What to Look for in a Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you’ve been accused of a crime, you’ll need to hire a criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer is going to be your representative and advisor throughout criminal proceedings, from the moment of your arrest to your ultimate court date, should you have one.

Having a good criminal defense lawyer can mean the difference between getting the charges dropped and finding yourself in prison, so it’s critically important to find the right person for your needs. But what exactly should you look for in a criminal defense lawyer?

When to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer

You should hire a criminal defense lawyer as early as possible after being charged with a crime. The sooner your lawyer starts working on your case, the better. A good lawyer is going to be by your side throughout the process, representing you in police interrogations, protecting your rights, and gathering as much evidence as possible in the background.

In the meantime, don’t say anything (other than revealing basic identifying information about yourself). You have a right to remain silent, and you should fully exercise it. Once you have a lawyer, you should listen to their advice very carefully and follow it to the best of your ability. They understand your situation and the best strategies and tactics to get you out of it.

What to Look for in a Criminal Defense Lawyer

So how do you find the best criminal defense lawyer for your needs?

• Credentials. First, you need to look at credentials. Make sure the person you’re hiring is a qualified, licensed attorney with experience in your jurisdiction. You shouldn’t have to do much digging to figure this out.
• Experience. Next, look at experience. As you might imagine, more experienced criminal defense lawyers tend to see better results than their inexperienced counterparts. If your criminal defense lawyer has years, or even decades of experience, that’s a very good sign.
• Approach/strategy. There are many viable approaches and strategies in the realm of criminal defense. Most criminal defense lawyers will try anything that has a reasonable chance of succeeding, but you may prefer someone who has a particular approach or style. For example, do you want a lawyer who’s going to aggressively fight every piece of evidence against you? Or would you prefer a lawyer who takes a cooler, more patient approach?
• Reputation. Try to figure out the reputation of this lawyer in the area. Are they known for getting good results for their clients? Are they well-respected by judges and other lawyers in the area?
• Past results. In line with this, you should look at the past results this lawyer has gotten for their criminal clients. What percentage of their attempted defenses are successful? Are there any landmark cases that they’ve won in the recent past? Do they have a long history of getting the best possible results for their clients?
• Availability. Even the best criminal defense lawyer isn’t going to be much good to you if they have a full caseload already and are unable to take on your case. Make sure you ask about availability as you evaluate prospective candidates.
• Communication. You also need to consider communication. You’re going to have a much better chance of success, and a much better experience overall, if you choose a criminal defense lawyer who can consistently and clearly communicate with you. Does this lawyer clearly and transparently answer all your questions? Do you fully understand the advice they give you?
• Overall experience. Finally, think about the overall experience you’re going to have when hiring this lawyer. Do they make you feel comfortable and fairly represented? Are they charging you a reasonable amount? Do you feel like you’re in good hands with this person?

How to Begin Your Search

If you’re not sure where to start, these are some ways that you can begin your search for a criminal defense lawyer:

• Referrals. One of the easiest and most straightforward ways to find a criminal defense lawyer is to get a referral from someone who has used a criminal defense lawyer in the past. Do you know of anyone who has had a great experience working with a criminal defense attorney?
• Basic searches. You can also conduct basic searches on the web, looking for websites or social media platforms for criminal defense lawyers. Just make sure to do your homework before hiring someone.
• Legal directories. Another option is to turn to legal directories, which attempt to make it easy to find almost any conceivable type of lawyer in your area.

Finding an ideal criminal defense lawyer isn’t always easy, but it is essential if you want to maximize your chances of escaping these charges. Commit to doing your due diligence so you can find the best fit for your needs.