If you face criminal charges, then it is imperative for you to find a criminal lawyer. You will need the best possible help for your case which means that you cannot just hire someone without knowledge of what criminal lawyers are like. This means there are a few things you have to keep in mind when it comes to your attorney, most importantly, how to choose them.
You also need to look for one fast, which adds pressure on you. The answer is to look for lawyers who have the most experience, preferably of cases similar to yours.
Many good lawyers are busy, but that does not mean that they cannot instruct their staff, tell them what you need and eventually the attorney will get back to you. When they do, you must be fully prepared, because there are documents and paperwork they need as soon as possible.
These include the following:
- The Court Papers you have received
- Bail Papers
- Any search warrant given to you if your property has been searched
- Any copy of the recorded police report – if available.
It will also help your case if you can provide your lawyer with witnesses, evidence that works in your favor or even other defendants. It is also a good idea to bring a pen or paper along, to write down anything of importance.
Your Lawyer
Once you meet with a lawyer, you need to ask very specific questions. It is important for you to be happy with your lawyer and find out whether or not they have previous experience in dealing with cases like yours. You don’t necessarily have to get a lawyer who defends murder suspects, all you need is a lawyer who can give you straightforward answers to questions which include:
- Where did they attend law school?
- When did they graduate?
- How often do they get to go to court?
- Are they frequent when it comes to negotiating pleas with the prosecutor’s office?
- How often do their current clients go to court?
- Are they familiar with the charges you face?
- Which bar or professional associations do they belong to? (If they do)
Your Case
It doesn’t matter if you are charged with federal, state or county court when you see your lawyer, you have to ask a few questions that assess your case:
- What are your legal options?
- Should you get a guilty plea, a trial or a plea agreement?
- What parts of the case work in your favor?
- What are the problems that can be seen in your case?
- What are the expected stages of process?
After you ask these questions, determine a figure of payment and expected pay, you need to choose one from the lawyers you have questioned. It is important that you are very clear on the details of the process because your case will only be as good as the lawyer you hire. So ask all the right questions, and get the best lawyer, who will assure your chances of winning.
Benedict Ross is one of the leading writers when it comes to criminal lawyers and cases. His work has been cited by many paralegals and he has been a crucial part of the legal education. For more on law, head to djpsolicitors.com.
