The Questions to Ask a Criminal Attorney

A criminal attorney works with individuals facing a crime. If you are charged with one, or worry you will be, hiring this type of lawyer is a critical step in protecting your future. He or she can offer guidance and information to help you to learn what your options are. In a court of law, you will be given someone to help defend you, but that person is often flooded with cases and may lack the expertise you need. It is best to hire someone on your own who you know has the skill to defend you in this very challenging aspect of your life.

Initial Meeting

When you are considering hiring a criminal attorney, the first thing to do is to set up an initial meeting. This may be called a consultation as well. The goal of this meeting is to discuss what your situation is and what the lawyer can or cannot do for you. You should ask numerous questions during this meeting including the following.

• What type of experience does the lawyer have with cases like your own? Your case will be unique but you also need to ensure the professional has successfully fought cases like it. You do not want to be the first one out with the lawyer.

• Does the lawyer think you can win your case? This is important for two reasons. First, you want to know the risks you are facing. Second, you want to know the professional standing beside you in a courtroom believes in you and your case. This is especially necessary if you are innocent.

• If you know you are guilty, you may want to ask about reducing the charges or working out a plea agreement. Is the lawyer familiar with the process? Can he or she help to secure this for you in your case?

• Does the professional have the time to dedicate to your case individually? Who else will be working on it with him or her? You want quality attorneys working on your case but you also want to ensure they have enough time to do so properly.

• Ask questions about the individual, too. For example, ask about his or her relationship with various judges or reputation in the field. You want to know what other people think of the lawyer.

With this information, you can then determine if you trust the criminal attorney with your case. If you do, you can feel more comfortable with hiring them to defend you at this very important time of your life. Do not put off hiring a professional but do take the time to choose the right one for you.