Finding a Criminal Attorney When You Need Legal Help

Apr 13
07:58

2012

Antoinette Ayana

Antoinette Ayana

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When facing charges from the state, you need a criminal attorney on your side to help you put on a defense. Here are some things you can do to make your search easier.

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It isn't a mistake made very often,Finding a Criminal Attorney When You Need Legal Help Articles but every now and then a defendant will get it in their heads that they can do a better job handling their own case than could a lawyer. To call this a "mistake" is almost making a mockery of the term. It is one of the worst decisions you could ever make. When facing charges from the state, you need a criminal attorney on your side to help you put on a defense. Whether you pay for a private lawyer or accept the help of the public defender is largely up to your financial situation, but you should certainly do everything you can do to hire someone good. Your life and freedom could be at stake. Here are some things you can do to make your search easier.

Use the Internet

Defendants today have an enormous resource that those of twenty years ago didn't have. Even those people five years ago who needed a criminal attorney wouldn't have found the Internet as useful as you will. Today, there is a tremendous amount of information out there for your perusal. Use it. No, not everything you read will be accurate. No, you can't always trust every anonymous review out there. But if you keep your wits about you, stick to sites with some kind of reputable background, and use lawyer's official sites, you can gather a lot of information to help you in your search.

Ask Around

If you know anyone who has been in trouble with the law before, consider asking them if they know a criminal attorney they can recommend. This situation isn't exactly like asking around for a good auto mechanic, but it's still worth doing if you have the resources. Clearly, not everyone will have a lot of knowledge in this arena, but if you do have a friend that has been through the system, don't hesitate to pick their brain. If you are referred by a former client, you may find it easier to set up a consultation with a busy criminal attorney.

Visit the Courtroom

If you need a criminal attorney who can maneuver his way around the courtroom, what better place to find him than in his natural working environment. Certainly, you'll learn more watching one of these wizards in action than by looking at billboards out by the interstate. See how they interact with the judge, the prosecutors, and their own client. Watch how they communicate with the jury. Pretend you are in the jury and decide whether you would be persuaded by their arguments. This can be a very effective way to find representation.