Criminal cases may be the most serious among various case types in existence. Aside from the worst possible punishments, the proceedings and challenges involved in such cases are tricky or hard to handle. Accordingly, it’s only wise to get the best available attorney to defend you and win the judge or jury’s favor. Nevertheless, if you need a criminal defense lawyer but don’t know where to start, this article explains the process of finding/hiring one; please read on.
4 Steps To Find And Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer
1. Identify what type of attorney is needed
Before looking for prospects, it’s best to identify if you need a defense attorney or not. As such, if it’s only a minor case, you can just hire a lawyer for guidance or to accompany you to court for questioning. However, if it’s a serious or especially a federal case, getting a criminal defense lawyer is necessary.
Depending on the offense you’re charged with, you can either hire a federal or state attorney. If you’ve violated federal law or the prosecutor in the case is from the United States Attorney’s office, the safest option is to hire a federal lawyer. On the other hand, if the case is only minor but is still considered a criminal offense, you can go with a state attorney.
2. Look for good lawyer prospects
A criminal defense lawyer’s skills, expertise, and experience will matter significantly once the trial starts. Accordingly, it’s essential to be careful when choosing who to hire. It’s also beneficial to get an attorney that specializes and has a good track record with the type of case you have.
When looking for prospects, you can ask relatives or colleagues for attorney suggestions or opinions on lawyers they’ve worked with before (either positive or negative experiences). If possible, it’s better to consult lawyers or firms for more reliable recommendations. However, if nothing else works, you can call state organizations or use credible directories like The National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
3. Meet with the attorney(s)
While taking recommendations and researching will reveal helpful information, it’s still necessary to personally meet with the lawyer(s). If you have selected a few prospects, you can schedule individual consultations through call or in person.
During the consultation, ask about the initial strategies and approaches the lawyer might have in mind. It’s worth noting that a lawyer should impress you—it’s important as a criminal case is tricky to handle, and the judge and jury are hard to convince. Thankfully, one can consult without needing to commit or pay, so it can be a way to pick who to hire.
4. Provide payment to the selected lawyer
Once the right criminal defense lawyer is identified, the final step is to negotiate payments or provide compensation. In this stage, you’ll learn how much the lawyer charges and how the payments are made (staggered or one-time). If given a chance, you can negotiate to avail a discount or have permission for a down payment. However, if you find the price to be steep and there is another lawyer who charges less, feel free to back out and go with the other one instead.
Get An Expert Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Finding an experienced criminal defense lawyer is beneficial. By following the above steps, you can hire a reliable attorney in no time. However, if you dislike the hassle of researching and want to be safe, you can trust The Law Offices of Hart J. Levin for your case. Aside from employing some of the top defense lawyers in Los Angeles, the firm also has an impressive 94% win rate in court. You’re in good hands, so visit socalcriminallaw.com now!