Need a Criminal Attorney? - Buyer Beware and Trust Your Instincts

The hiring of a criminal attorney can be fraught with frustration, confusion and in many cases, anxiety and fear. This is particularly the case for an individual who has never been involved with any aspect of the legal system before. It is financially draining to have to seek out a criminal lawyer but it is also very scary because your good name and your freedom are on the line.

Before you hire a criminal attorney you need to be smart about the choice you make. You need to endeavor to be a smart consumer because your choice of a legal specialist is a type of purchase you are making. You need to remember the words buyer beware because your life depends upon it. Before you spend a small fortune on a criminal attorney you need to research lawyers. Even if you receive a number of endorsements about specific lawyers you need to take the time yourself to find out what you can about the professional backgrounds of lawyers you are looking at.

Ask the lawyer how many open cases he/she has on the go at the present time. Find out how many days of the week he/she is in court. If you find an attorney who currently has anywhere from 50 to 100 open cases and is in court anywhere from three to five days per week then this person would have very little time to devote his/her best efforts to your case. He/she is already swamped with a heavy caseload! If your case is one that requires a great deal of time, energy and attention then your best bet would be to hire a lawyer whose caseload is smaller.

Another important piece of information that you need to find out from the attorney is how long he/she has been in practice. Do not make the assumption that a lawyer who is middle aged or older has been practicing for many years. He or she may have gone to school later in life. You need to ask in order to know for sure.

We all have instincts for a reason and just as in other areas of your life you need to trust your instincts in terms of the criminal defense lawyer you hire to represent you. If something does not sound right to you or sounds just a little too good to be true then listen to your inner voice and be leery. If you meet a lawyer who is trying to promise you the moon and the stars then make him put it in writing. You will quickly discover that most attorneys will not commit their words to writing which tells you that you have not found the right criminal attorney just yet.

Listen to what your instincts are telling you. Do not easily dismiss them as you could be sorry in the long run. Ask yourself if you honestly like the legal professional and if you would feel comfortable with the person defending you.