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If you are charged with a crime, you have the right to have an attorney represent your interests. More importantly, your attorney is ethically bound to provide a zealous defense even if you admit that you committed the crime in question. Let’s take a look at what to consider when hiring a criminal defense attorney and choosing the best legal representation for you.
Table of Contents
Does Your Attorney Specialize?
Ideally, you will hire a criminal defense attorney who specializes in the type of charge that you’re facing. For instance, if you are charged with DUI, you should hire an attorney who specializes in DUI cases. You can learn more about a particular counselor’s background during the initial consultation.
Does Your Attorney Care?
During the initial consultation, you should pay close attention to the attorney’s demeanor. If you get short replies to your questions, the attorney seems disorganized or anything else seems off, you should keep looking. It may also be a good idea to walk away from someone who isn’t willing to communicate with you outside of normal business hours or won’t reply by email, text or other means other than telephone or mail.
Can You Afford the Attorney’s Services?
Typically, criminal defense attorneys will demand payment for services on an ongoing basis. In some cases, you may be required to prepay some or all of the lawyer’s fee. It’s also possible that you’ll be required to pay for everything upfront as opposed to over monthly installments. Ideally, you’ll get an itemized record of what your money is being spent on to ensure that your cash is being used to create an effective defense. It’s worth noting that if you can’t afford a private attorney, one will be assigned to you by the judge overseeing your case.
How Many Clients Does the Attorney Already Have?
A criminal defense attorney who has dozens of clients at once won’t be able to give your case the care it needs. Conversely, it can also be a red flag if a prospective lawyer doesn’t have a large roster of clients as it could be a sign that this person struggles to succeed in court.
What’s Your Prospective Attorney Known For?
Ideally, you will choose a legal adviser who has a track record of success in obtaining favorable outcomes in your type of case. A track record of success may make it easier for your attorney to negotiate a favorable plea deal or obtain favorable rulings at trial. There is also a chance that a prosecutor will decide to drop some or all of the charges against you knowing that your case will be especially difficult to win thanks to the skill of your prospective counselor.
If you are convicted of a crime, you could go to jail, pay a fine, or experience other negative consequences. Therefore, it’s imperative that you give yourself a chance to earn an acquittal or negotiate a plea that allows you to avoid as many consequences as possible. An attorney may be able to make accomplishing these goals much easier compared to trying to do so on your own.
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