In the U.S., there are over 1,328,000 registered lawyers currently practicing. If you’ve recently found yourself on the wrong end of the law, finding the right attorney to represent you can be an extremely daunting task. After all, the attorney you choose for your defense can be the difference between a high fine, a low fine, or even a sentencing ruling. Today, we’re going to highlight the top qualities that make a great criminal defense attorney, and how you can find the best one for you.
1. Experience
One of the most important aspects of a great criminal defense attorney is the amount of experience they have with your particular case type. For example, one lawyer might have extensive experience with DUI cases, while another might specialize in drug charges. The more a lawyer has won cases related to your charge, the more likely you are to have a good experience with that lawyer. In many cases, you can see the speciality of a lawyer either on their website or on an aggregation site such as USAttorneys.com.
In addition to experience, the certifications that your prospective lawyer has can speak volumes about their knowledge base in your type of case. For example, some lawyers may have a certificate in criminal law, litigation, dispute resolution, or any number of other specialties. These certifications can be a good indicator that your lawyer has the proper training to defend you properly in the courtroom. If you want more information on certifications, you can learn more here.
2. Reviews
Another easy way to see if a criminal defense lawyer is worth their salt is by checking reviews. Most legal websites will have customer reviews displayed on their front page, but these are often only the best of the best. To get a really good idea of the services provided by an attorney, check more common review sites such as Yelp, Google reviews, and Avvo. The attorneys have no control over this source of review, so you can be sure that you’re getting a real opinion of their work.
Remember that even the best attorney can’t win every single case. The best policy when looking at reviews is to take the three or four-star reviews into consideration. The five and one-star reviews can be skewed, and are often hyperbolized based on the reviewer’s emotions at the time. If you see a repeating trend of bad review for the same reason, it’s probably better to stay away from that particular lawyer.
3. Ethical Considerations/Interviews
Finally, the best lawyer is one who aligns with your ideals and the characteristics that are most important to you. When choosing an attorney, consider conducting interviews with three or four attorneys so you can chat and learn about their services. Bring a list of questions that represent what is most important to you during the case. Ask how they would take on a case like yours, and inquire about their philosophy during a trial. In addition, ask about their communication methods and how strongly they believe that a client should be involved in their case.
Conducting an interview with prospective attorneys will give you a much better idea of your options. Test out their knowledge and get to know their values. If you find an attorney who rubs you the wrong way or answers your questions incorrectly, scratch them off your list. Remember, a criminal defense attorney offers a service, and you are paying them. As such, you have a choice in who you hire.
When you’re looking for the right criminal defense attorney, there are a couple of factors to keep in mind. The attorney should have the experience, the reputation, and the attitude that you need to do as well as possible in your case. Consider multiple attorneys before you make the plunge.
