Being charged of a crime is never a pleasant situation to be in. But once you’re in that predicament, you’ll have to face the consequences of the crime you’re accused of, such as legal repercussions, fines, and penalties. These consequences differ according to the severity of the crime.
Thus, going through your criminal case isn’t something you can do on your own. You need a legal team to represent you in court, starting with your criminal defense lawyer. Having a good one by your side can make all the difference in the possible outcome of your case. A good criminal defense lawyer can ensure that a client’s day in court goes smoothly. A reliable lawyer also sees to it that the ‘rights of accused’ are respected.
To give yourself that higher certainty when hiring the best criminal defense lawyer, be sure to ask the following questions:
1. How Long Have You Been Practicing Law?
One of the important questions you have to ask is how long the criminal defense lawyer has been practicing law. The more years of practice a lawyer has, the more experience they also have. Knowing that your lawyer is experienced in dealing with all sorts of criminal defense cases will be reassuring.
When answering this question, a good lawyer will go into depths on providing details about their experiences. It’s an added advantage too if the lawyer happens to have handled cases similar to yours. In short, an experienced lawyer will help you feel at ease during a challenging point in your life.
2. What Are Your Credentials?
Credentials matter, along with the lawyer’s experience. They refer to where the lawyer has finished law school, which states they’re licensed to practice in, and what other studies, training, or certification they’ve obtained.
Just as you would when hiring any other professional to complete a job, you want to ensure your chosen lawyer has the proper credentials. Asking questions about the credentials can help put to rest any concerns or doubts you may have about your lawyer’s legitimacy.
3. Will You Be Handling My Case Personally?
This question is very important if you’re approaching a particular law firm, especially if you have a specific lawyer in mind to handle your case. When that lawyer belongs to a large firm, be sure to clarify first as to whether that lawyer is the same one that will be in charge of your case. Otherwise, your case may be forwarded to a lawyer that isn’t the one you initially wanted to hire.
As much as possible, you’ll want to keep your legal team small. If there are too many staff members in the team taking care of your case, the margin of error exponentially increases. This can lead to miscommunication and other problems.s During your process of interviewing potential lawyers, make sure the attorney you will hire has a strong rapport with you, so you can have full trust and confidence in how they’ll be handling your case.
4. How Much Will It Cost?
Hiring a lawyer comes at a price, naturally so, as you’re paying for their expertise, time, and skills. It’s, therefore, crucial to ask about the costs. That way, you can ascertain as to whether you can afford the lawyer’s fees.
To build trust with your lawyer, you need to make sure there’s some transparency about the costs and the payment. This means everything about the estimates should be transparent. Don’t just ask about the overall cost per se. You also have to ask about the schedule of fees and payment.
Since you’re already going through a difficult time in your life, you don’t have to feel any more stressed because of legal fees you can’t afford.
5. What Is Your Success Rate?
Don’t shy away from asking about the lawyer’s success rate. You can determine that a particular lawyer’s fee is worth it when you have an idea about the success rate. The success rate refers to the number of cases won versus those that the lawyer has lost. While every case is unique, it’s still a determinant of expertise when the lawyer has quite a high success rate.
Finding The Best Criminal Defense Lawyer
Finding a criminal defense lawyer is one of the most challenging things you’ll ever have to do. And there’s a good reason behind this. You’ll find so many lawyers in the profession, but you have to really sift through your options to find the best one.
To give yourself a fair trial, be thorough in the process of selecting a lawyer by asking the right questions. This way, you can be certain that your case is in good hands. It’s your liberty at stake, so don’t skimp on this choice.
