How to select a Criminal Defense Lawyer

I have been defending people my whole life and I feel good when I am able to help someone. In the legal setting this is true, even if they do not retain my firm. People call me all the time and tell me they just don’t know what to do. They tell me that they have never had to hire a criminal defense attorney before and they don’t know what questions to ask, or how to choose a criminal defense attorney for their criminal defense. There are many criminal defense lawyers and choosing the right one for your criminal case is a very personal decision. This is not as daunting as it seems and there are a few simple things to consider when making a decision to hire a criminal defense lawyer.

1. Don’t be afraid to call around. You likely will receive advertisements in the mail or find criminal defense lawyers advertising on the internet. I encourage people to call around and ask questions to get a feel for the criminal defense lawyer’s style and demeanor.

2. When calling different criminal defense attorneys, get a feel for how they interact with you. keep calling until you find an attorney that engages with you, a criminal defense attorney that asks you questions as much as you ask them questions. This engagement with you should not be rushed, they should ask you questions so they can give you good solid advice.

3. Don’t let the criminal defense lawyer scare you into hiring them because you are afraid of the consequences they tell you may be imposed. A good lawyer doesn’t need to scare you into hiring them, they let their answers to your questions create a sense of confidence in them that will instill a high level of trust. You want a lawyer that you trust is really looking out for your best interest.

4. Don’t hire a criminal defense lawyer that is promising you certain results without having reviewed the evidence against you. A criminal defense lawyer should never promise anything other than they will do the best that they can considering the evidence that the state intends to use against you.

5. Hire a criminal defense lawyer that makes you feel comfortable when speaking to them. You will be sharing very sensitive and personal information with your criminal defense attorney and you should not feel intimidated or uncomfortable when talking to them. This is a very personal decision and you need to feel comfortable sharing any information with them and TRUST is the most important part of the relationship between you and your criminal defense attorney.

6. A good criminal defense lawyer will have a plan of what needs to be done to develop the best criminal defense strategy, and should be a good listener. Listening to the client in order to understand the factors important to the defense is essential. If the criminal defense attorney is short with you, not interested in your story, and only focused on how much money you will need, you don’t need them.

7. Don’t be afraid to ask a criminal defense attorney about their experience in your particular type of case. You want a criminal defense lawyer that has experience and because of that experience, is not afraid to go to trial. You will want a criminal defense attorney that is confident that they know which cases should go to trial and which cases should not. Not every case should go to trial, and not every case should settle. The decision to go to trial should be based upon a careful analysis of the evidence and how it can be used both against you and in your favor. In either case, you will want a criminal defense lawyer that is capable of winning at trial so they can advise you about winning strategies at trial, and at the same time be able to advise you when trial is not in your best interest. The decision to go to trial should be made from the criminal defense lawyer’s skill at assessing the merits of your defense and then advising you, not forcing you to do anything.

8. To get the best outcome, you will need to be able to communicate and work with a criminal defense lawyer that you trust your freedom and your future with. Take your time until you find the right criminal defense lawyer for you. It might be the first criminal defense attorney you talk to or the last one you talk to. They should be an honest, experienced, a good communicator, a good listener, and inspires your trust and confidence. When you find a criminal defense lawyer that meets this criteria, you can be confident yourself that the best possible outcome is your future.