Facing criminal charges can be scary, especially since you don’t know how it may impact your future. Securing the right criminal defense attorney is crucial, and you need to do it fast. If you wait too long, there will be consequences. For instance, if you start talking to police before you find a lawyer, you might incriminate yourself.
In this article, we’ll dive into how to find good legal representation before it’s too late.
1. Look for an attorney who specializes in fighting your charges
Not all criminal defense lawyers have the same level of expertise in fighting a given charge. It’s crucial to find one with substantial experience in cases similar to yours. Specialization matters – you need someone familiar with the defenses applicable to your case.
The attorneys at SBBL Law share, “When your freedom is at stake, experience matters. If you’re facing tax fraud charges, you don’t want a lawyer who mainly handles drug cases. You need an attorney who understands the nuances of financial crimes, forensic accounting, and federal investigations. Experience in your specific type of case can make all the difference.”
If you search online to find an attorney, be sure to include your specific charges in your search query. When you find potential lawyers, verify their practice areas before calling to make sure they have experience fighting your charges. Don’t waste your time calling lawyers who don’t routinely work with your type of case.
2. Ask important questions during your first meeting
During your consultation, have a list of questions ready to ask. For example, ask how many years they’ve been in practice, how much experience they have, and what educational credentials they have. Ask how they plan to handle your case, including how they’ll conduct the investigation and formulate your defense. If you decide to hire a particular attorney, get clear on how often you’ll be in contact to receive updates.
3. Heed red flags
Be aware of the warning signs that may indicate a lawyer isn’t a good match:
- Promised outcomes. Beware if an attorney promises a specific result. Although skilled attorneys can get optimal results, legal outcomes are not predictable.
- No transparency. If you can’t get specific information about fees, strategies, or experience, that’s a red flag.
- Poor communication. You shouldn’t have to struggle to get in touch with your attorney. If you miss important notices or responses, it can harm your defense.
These are just some red flags to watch out for. Use your discernment. If something doesn’t feel right, call another law firm.
4. Verify reputations
When you’ve got a few different options, take time to research each attorney to find out what their clients and peers have to say about them. Instead of trusting reviews posted on their website, go to sites like Trustpilot, Super Lawyers, Avvo, and LegalMatch.
A high number of reviews usually indicates an attorney is actively handling cases, but don’t just look at the number. Read both positive and negative reviews to get an idea of their strengths and weaknesses. And keep in mind that some negative reviews come from clients who were unhappy with their case outcome, which doesn’t necessarily reflect the lawyer’s skill or competence. When assessing negative reviews, focus on patterns rather than isolated complaints.
5. Check for disciplinary action
To find out if an attorney has had any disciplinary action taken against them, check the American Bar Association’s directory to find your state’s lawyer disciplinary agency.
6. Don’t hire the first lawyer you find for no reason
There’s a chance you might find the ideal lawyer right away, but that may not be the case. Resist the urge to hire the first lawyer you find just to get things moving. While it’s critical to move fast, don’t do so at the expense of getting a good defense.
7. Make sure you feel comfortable
A strong attorney-client relationship is built on trust and mutual respect. Before hiring an attorney, make sure you feel at ease with them, especially when communicating. It can help if you share similar values, but don’t rule out an attorney with different viewpoints where it isn’t relevant.
Be proactive about your defense
Finding the right criminal defense attorney is crucial for safeguarding your future. The right attorney can mean the difference between getting a favorable outcome and undesirable, life-altering consequences. By acting fast, you can secure the best possible representation for your case. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Do your research, ask the important questions, and choose wisely.
Founder Dinis Guarda
IntelligentHQ Your New Business Network.
IntelligentHQ is a Business network and an expert source for finance, capital markets and intelligence for thousands of global business professionals, startups, and companies.
We exist at the point of intersection between technology, social media, finance and innovation.
IntelligentHQ leverages innovation and scale of social digital technology, analytics, news, and distribution to create an unparalleled, full digital medium and social business networks spectrum.
IntelligentHQ is working hard, to become a trusted, and indispensable source of business news and analytics, within financial services and its associated supply chains and ecosystems
