No one ever wants to need a lawyer. Because when you need a lawyer, that means something has gone wrong in your life. You’re dealing with all the emotions and decisions that come with handling this situation–including choosing the criminal defense team to represent you in court. You may think that all lawyers are the same because they all have the same credentials. They aren’t, and the lawyer that worked out great for someone might not work out for someone else. It’s important for you to do your research and choose the right criminal defense team for your situation.
Why Your Defense Team Matters
In the United States, every person charged with a crime is required to have a defense lawyer during the trial, and for good reason. Legal processes can be long, confusing, and full of processes different from other things you may be familiar with. A defense lawyer is your advocate throughout the process, ensuring that your civil rights are not violated and that you receive a fair trial. The criminal defense team you hire can make or break your case in the courtroom.
Things to Look For
Do They Have the Right Experience?
Just like with most other professions, lawyers have areas of expertise, even within the criminal defense space. Shoplifting is different from reckless driving, and both are different from trespassing. It’s important to find a lawyer who is board-certified in your state and has experience defending the crime(s) you’ve been charged with. You can ask them the following questions during your first consultation:
- How many cases have you handled that are similar to mine?
- What were the outcomes of those cases?
- How do you craft strategy for your cases, and how would that apply to my case specifically?
Questions like those can help you figure out if you’ll be happy with them as your lawyer. You can also research on your own before your first consultation. Most lawyers have a place where you can read through all their successful cases, and you can always look for reviews written by past clients to see how happy they were.
Are They Familiar With the Area?
Outside of checking that the lawyer can legally practice law in your state, make sure they are familiar with the area you live in. Things can vary slightly from county to county, so having someone on your side who is familiar with the processes and the people involved is key. You may not think so, but having a lawyer who has been working in the same area for a while and is familiar with the people around (judges, clerks, stenographers, etc.) is invaluable to the success of your defense.
Are They In Your Budget?
Criminal charges are a big deal and often take up the most space in your mind, but you can’t forget the financial aspect of lawyers. They are costly, and while you need to find the right one for you, you also need to find the one that won’t empty your bank account. Pay attention to their billing structure and what certain things will cost. Don’t be afraid to ask about these things because when you get your life back at the end of the trial, you want to be able to afford it.
Do You Trust Them?
The last, and probably the most important, thing to ask yourself is whether you trust the lawyer sitting in front of you. Your gut feeling about them matters more than anything else. It doesn’t matter if they’ve won dozens of cases just like yours if you don’t feel that you can be honest with them about what happened in the first place. If, after your first consultation, you feel unheard and dismissed, that lawyer isn’t the one for you.
Find a criminal defense team that is both skilled and right for you. If you feel good about them, you’ll feel supported throughout the strenuous process that is the court system.
