Meeting with criminal lawyers can be an important step towards building a successful case on your own or a loved one’s behalf. But it can also be stressful and you don’t want to leave it until the day of your meeting to prepare.
In this article, learn six things you need to consider before your meeting with a criminal defense attorney.
- Consider the attorney’s level of experience with your specific type of case.
There are arguably as many different branches and sub-specialties of law as there are practicing lawyers. What does this mean for your criminal case? It means that even if the attorney you meet with practices criminal defense law, that alone isn’t always enough.
According to the HALT Law Directory, you need to be sure that the criminal defense attorney has hands-on experience and success with similar cases to your own.
The more experience the attorney has that relates directly to your case, the better your chances become to achieve a favorable outcome.
- What do past clients say about working with that criminal defense attorney?
Here, it is simply not enough to rely on the testimonials you see on the attorney’s or law firm’s own website (what lawyer will ever put up negative references on their own site?).
You need to do your own search online to find out what past clients say about working with that criminal defense attorney.
- Make sure the criminal defense attorney is properly credentialed and licensed to practice law in your state.
As FindLaw points out, it is quite a lengthy process just to prepare to pass the bar exam and practice law. Even law students are permitted in courtrooms as long as they are properly supervised.
But each state sets its own requirements for attorneys that wish to practice law in that state. As well, some states permit or even require that attorneys obtain special certification to practice different types of law or try certain kinds of cases (drunk driving is a good example here).
You want to make sure that the attorney you are speaking with is licensed to practice criminal defense law in the state where your case will take place.
- Does the attorney have local court experience and the right connections?
As NOLO explains, the procedures to try a criminal case can vary quite a bit from one jurisdiction to the next – and even from one court to the next.
Here, it can really help if the criminal defense attorney you retain has prior experience trying cases in the front of the judge assigned to your case. This means the attorney is already familiar with how that judge likes matters to be handled in their court room and can do everything possible to expedite your case.
- Do you feel comfortable having this particular attorney speak on your behalf?
No matter how many law books you have read or how many cases you have watched, it is still nerve-wracking to have to stand up in front of a judge and speak. Your criminal defense attorney will have the in-court experience you lack and will be speaking for you.
So the question you have to ask yourself is whether you feel comfortable and confident that the attorney will represent you well. This can be a very personal decision and is worth thinking through carefully.
- Can you afford the attorney fees (versus going with a public defender)?
As Law Info points out, most but not all criminal defense attorneys will offer a free initial consultation.
From there, the type of case you have may determine how a criminal defense attorney’s fees are assessed. Be sure to consider how you will afford the attorney fees as your case moves along.
These tips will help ensure you select the right criminal defense attorney for your needs.
