Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer

While you might understand the importance of hiring a lawyer, this doesn’t mean that you know where to start in your search. For this reason, we’ve created a checklist of some important things to look out for as you seek to find the right one. You can use this checklist to make sure that the attorney you hire is the best for you.

They Offer a Free Consultation

Many lawyers do this in order to discuss your case with you in a casual setting. The lawyer you are thinking about hiring should offer a free consultation so that there is no pressure on you to retain or meet with the attorney. They should be willing to assess your case and give you free advice before you start talking money.

They Can Speak About Specific Cases

A lot of lawyers market themselves as trial lawyers, but this doesn’t actually mean that they take many cases to court. Ask the lawyer if they have dealt with cases similar to yours and ask specifically how that lawyer defended those cases and about the outcomes of the cases. If a lawyer is comfortable discussing this, they probably have a lot of experience with cases like yours and going to trial. Even if a lawyer doesn’t have personal experience with a case like yours, they should be able to explain how they would defend your case.

They Don’t Shy Away From Tough Questions

If you ask the lawyer you are meeting with what their fees are, if they are comfortable taking your case, and similar questions, you should expect a straight answer. If the lawyer beats around the bush, they might not be as well-practiced or affordable as they claim to be. Take the consultation as an opportunity to ask any and every question you have in order to feel comfortable hiring that attorney.

They Have Testimonials

Whether online or in their office, lawyers should have testimonials from former clients that you can look at. Testimonials offer an honest picture of the attorney and how clients felt about how their cases were handled. It is definitely worthwhile to look at reviews and see what others in your position have to say.

This is a brief checklist of some of the most important things that you should look for in an attorney.