You thought you had waited long enough at your friends house after the party but the breathalyzer is telling a different story – a DUI is in your immediate future˳ Perhaps the jerk sitting next to you at the bar finally got under your skin and, in a moment of weakness, you lost your cool and now a have an assault charge against you˳ No matter how you arrived at this point, you need to hire a criminal defense attorney˳ This can seem like a daunting task since being arrested is very intimidating and it is important to get the best legal representation possible˳
Hopefully, these tips and pointers will start you down the proper road to hiring a lawyer that will represent you well˳ When looking for an attorney, consider the following:
1) Make sure the attorney you hire has experience with your type of offense˳ Defending a felony narcotics possession is very different from defending a DUI˳ When interviewing an attorney, be sure to ask you much experience he or she has with your type of case˳
2) Talk to your friends˳ It may be possible that they know somebody who has had to hire a criminal defense attorney˳ A referral is an excellent way to meet a good attorney as the referring person can let you know how the attorney did on all aspects of the case˳
3) Any attorney you are looking to hire should offer a free initial consultation˳ This might be 10 minutes on the phone if you are in custody or 30 minutes if you are able to meet in person with the attorney˳ Do not hold back – be very upfront and honest about your situation˳ If you aren’t providing full disclosure, it can negatively impact your case and cause extra expense˳ Be wary of any attorney that will not provide a free initial consultation or demands payment for this time
4) During the initial consultation, ask who will be handling your case˳ Many high profile criminal defense attorneys have their associates do all the work˳ You may be okay with this but many people want the attorney they speak with to handle their case directly˳ In general, the more well known the attorney is the more likely he or she will be less involved in your case˳
5) Make sure the terms of the engagement are clearly spelled out˳ Be sure to ask what the rates are for negotiating a plea agreement and any other stages up to and including trial˳ Rates can vary dramatically from attorney to attorney and you can avoid a big surprise by asking about them up front˳ An up front retainer fee after the initial consultation is usually required˳ This fee may be many thousands of dollars depending upon the offense with which you are charged˳
6) Most importantly, make sure you are comfortable with the attorney and the firm˳ You will be working with these people on a very intimate part of your life˳ Feeling insecure about the working relationship will do nothing to help you or your mental health˳ Listen to your gut˳ If something feels off, keep shopping for an attorney until you are sure you can be completely comfortable with him or her˳
If nothing else, these tips should give you a starting point to begin looking for a lawyer to professionally and effectively represent you˳ If you have had an unfortunate run in with the police, take the first step and call a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?How-to-Hire-a-Criminal-Defense-Attorney&id=4057747
