If you or a loved one has been arrested, you may need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to minimize the damage and the ultimate impact this arrest could have on your life. Your choice of criminal defense attorney is extremely important, as choosing the right criminal defense attorney could mean the difference between a sentence of imprisonment and walking away scott-free. Here are some tips on how to choose a criminal defense attorney. Criminal defense lawyer near me.
Firstly, do not be fooled by marketing. The criminal defense attorney with the biggest ad in the Yellow Pages is not necessarily the best. In fact, the premier criminal defense attorneys in big cities do not advertise at all. They don’t need to. They get their business through repeat offenders, referrals, publicity, and word of mouth. A flashy ad does not a good lawyer make. Do your homework, and choose a criminal defense attorney with a solid reputation.
Choose the Right Criminal Defense Attorney
Secondly, do not be afraid to shop around. You do not need to retain the first criminal defense attorney who offers you a free consultation. Hiring a criminal defense attorney is a major event. It is more important than shopping for a car, and you don’t buy the first car you see on the lot. You learn about them, take them for test drives. Explain to the attorney that you are meeting with other attorneys to be sure you choose the most suitable for your needs. He’ll understand. And if he doesn’t, if he is insecure, he probably isn’t the best criminal defense attorney for you.
Thirdly, you should understand the nature of legal fees. Many criminal defense attorneys will offer you the option of a flat fee for all legal services performed or an hourly rate. The criminal defense attorney should explain these options to you in great detail, and help you to select the option that is right for you, not for him and his law firm.
Fourthly, keep in mind that sometimes the right criminal defense attorney is the public defender. If you cannot afford a proper criminal defense attorney, one will be appointed to you by the Court. Some public defenders are more experienced and better at their jobs than some attorneys in the private sector, especially those who charge lower legal fees. Find out the reputation of the public defenders in your jurisdiction so that you can make an informed decision.
Finally, you want to choose a criminal defense attorney who is aggressive and who will fight to protect your rights. You can tell a lot about a criminal defense attorney by his personality during the initial consultation (which, by the way, should always be free).
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like that you mentioned to consult with multiple lawyers to make sure you find one who is a good fit. It makes sense that choosing the first person you talk to might not be the best course of action. I am trying to find a lawyer who can help me fight the DUI charges I recently got. I will keep this in mind as I search, thanks.
Thanks for explaining that it’s alright to explain to attorneys that you are meeting with others to be sure that you are finding the one most suitable for you. If I were ever in the position to hire a criminal defense attorney, I would want to meet with several attorneys and get a feel as to who could help me out best. Learning more about the nature of legal fees would also be something I would make an effort in doing if I were prosecuted.
I like that you mention not being afraid to shop around. My brother is looking to hire a criminal and personal injury attorney. I’ll be sure to talk to him about not being afraid to shop around until he finds what he needs.
It was really helpful when you mentioned that I should find a criminal defense attorney who is aggressive and will fight to protect my rights and that their personality will easily be seen during the initial consultation. Thank you for the tips. I was already thinking of hiring an attorney to defend me for my physical abuse case because I want to prove that I didn’t do anything wrong. If ever, I even want to countersue for libel. I’m more encouraged now because of this.