Being charged with a crime is a frightening proposition for anyone dreading jail time. To battle the charges and see to it that your rights are upheld in a justice system eager to put felons behind bars, you need a good criminal defense attorney. Even if you have no intention of going to trial and are only interested in pleading out, it helps to have a good legal mind on your side. A lawyer can give you advice on how best to proceed, negotiate with the prosecutor, and oftentimes, provide more specialized services than a public defender. But, not every lawyer is of equal worth. Here are some things you can do to ensure you find the right one.
You should definitely keep your goals in mind when looking for a criminal defense attorney. If you want to plead out, it makes little sense to pay top dollar to find a lawyer renowned for his skill in front of a jury. Likewise, you don't want a lawyer known for his ability to negotiate quick deals if you are planning to plead "not guilty" and fight the charges to your last breath. Lawyers are usually very straightforward when it comes to their strengths, preferences, and weaknesses. They won't want to take on a client who has a different endgame in mind.
You may be thinking that every criminal defense attorney is basically in the same field. But that really isn't true. If you've been charged with breaking and entering, for example, you'll want to find a lawyer who has a history of handling these types of cases. You don't want to hire a DUI lawyer for a murder trial. You can save yourself a lot of time and frustration by narrowing your search to those firms who advertise based on the types of law they tend to practice. If you have a relationship with a lawyer who doesn't quite practice in the right field, you can always ask them for a referral.
Sometimes, it seems as though every courtroom drama shows the relationship between defendant and criminal defense attorney as a combative one. For example, a brilliant lawyer is willing to provide the best service money can buy, but he still regards his client as scum behind closed doors. This is not reflective of reality. Find a lawyer you can trust and who will be willing to converse with you without laying down judgment. It isn't a difficult combination to find, so it makes no sense to settle for anything less.
You should definitely keep your goals in mind when looking for a criminal defense attorney. If you want to plead out, it makes little sense to pay top dollar to find a lawyer renowned for his skill in front of a jury. Likewise, you don't want a lawyer known for his ability to negotiate quick deals if you are planning to plead "not guilty" and fight the charges to your last breath. Lawyers are usually very straightforward when it comes to their strengths, preferences, and weaknesses. They won't want to take on a client who has a different endgame in mind.
You may be thinking that every criminal defense attorney is basically in the same field. But that really isn't true. If you've been charged with breaking and entering, for example, you'll want to find a lawyer who has a history of handling these types of cases. You don't want to hire a DUI lawyer for a murder trial. You can save yourself a lot of time and frustration by narrowing your search to those firms who advertise based on the types of law they tend to practice. If you have a relationship with a lawyer who doesn't quite practice in the right field, you can always ask them for a referral.
Sometimes, it seems as though every courtroom drama shows the relationship between defendant and criminal defense attorney as a combative one. For example, a brilliant lawyer is willing to provide the best service money can buy, but he still regards his client as scum behind closed doors. This is not reflective of reality. Find a lawyer you can trust and who will be willing to converse with you without laying down judgment. It isn't a difficult combination to find, so it makes no sense to settle for anything less.