When facing criminal charges, your immediate concern should be your defense. No matter whether you have DUI, theft, or other charges, you need to engage a defense attorney you can trust. In states like Tennessee, law firms like johnbarneslaw.com specialize in criminal defense, and their lawyers can be incredibly resourceful for your case. In this post, we are sharing more on how to find a good criminal lawyer for your case.
Don’t delay
Keep in mind that finding a criminal lawyer may take time, so you don’t want to delay that decision. Even if you don’t have an attorney for the first court hearing, consider finding one ASAP.
Schedule a free initial consultation
Usually, criminal defense attorneys are open to free initial consultation. This could be your window to know your attorney, and at the same time, you don’t have to feel obligated to hire them.
Ask the right questions
- What are your practice areas and specialization? As a prospective client, you have the right to know what percentage of the attorney’s practice is dedicated to criminal defense. Also, you need to know if the lawyer specializes in defending charges pressed against you. Keep in mind state and federal criminal laws follow different procedures, and you need to know what the lawyer can do in your defense.
- How long have you been practicing criminal defense? This is another aspect to consider. It is important to, however, note that just because a lawyer has been dealing with criminal law for years doesn’t mean they are the best fit for your case. Like we mentioned previously, the lawyer needs to have experience in defending your charges.
- What is your fee structure? Most criminal defense attorneys prefer either an hour rate or a flat fee. Either arrangement is fine, as long as you know that the lawyer is transparent. Sometimes, a criminal lawyer may ask for an additional fee, beyond the flat rate, if the matter ends up in trial. Just ensure that you don’t end up with unexpected high bills and case costs.
Ask for references, check reviews
You need to know what other clients have been saying about a criminal defense attorney. The best way would be to ask for references, but if you want to dig in deeper, check online for independent reviews and testimonials.
Also, ask the attorney about their knowledge of local courts, prosecutors and judges. Lawyers who have worked in a given area can often guess certain aspects of the case, depending on these facts.
