As such, it is essential that you take this opportunity to ask some questions to help you choose whether this lawyer is who you are looking for. On the day of the consultation, you should bring with you the needed paperwork and your list of questions.
Experience
Of course, everybody wants someone who has years of experience in a particular field. When choosing a criminal defense attorney, look at this specific aspect. However, it is best to keep in mind that a lot of experience doesn’t mean quality service.
In this case, you should ask the attorney how much experience he has in handling the kind of charge that you are facing. Most criminal defense lawyers have their niche that they focus on. Finding someone who focuses on your type of case is vital.
Check References
Every day, before we check in a hotel, book a restaurant, hire a person, and so many more, we tend to see the references to the place or the applicant. Are they any good? It should also apply when you look for a lawyer. Ask your trusted associates, friends, and relatives who they recommend. Choose someone who has more good recommendations than bad ones.
Fees
Before working with your chosen lawyer, make sure that you know how much you’ll be paying. Most of the time, attorneys charge a flat or hourly rate. In some cases, they have an additional fee if your case goes to trial. Knowing how much he or she is charging will help you get ready and see if their service is within your budget. You’ll also be avoiding any future dispute. Expect that the more experience a lawyer has, the more it will cost you. If a specific lawyer has a higher or lower fee compared to similar candidates, ask why.
Courtroom Experience
Just in case, you will need a lawyer who has courtroom experience. Heading to court can be pretty expensive however most of the time, it is better to find an attorney with such practice. Pick someone who isn’t afraid to represent you in court.
Takeaway
Let’s face it; a criminal charge is not the same as getting a traffic ticket. When under such circumstances, the first thing that you should do is to find an excellent criminal defense lawyer. From there, look for someone with experience, good reviews, ability to get satisfactory results, and a passion for law. Always remember that you should choose someone who is good at representing you. Don’t give your case to just about anyone. Take the time to find a good lawyer who can help you.
Author’s Bio
Brody Reid is an experienced and zealous trial attorney. Focusing on assisting injured individuals and their families during tough times, Brody has worked tirelessly to help individuals in his hometown in the years since law school. Throughout his career, Brody has successfully represented over a thousand clients in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, and Civil Litigation through jury trials, bench trials, and administrative proceedings.