Criminal Attorney: Hiring the Right Lawyer for the Job

Being arrested can be one of the most traumatic things a person is faced with in their lifetime. If you're facing down charges from the district attorney, you're right to be concerned. Prosecutors in most districts don't bring cases to trial unless they are fairly certain they can get a conviction. Defendants without a good criminal attorney do not fair well in the justice system, regardless of whether or not they are actually guilty of the crimes they are accused of. If you want to stand a chance of successfully defending yourself or even protecting your rights, you will need a good lawyer. Here are some things you should look for when hiring one.

Experience

There is no substitute for experience when you hire a criminal attorney. If you have a choice between hiring a 20 year veteran who graduated from the local law school and a 1st year chickadee who graduated from Harvard, choose the veteran. Lessons can be learned in the real world that can never be replicated in a classroom. A jury is not going to know about or be impressed with a degree from a fancy college. That's not to say a degree from a good school should be sneered at, just that it doesn't hold a candle to experience. Make sure the lawyer you hire has it.

Open Doors

You're getting ready to move into one of the most complicated, frightening periods of your life. You need a criminal attorney who will be there for you when you need to talk. That doesn't mean you'll be able to monopolize his or her time with every question that pops in your mind, but you should be able to get in touch with your lawyer with a minimal amount of hassle. If you wanted a lawyer who would only give you and your case slight attention, you could save a lot of money and just go with the public defender.

Reputation

Expensive ads on television and eye-catching billboards on the highway tell you exactly nothing about a lawyer's reputation. And when it comes to deciding whom to hire, reputation is a factor second to none. Do your research in this area before you hire a criminal attorney. Does he have a reputation for being a tenacious combatant in the courtroom? Is he feared by prosecutors? Or is he a joke in the profession, only serving to allow his clients to empty their bank accounts before getting the sentence they were likely to face anyway? Talk to anyone you can to get the straight scoop before you decide who to go with.