How to Choose the Best Criminal Lawyer for Your Case

• If you have been charged with a crime, it is imperative that you find a suitable attorney to represent you in court. Even if the evidence against you is substantial, a good criminal lawyer will ensure that your sentence is as short as possible, and may even help you avoid jail time altogether.

 

• It’s true that many defendants don’t have the luxury to just pick and choose any lawyer they want, but that doesn’t mean you can find a good one. By looking for specific qualities and characteristics, you’ll be able to find the best criminal lawyer for your case and give yourself the best opportunity for a successful defense.

Check Your Budget

• When you or a loved one is charged with a crime, the last thing you want to have to think about is money, but in most cases it’s an unfortunate reality. It’s not totally uncommon for a family member to take out a loan or even mortgage their house to secure a top criminal lawyer, but for most people this isn’t the case.

• Before you start the process, figure out how much you can spend on your defense. Different lawyers charge different rates and in different ways, so it’s important to ask and find out exactly how it’s all going to work when you make your initial contact.

Check Your Budget (Con’t)

• Some lawyers will charge a retainer just to get started on the case, some will charge by the hour, some will charge a flat rate, and some will add in expenses other than the legal fees.

• Even though you’re anxious to get started and want the very best defense you can get, don’t just accept any fee structure and ‘worry about it later’. Owing thousands of dollars that you don’t have after the fact isn’t going to help and it isn’t necessary.

Check Out the Experience

• If you really want the ‘best’ criminal lawyer for your specific case, then experience and background is a crucial factor. You are entrusting your case and possibly your freedom to this person, so it’s imperative that he or she have the right experience.

• Basically, look for a criminal lawyer that has experience defending cases like yours. Most criminal lawyers will focus on a handful of different areas or will have a specialty. If that specialty is domestic abuse and you’re charged with credit card fraud, it might not be the best fit.

Check Out the Experience (con’t)

• Find out how long he has been in practice, how many cases he’s argued in court, how much of the practice is devoted to criminal case and how often he negotiates plea agreements with prosecutors. It’s true that you don’t have all the time in the world to go ‘shopping’ for a lawyer, but it makes sense to find one that’s going to represent you in the best possible way.

Check Out the Winning Percentage

• It may seem a little simplistic, but asking about a criminal lawyer’s track record will give you some great insight into whether or not she’s right for you. Basically, after you’ve found out that she has experience defending cases like yours, you want to know how often she wins those cases.

• If she has tons of experience, but rarely seems to come out on the winning end or produces outcomes you don’t want, you may want to look elsewhere. However, if she has a proven track record with cases like yours in both experience and outcome, you may have found yourself a winner.

Check Out the Winning Percentage (con’t)

• You want someone who has an inside-out understanding of the system and of police procedure. A lawyer who has won cases in court and through plea agreements will know exactly how to proceed in order to get you the very best outcome possible.

Referrals & Reviews

• Reading other people’s reviews of a lawyer’s performance or asking for referrals is a great way to get the ball rolling. These days, you can probably find out a lot of information online, and sometimes just asking family members or the people you know will produce some valuable leads.

• Most people are more than happy to share their experiences, and while most people probably haven’t had the need to use the services of a criminal lawyer, the information you want is out there. Don’t be afraid to be thorough and don’t be afraid to expect the most from the lawyer you choose. You’re paying for the very best defense and the very best defense is what you should get.