Five Tips in Choosing Your Criminal Defense Attorney
Dealing with criminal charges is often intimidating, especially with the possibility of jail time. There’s a risk of damaging your character and reputation. The charges can also affect your future, even without a conviction.
With such high stakes, working with a qualified, experienced criminal defense lawyer is essential. Choosing an attorney goes beyond simply picking the best criminal lawyer by reputation.
You need to choose an excellent attorney, but you should ensure they are the best fit for you. This means a lawyer who addresses your needs and understands your particular situation.
It would help if you had an attorney that understands you, speaks your language and explains your legal options in a manner that empowers your decisions. Go for a lawyer who leverages the most effective criminal defense strategies to win your case.
The question is, how can you determine the best criminal defense attorney? Read on for the top five tips to help you make an intelligent, informed decision.
1. Choose Someone Who Specializes in Criminal Law
Hiring a lawyer specializing in criminal law is vital because it fortifies your case. Generally, most attorneys can present a strong defense regardless of the crime.
However, when facing criminal charges, you need a lawyer who focuses on crimes such as the one the charges against you involve.
There’s a chance the criminal charges may proceed to trial. Your criminal defense attorney should have the extensive trial experience to give your case the best chance.
Sometimes attorneys have to negotiate plea agreements with the prosecutor or judge. You need a lawyer with the skills to negotiate the best plea for you.
An attorney specializing in criminal law understands the importance of punctuality and responsiveness. They have the expertise to make swift judgments to strengthen your case.
The laws in any division often change periodically. You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who is proactive in learning any changes in the law that will likely impact your case.
At Half Price Lawyers, we have extensive experience in criminal defense. Give a call if your charges involve:
- Shoplifting
- DUI / DWI
- Burglary
- Arson
- Reckless Driving
- Domestic Violence
- Underage Drinking
- Assault & Battery
- Homicide
- Property Crimes
- Breaking & Entering
- Drug Offenses, including distribution and possession
- Financial Crimes
- Larceny
- Marijuana cases
- Any other felony & misdemeanors
2. You need An Experienced Attorney
There’s much at stake with criminal charges, especially if the case involves a violent crime. Working with a seasoned attorney is the best way to ensure a positive outcome in your case.
A well-experienced criminal defense attorney has unique access to results and references from past successful cases.
Every court has a unique way of handling cases, and so does every judge. It would be best if you chose a lawyer who is well-versed in the local courts in your area. Understanding the ins and outs of the court involved in your case can help develop a winning strategy.
An attorney with expertise in navigating local courts likely has meaningful connections. They may already know the judges and attorneys handling your case. These local relationships and connections can be vital when facing criminal charges.
When selecting a criminal defense lawyer, it’s essential to determine how confident they are in the courtroom. You need a powerhouse lawyer who will dominate the situation rather than let the situation oppress you.
You can tell an attorney’s confidence by their experience in the courtroom and how they carry themselves. You need a lawyer who can confidently take charge rather than someone who sits back to watch.
Our seasoned defense attorneys will strive to find the most suitable solution to any legal challenge you may face. We don’t back down from a court battle, and in fact, it’s where we shine best.
3. Your Criminal Defense Lawyer Should Prioritize Communication
With criminal charges, delays can work against you by worsening your situation. It’s best to seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
When selecting the best defense lawyer for your case, you must consider how patient and responsive they are to you.
You can get a feel of their character and personality during the initial consultation. Luckily, most attorneys offer a free case review where they decide whether to accept your case.
If the attorney or law firm you approach takes over a business day to respond to your meeting request, it’s best to look elsewhere.
This can indicate how future communication will likely go as your case proceeds. You need an attorney and law firm that swiftly addresses your inquiries.
Avoid lawyers who only interact with clients when the time comes to settle payments. You need a responsive attorney who can study and understand all angles of your case to ensure you get the best solutions possible.
But what’s the point of having the most successful criminal defense lawyer if you can reach him when necessary? If you’re paying someone to fight on your behalf in a court of law, they should be able to offer prompt, thorough communication.
Time is highly precious in a court of law. If you’re having challenges contacting your criminal defense, perhaps it’s time to reconsider your choice.
At Half Price Lawyers, our doors are always open, and we welcome walk-ins. Feel free to visit our offices any weekday or schedule a free consultation online.
4. Experienced Attorneys Work as a Team
Getting ready for a criminal court case is a team effort. Even the best criminal defense attorney requires a strong team to ensure a positive outcome.
The best defense attorney for your case should have access to other criminal lawyers, paralegals, and an administrative team.
Hiring a criminal defense lawyer means you’re enlisting the services of a team of legal experts. Other employees within the law firm will also play vital roles in your case.
Find out some information about the team before placing your case and possibly your future in their hands. You can inquire about the team’s legal experience and work experience at the firm.
Think about it this way; if the best criminal attorney at the firm falls ill, are there equally-qualified team members who are ready to step in?
We take pride in our team, where each lawyer has more than twenty-five years of experience. Our team has access to a network of qualified experts to help the juries with technical information.
5. Review Testimonials
Once you identify the right attorney to handle your case, the next step is verifying that they have the skills and qualifications they promise. Previous clients are best to give honest opinions about the attorney’s capabilities.
You can start by perusing client testimonials on their website to see the type of cases they have experience with and the outcomes. You can also request the attorney to share some references.
Reputable lawyers should have clients who willingly vouch for their character and skills. However, the mere fact that a lawyer shares a long reference list shouldn’t prompt you to hire them.
It’s best to carry the sheet home and dedicate some time to contacting some people on the list. If the information you get is satisfactory, you can sign the agreement.
What better way to prove our track record than over 120,000 successful clients?
How a Half-Price Defense Attorney Can Assist with Your Criminal Case
Choosing the right criminal defense lawyers requires work and dedication, but the effort is worth it. The skills of an experienced defense lawyer can significantly impact your criminal case.
Here are some fundamental ways our seasoned attorneys can contribute towards a positive outcome in your case:
- Explaining how the justice system works to help you understand your legal options
- Empowering you with sound guidance and legal advice as necessary
- Communicating with the district attorney on your behalf
- Fighting for your rights as a United States resident
- Negotiating a plea bargain with the district attorney
- Presenting arguments and evidence in a trial on your behalf where necessary
- Providing honest answers and explanations to all legal questions
- Working assiduously to ensure you’re free from police custody
- Collecting evidence that may benefit your case
- Consulting other experts about the details of your case
- Overseeing an independent investigation into the filed allegations
- Submitting all legal documents to the court on your behalf
Take Charge of Your Future
Criminal defense attorneys are different, so naturally, the level of representation they can offer differs. When choosing the best defense lawyer for your case, it’s essential to consider various aspects.
Whether you’re innocent or guilty, working with the right attorney affects the chances of achieving a positive outcome.
If you have any legal challenges and are wondering where or how to start, Half Price Lawyers offer a helping hand. During your free consultation, we’ll discuss the details of your case and develop the best legal strategy for your case.
Schedule a no-obligation consultation, call or message us online and let us take care of all the heavy lifting.