How to hire a criminal defense attorney

He thought he’d waited long enough at his friends’ house after the party, but the breathalyzer tells a different story: A DUI is in his immediate future. Maybe the jerk sitting next to you at the bar finally got under your skin and in a moment of weakness you lost your cool and now he has an assault charge against you. No matter how he got to this point, he needs to hire a criminal defense attorney. This may seem like a daunting task as getting arrested is very intimidating and it is important to get the best possible legal representation.

Hopefully, these tips and pointers will get you on the right path to hiring an attorney to represent you well. When looking for an attorney, keep the following in mind:

1) Make sure the attorney you hire has experience with your type of crime. Defending a felony possession of narcotics is very different from defending a DUI. When interviewing an attorney, be sure to ask how much experience they have with your type of case.

2) Talk to your friends. You may know someone who has had to hire a criminal defense attorney. A referral is a great way to get to know a good attorney, as the person who referred you can tell you how the attorney did on all aspects of the case.

3) Any attorney you wish to hire must offer a free initial consultation. This could be 10 minutes on the phone if you are in custody or 30 minutes if you can meet with the attorney in person. Don’t hold back: be very direct and honest about your situation. Failure to provide a full disclosure may negatively affect your case and cause additional expense. Beware of any attorney who does not provide a free initial consultation or require payment for this time.

4) During the initial consultation, ask who will handle your case. Many high-profile criminal defense attorneys have their associates do all the work. You may agree with this, but many people want the attorney they speak with to handle their case directly. In general, the more well-known the attorney, the more likely they are to become less involved in your case.

5) Make sure the terms of the engagement are clearly spelled out. Be sure to ask what the fees are for negotiating a plea deal and any other stage up to and including trial. Fees can vary dramatically from attorney to attorney, and you can avoid a big surprise by asking about them up front. An upfront retainer fee is usually required after the initial consultation. This fee can be many thousands of dollars depending on the crime you are charged with.

6) Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with the attorney and the firm. You will be working with these people in a very intimate part of your life. Feeling insecure about the employment relationship will do nothing to help you or your mental health. Listen to your gut. If something feels wrong, keep looking for a lawyer until you are sure you can feel completely comfortable with him or her.

If nothing else, these tips should give you a starting point to start looking for an attorney who will represent you professionally and effectively. If you have had an unfortunate encounter with the police, take the first step and call a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *