There are many law firms out there, and you need to make sure you take your time to choose a top criminal defense law firm so that you get out of harm’s way as far as the law is concerned. When choosing a criminal defense law firm, you should always take advantage of as many free consultations as you can to get a feel for the lawyers at each firm and ask lots of questions so that you can make the best possible decision for your representation.
Key attributes to look for in a law firm
Experience
Every lawyer has a specialty. Some specialize in divorce; others specialize in injuries. When you have been charged with a crime, you need to focus on a finding a criminal defense law firm to offer you the best chance of not being convicted. More importantly than just finding a criminal defense lawyer, though, you need to look at their areas of specialty.
Performance
Next, you need to see how well a lawyer has done regarding winning cases. Every law firm keeps track of their statistics as far as how many cases they been involved and how many of those were won. Any reputable law firm will be more than happy to disclose this number to you because they are proud of it. The higher the number, the better chance you have of getting the same quality work.
How they handle clients
You should also meet with the lawyers of the law firm to see if you connect well with them. You do not want to meet your lawyer for the first time and decide that you don’t feel comfortable with him or her. You need to disclose a lot of personal details to your lawyer, which means trust and feeling at ease are crucial.
How many cases the firm has handled
Find out how many other cases your criminal defense firm has going on. Too many other cases could detract their attention from yours, which means they are not focusing as much attention as they should on yours. This could be very dangerous because you need as much time on your case to ensure that your character is represented in the courtroom and proof is found by your lawyers that you didn’t commit the crime you were accused of.
The cost
Finally, you need to find out what the criminal defense law firm is going to charge you for their services. This could be a flat fee or by the hour. It’s not like personal injury lawyers where you only pay if they win your case because there is no money to be awarded in a criminal defense case. The best lawyers cost more for a reason – they have a proven track record of winning. Hire the best lawyer that you can afford for the best outcome in the courtroom.
