How do I Find a Criminal Defense law firm?
If you are convicted of a crime, you must hire a suitable criminal defense law firm to expunge your charges. If you are not in the financial position to hire a criminal defense law firm, the state is required to appoint a legal professional on your behalf. A criminal defense law firm is a necessity, because these professionals defend clients charged with felonies.
There are a number of ways to find appropriate representation in a criminal case. Searching the Internet for criminal defense law firms in your area is arguably the most efficient means to finding representation. If your charges are serious—such as murder or rape—you will want to secure the most respected and experienced representation possible. Therefore, it is necessary to do as much research as possible after compiling a list of criminal defense law firms in your area.
It is recommended that you hire a criminal defense law firm after reviewing one of several law firm directories (available online) or by visiting your state’s BAR Association Website. Although search engines seem informal given the severity of your situation, all criminal defense law firms and their will be listed online. As such, you must utilize the Internet, for its efficiency and ease of use.
A criminal charge has an attached statute of limitations, therefore you must secure legal representation before your trial date. If you fail to hire a criminal defense law firm before this date, the state will be forced to supply you with a public defender. As a result of these time constraints it is vital to evaluate criminal defense law firms in your area in a time efficient manner. Your state BAR Association website will list all reputable criminal defense law firms your area, along with their credentials, experience and their discipline history if applicable.
Will I need a Specialist?
Criminal convictions, at a minimum, will carry a hefty fine or jail sentence. Because of the severity of these punishments, it is necessary to hire a criminal defense law firm who has experience handling your particular charges. For example, if you are caught with narcotics, you must contact a criminal defense law firm that specializes in drug laws; if you are convicted of murder, you must hire a criminal defense law firm that specializes in homicide laws; if you are convicted of a DUI, you must hire a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced with traffic laws. Matching your particular charges with the expertise of a criminal defense law firm will help build an efficient case to mitigate your charges.
What Should I Look for in a Criminal Defense Law Firm?
A criminal defense law firm may handle a variety of criminal cases, including simple felonies, drug charges, white collar crimes, murder, kidnapping, rape etc. When assessing a criminal defense law firm, you must hire the agency with the most experience and the best skills in that particular field. The most important characteristic when choosing a criminal defense law firm is experience.
Experience proves valuable when evaluating a lawyer’s skill set. In the majority of cases, the more experienced a criminal defense law firm is, the more knowledgeable and effective their staff will be. These attributes may ultimately reduce your criminal charge to a lesser offense. This outcome is invariably dependent on the criminal defense law firm’s strategy. In the bulk of cases, an experienced and savvy criminal defense law firm will be more adept at developing an effective defense. Because of this, experience trumps educational background with regards to the expected success of a criminal defense law firm. With this in mind, it is suggested that you observe your particular criminal defense law firm’s educational past and his or her licenses and certificates. These attributes should not be overlooked; strong educational credentials signify a sturdy work ethic and an innate understanding of criminal law.
A crucial step to hiring a criminal defense law firm is evaluating the firm’s staff’s personality. The best arena to do this is during your consultation. After compiling a list of criminal defense firms in your area and subsequent to undertaking in due diligence, you must contact each firm to schedule consultations. The vast majority of criminal defense law firms will not a charge a fee for this meeting.
When meeting with a criminal defense law firm, they will assess your case; at this juncture you must develop a rapport with the prospective criminal defense lawyer that will represent you. During this meeting you should take note of their personality and experience.
The lawyer’s personality and your connection with criminal defense law firm are of the utmost importance. Due to the significance associated with a criminal charge and the associated punishments, you must feel confident and comfortable with your hiring selection. You must take not of the firm’s professionalism, knowledge and personality. The representing lawyer should be affable and trusting. You must feel comfortable with your choice for he/she will ultimately decide your fate.
In addition evaluating the lawyer’s personality, you must also evaluate the criminal law firm that the individual works for. The significance of this hiring decision cannot be understated; your rapport must be strong enough with this individual to offer every piece of information concerning your charge and your past. This information may serve as the foundation for your case.
When evaluating the criminal defense law firm’s staff and office you must observe everything. From the artwork to the lawyer’s dress, you must take in everything. You want to hire a criminal defense law firm that is professional and respected. You also want to hire a criminal defense law firm that is courteous and accommodating. If the firm does not care about your case they do not care about your future.
Fees Associated with Criminal Defense Law Firms:
During your consultations, you must ask the criminal defense law firm for a retainer agreement and a list of references. The retainer agreement serves as the criminal law defense firm’s payment schedule. When looking over this pay agreement you should ask the criminal defense law firm to explain the document in great detail. The criminal defense law firm’s fees will be established by an hourly or flat rate. Regardless of the pay structure, you should ask for an estimated cost for work; this estimate includes the fees associated for all legal fees associated with your defense.
The cost of hiring a criminal defense law firm is dependent on several factors, including the individual lawyer’s reputation, location and experience. Depending on the lawyer’s fee arrangement, some criminal defense law firms will permit you to engage in a payment plan to fulfill ongoing charges. However, other criminal defense law firms may require you to pay an upfront retainer before working on the case. Due to the variety of arrangements, it is necessary to consult with a number of criminal defense law firms to gauge which firm you can afford.
Questions to ask my Criminal Defense Law Firm:
Before hiring a criminal defense law firm, you must ask several questions to get a better feel for your future and the expected defense strategy. Listed below are some questions to illuminate the firm’s expertise and strategy:
• How much of my case is handled by you, my prospective lawyer?
• Are you experienced with handling charges similar to mine?
• Are you going to take a plea?
• Do you think my charges will be reduced?
• Can you provide me with a list of referrals or clients you’ve represented in the past?
• How are your fees calculated and do you offer a payment plan?
• How many trials by jury have you litigated?
• What is the worst possible outcome for my charge? What is the best possible outcome?
