The following ten questions to ask before you hire a criminal defense lawyer should help guide you in the right direction. 1. What’s your experience in criminal law? The practice of law is just that — a practice. Your attorney needs to have significant experience in criminal law.
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If you have been charged with a crime, one of the most important things you can do is hire a qualified Los Angeles defense attorney. However, not all criminal defense lawyers are going to be of the same quality.
In fact, there are many criminal defense attorneys who will gladly take your money, represent you in court, but know very little about your case and contact you infrequently. That is not what you are looking for in a criminal defense lawyer. Instead of hanging your hopes on a lawyer that might not be able to get the job done, ...
There is a good chance that there is a lawyer in your area who specializes in the exact type of law related to your case . You can ask lawyers you are considering hiring what their area of specialty is. If it is not related to your case you should probably continue your search. In some cases, a lawyer you are interviewing might even be able ...
In other cases, a defense attorney can work out a plea agreement with the prosecutor. Finally, if the case does go to trial there is the possibility of a not guilty or guilty verdict.
With any criminal defense case, there are a number of possible outcomes. In some cases and for a variety of reasons, the prosecution might choose to drop all charges. In other cases, a defense attorney can work out a plea agreement with the prosecutor.
On the other hand, felony cases that go to trial can take over a year to run their course and appeals could take even longer.
Communication between a lawyer and their client is the key to any strong defense. Tell any lawyer you are considering hiring that you expect regular communication and that you want to be informed of any updates in your case.
The practice of law is just that — a practice. Your attorney needs to have significant experience in criminal law. From criminal law and procedure classes in law school to experience in the courtroom, your attorney’s training is critical to your defense.
Asking about the possible and likely outcomes of the case can reveal your attorney’s training and experience in criminal law. They should be able to tell you what the possible outcomes of your case are and what judges typically do in a case like yours. They should be able to speak openly about not just possible jail time but also about fines, probation, and what goes on your criminal record if you’re convicted.
In addition to the apparent penalties like jail time and fines, chances are, there’s collateral damage that follows if you’re convicted of a crime . A criminal conviction can make it harder to find employment. There may be penalties for your driver’s license.
Your attorney should know what avenues are available to defend your case. The specific defenses used will depend on the exact facts present in the case. Even so, the right attorney should be familiar with what defenses to look for given the charges you’re facing.
Some cases resolve in a few weeks. Others take a few months. Complicated or serious cases can take years. Although they can only give you their best guess, your attorney should give you an idea of what kind of time frame to expect. Knowing how long the case is going to take can allow you to plan for the future.
Money and legal fees are a sensitive subject for many people. You want the best lawyer who will get the best resolution for your criminal case, but you also may not want to commit to a lawyer whose fees create a financial burden for you and your family. It’s a tricky subject to discuss, especially when you are also stressed about ...
In a plea bargain, you can agree not to contest the charge against you in exchange for a lighter sentence. The lawyer can advise you on whether or not going to trial is the best option for you.
Working with a team isn’t necessarily bad, but you’ll want to know ahead of time. Often, a client will retain a super expensive criminal defense lawyer, and when their court date arrives, the big shot is nowhere in sight, but rather a junior associate handling the case.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Although your criminal defense attorney will take charge of your case, there are often actions that criminal defendants themselves can take in order to improve the outcome of their case. Each criminal case is unique and your lawyer will be able to make personalized recommendations to you, however, it may be beneficial to ask your lawyer ...
However, an experienced criminal defense attorney should be able to analyze your case, talk about the possible legal outcomes, and predict what is likely to happen in your case. Keep in mind that there is a big difference between an attorney who guarantees an outcome and one who predicts what is likely to happen.
Be prepared to tell your lawyer about any police interaction that you had prior to your arrest, during your arrest, and while you were detained. Providing your lawyer with a detailed account of your experience is very important because if the police violated your civil rights your lawyer may be able to get your charges dismissed, even if you are guilty. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask your lawyer during the initial consultation if they think that your civil rights were violated in any way.
Apart from hiring a lawyer who is experienced, professional, and knowledgeable, it is also very important to retain a lawyer who you trust and have confidence in. By simply asking the attorney sitting across from you why you should hire them you are giving them a chance to sell themselves to you and hopefully their response will inspire confidence. It is very important that you have confidence in your attorney’s abilities and trust them because this will enable the two of you to work together to build the best legal defense possible.
While it’s not possible to fully assess your entire case in an initial consultation, a good lawyer should at least give you some insight into how they would handle your case so that you can make an informed decision about whether they are the right lawyer.
Unsurprisingly, there are various areas of criminal law, including domestic violence, sex crimes, theft, drug, and violent crimes, among many other areas. Before hiring a lawyer, make sure that they have the experience and expertise needed to defend the specific charge that you are facing. 3.