Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney
The decision to hire a criminal defense attorney could be the most important choice you make in your lifetime. The way your case is handled can really make a difference and significantly impact your life. Here are some things to be considered when choosing an attorney to defend you in a criminal case:
Cost
The cost of hiring a criminal defense attorney sometimes dictates whether a person accused of a crime actually secures a good defense by paying the fees of a renowned attorney or just settles for the assigned public defender. Having a public defender is better than not having an attorney at all if you can’t afford to hire one; however, sometimes you really get what you pay for.
The importance of cost really depends on the charges and severity of being convicted of the crime. If the long-run consequences will include a death penalty, extensive time in prison or excessive fines, the cost of the attorney really doesn’t matter, you need the best criminal lawyer that you can get. Other crimes, especially on felony or misdemeanor charges, can affect your career. A criminal conviction may result in denial of security clearance, professional license, permit or credential. Additional effects may include reduced earning capacity or embarrassment n the workplace. It may be well worth the cost of a skilled criminal attorney to fight and win the case.
Specialty
If you are charged with a crime, of course you need a criminal attorney, not just any attorney will do. But, you may want to carefully consider whether to hire a specialist in the area. There are general criminal attorneys that handle any type of criminal charges and then there are those that specialize in certain crimes. Specialists usually have a lot of experience in defending people with criminal charges just like yours. Their knowledge and understanding of the law may be beneficial to you in the courtroom and it may actually save you money if you beat your charges or, if you plead out or are found guilty on fines and other costs associated with sentencing. Whether you attorney regularly appears in the court where your case will be filed may be a factor in your decision. Unfortunately, many States do not recognize some specialized areas of criminal defense, then your search should include organizations that offer specialties (American Bar Association) or State groups of lawyers that practice in specific areas.
Track Record
The track record of an attorney may be important to you. Of course it would be ideal to hire an attorney that has never lost a case that they fought in court; however, you just can’t win them all. Sometimes, even a plea bargain is a successful outcome in a case that can’t possibly be won. Knowing how many cases they’ve won compared to how many they’ve lost may just give you insight to their nature and judgment, rather than their success rate. Each case is handled differently. You will be working closely with your attorney, it is important that you like and trust your lawyer. It is smart to find out how an attorney approaches the type of case you are charged with when searching for the criminal defense attorney that is best for you.
The Situation
Your unique situation has a lot to do with selecting a criminal defense attorney. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself:
Are you guilty?
Is it possible that you could be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?
If the answer to either of those questions is “yes”, you will probably be best off with a defense attorney that is good at plea bargaining. If you are not guilty or you don’t think that the prosecutors have a lot of evidence against you, you will need a good trial lawyer who can and will take the case to court and strive to win.
Be sure to discuss the case in full with your criminal defense attorney. They don’t like surprises and they won’t be prepared to deal with them if you keep secrets or just tell them part of the story. Once you retain an attorney anything that you tell them is confidential.
How to Find an Attorney
Finding an excellent criminal defense attorney can be difficult. You can rely on word of mouth or you can do the research yourself. The yellow pages and the internet are good resources for finding a criminal defense attorney. You can also check with the bar of your state and get a list of attorneys that specialize in criminal cases and are licensed to practice in your state.
Make appointments for consultations with your top choices of attorneys. In the consultation, feel free to ask questions and to get to know how the lawyer will handle your case. Review public records of court cases that they have handled, observe them in court, and ask around to see if anyone knows them and what they think of them. Look for experience and a good reputation as a criminal defense attorney.
Above all, you have to be confident in your attorney, their competence and their style. Follow your instincts when selecting a criminal defense attorney. The rest of your life could depend on it one way or another.