Facing criminal charges can be nerve-wracking. If not handled properly, criminal charges could ruin your reputation and career. To avoid these serious consequences, finding a qualified lawyer becomes imperative. Only a lawyer understands the ins and outs of the judiciary system. It is in your best interest to hire a lawyer specializing in criminal law to avoid jail time and heavy fines. A person accused of criminal charges doesn’t have time to complete all the paperwork or learn about the complex judicial system. However, a lawyer can handle everything- from completing legal formalities to getting witnesses to corroborate your version of the event. The lawyer you hire will create a tailored strategy to defend charges against you. This professional can help in dismissing the charges or negotiating with the prosecution.
A criminal defence attorney aims to protect the legal rights of their client. They guide their clients through every step of a criminal case and make every possible effort to dismiss or reduce sentencing and penalties. Considering the invaluable services offered by an attorney, it becomes crucial to retain a qualified lawyer. However, finding the best lawyer can be tricky. Not all lawyers specialize in criminal law. Even those offering criminal defence services may not have enough experience to handle different types of criminal charges like sexual assault or domestic assault. To get the best possible legal representation, you need an expert. Here are some tips to help you find a reliable criminal defence lawyer.
- Experience in Similar Cases
You can begin your search online to find the lawyers who practice criminal law in your area. A quick Google search will give you the names of firms and attorneys. You need to carefully research their website to find more about their qualification and years of experience in criminal law. You need to shortlist only those lawyers who have experience with the charges you are facing. It means that a lawyer specializing in drunken driving cases is not the right choice for sexual assault charges. Experience in charges you’re facing means the lawyer has in-depth knowledge of particular crimes such as assault with a weapon, drug possession, or sexual harassment. If you don’t find enough information on the website, book a free initial consultation.
- Courtroom Confidence
A law firm can advertise several services but not all lawyers have courtroom experience. If your case goes to trial, you need a lawyer who has the experience and confidence to handle courtroom procedures. Before you get too impressed by the lawyer’s demeanor, make sure to dig a little deeper and find out more about their track record. If the lawyer gets nervous before the jury, his/her arguments will appear less convincing. So, make sure you hire a lawyer with an excellent record in the courtroom. Without confidence and knowledge of local courts, the lawyer will fail to cross-examine the alleged victim and call witnesses.
- Reputable Lawyer
Lawyers have great communication skills and can easily convince you to hire them. Even if you’re satisfied after the initial consultation, do some extra research before making the hiring decision. It is extremely important to choose a trustworthy and reputable lawyer. Incompetent and dishonest lawyers can be easily manipulated by the opposite counsel. So, make sure you find out more about lawyers’ track records and what other people say about them. A high rating and several positive reviews is a good indication. Also, a lawyer who has won any cases is likely to put their reputation first before unscrupulous ways of making money. Some legit online sites like Yelp, BBB, Google+, as well as social media sites can help you gauge the reputation of the lawyer.