How To Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer

Your liberty is threatened when you have been either arrested or charged with a crime. It is crucially important to obtain an aggressive private criminal defense lawyer. Public Defenders likely don’t have the time necessary to devote to your case to play-to-win. A Private criminal defense attorney will help you navigate through all stages of the criminal court process you are encountering and can be key in reducing your sentence or negotiating a potential dismissal of your case. Read on to learn more.

A Private Criminal Defense Lawyer Is Vital To Your Future

Let’s briefly look at the ways your life can be impacted should you ever be charged with a crime:

• Potential loss of relationships
• Jail or prison time
• A criminal record
• Reduced career prospects
• Expense of court fines

You need a private criminal defense attorney who can assist in getting the best possible outcome for your case – they can help you with:

• Understanding the legal ramifications of the charges that have been filed
• Explain strategies for your defense
• Explore and explain what (if any) plea bargains are likely to be on the table
• Discuss the post-trial and conviction process

Private criminal defense attorneys handle a wide range of cases and can help you by:

• Reducing your criminal charge (an example would be from a felony to a misdemeanor)
• Lessening the penalty for the crime
• Reducing or eliminating potential jail time, for example, through probation
• Developing a sound defense strategy with your best interests in mind

Your criminal defense lawyer should also have experience in the following areas:

• Familiarity with crime scene investigations
• Great knowledge of photographs, sketches, video and polygraphs
• The interviewing techniques for police, victims and witnesses
• The ability to effectively cross-examine your accuser

Finding A Criminal Defense Lawyer

While you can ask family and friends for a recommendation, it is understandable you may not want many (if any) people to know of your current circumstances and you may not have time to do a great deal of in-depth online research, so here are some questions to ask a criminal defense lawyer you are considering retaining:

• What is your experience with cases similar to mine?
• Will you be handling my case personally, or will an attorney I have not met be the point person?
• Are you experienced in litigating trials involving a jury?
• Are you knowledgeable regarding requesting a lesser charge or working on a plea agreement?
• What is the fee and are payment plans available?

Fees

Many factors go into the determination of the fees a criminal defense lawyer will charge. Usually fees are either on a flat rate or billed hourly. Some attorneys will offer payment plans while others will want a retainer fee paid upfront before commencing the case. It is a good idea to shop around and seek out the best options for your circumstances. In situations where you cannot afford an attorney – it is possible you may be granted a government paid attorney who will represent you.

Source: “Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer.” Findlaw, 6 Feb. 2019, criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/hire-a-criminal-defense-lawyer.html.