Finding a Good Criminal Defense Attorney

Jan 23
09:11

2012

Abraham Avotina

Abraham Avotina

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Being accused of a crime is bad enough but having to face trial with a public defender is almost worse. A criminal defense attorney can help ensure that you get the representation you need.

mediaimage
Of course it's innocent until proven guilty,Finding a Good Criminal Defense Attorney Articles but let's face it, there are some crimes that the accused is tried and convicted before they even set foot in a court of law. Those big headline cases are often tried in the press before they even get to court. You can rest assured that in these cases the accused has the best lawyer money can buy to represent them. They know they are going to have a harder time than most. But what about the average Joe, the guy who isn't tried in the press before going to trial? Well, he deserves the best criminal defense attorney too.

Finding a good criminal defense attorney can be kind of tricky. Sure there are lots of them around but can each of them handle the specific case at hand? That's the problem that you or a loved one might be facing. Each crime has its specific set of statutes, laws, and regulations that may or may not apply to any other type of infraction. A DUI shouldn't be handled by the same person who is handling a child endangerment case, or vice versa. A robbery shouldn't be handled by someone specializing in murders. The point is you should know what type of law your potential lawyer practices before you ever hire him.

When you are looking to hire a criminal defense attorney have a list of questions to ask before you hire him. Remember he will be working to represent you so you should interview a few before you make your decision. Of course, time is short and you need representation as soon as possible so make your list brief. You should ask what area of law he specializes in, what his win/loss ratio is, how much the hourly rate is and how much he bills. These are all important factors to hiring someone that is not only the best for your case, but someone you can afford.

Don't think that you can't afford anyone and will have to settle for a public defender. Depending on the type of case that you have against you some criminal defense attorneys will take on pro bono cases. Some have so many per year they do as a way of giving back to the community, some take on cases that interest them for the stimulation. It doesn't hurt to ask around and see if your case qualifies for a non-public defender pro bono case.

No matter what, you should have someone to represent you at your trial. Having a criminal defense attorney on hand will help to ensure that you are getting the legal advice that you need. He will be able to assess your case and tell you what your best course of action is. If there is no way to prove your innocence, then he can help you to ensure that you get the best sentencing you can.