Tips For Selecting a Criminal Defense Lawyer

When you have been charged with committing a crime you will understandably be shaken up. You know that your life could be destroyed. You could go to jail or prison. The police and the district attorney will do there best to make the charges stick. That is their job. You feel the prosecution holds all the cards. You could be held awaiting arraignment and a bail hearing. You need help and you need it fast.

A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

That is when you need a criminal defense attorney. You need an ally, someone to help you get through the criminal justice system with a minimum of damage. You know that you can not go it alone. The first thing you need to do if you have the money to do so is to hire a criminal defense attorney, if you do not have the money to hire an attorney, you will be appointed one by the court at no cost to you.

A court-appointed attorney is always available at the court and may end up being the attorney who helps you at the arraignment and bail hearing. The attorney will argue that you should be released without having to post any bail or that only a small bail is needed to assure your appearance at court on future stages in the pretrial proceedings.

If you are released, the first thing you are going to want to do is to decide if you will use the court-appointed lawyer or choose a private attorney to represent you. Should you decide to use a private attorney, the question becomes which one. Choosing the criminal defense attorney who will represent you is the most important decision you will have to make to improve your chances of successfully defending yourself. Choosing the best attorney to represent you is vitally important.

So how do you pick the best criminal defense attorney for you? Here are a few tips that may help you decide.

1. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY, FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES WHO’VE HAD EXPERIENCE CHOOSING A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY?

Talking with someone about their experience being represented by a particular criminal defense attorney can be invaluable. This is especially true if the person has a favorable opinion of the representation his attorney provided and the outcome he was able to achieve.

Even though the family member, friend or colleague may have only good things to say about the criminal defense attorney who represented him, that is not enough to make an informed choice of who will represent you. You must take into account what type of case you have and if it is the same type of case a family member, friend or colleague had.

2. INTERVIEW THE PROSPECTIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY BEFORE SELECTING HIM OR HER.

The criminal defense attorney may be as successful as can be but that doesn’t mean that she is necessarily the right criminal defense attorney for you. You and your attorney need to be able to communicate. It is essential to have a good working relationship with your attorney. Good communication may be the difference between a favorable or unfavorable outcome.

3. INTERVIEWING MORE THAN ONE ATTORNEY IS A GOOD IDEA.

Choosing the right attorney for you is a serious decision. Just interviewing one criminal justice attorney does not make any sense. You comparative shop for other goods and services. Would you buy the first new car you saw? The first house? No, you know it makes sense to look at more than one.

The same is true of selecting a criminal defense attorney. Do not select a court-appointed attorney if you have the ability to seek someone with higher qualifications and experience. Thus, call us today and schedule a meeting to help defend your rights today.

YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING:

Call (817) 481-1999 to schedule a consultation with Robinson & Kardonsky, P.C. in our Grapevine office.

Note: This blog is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal advice