No one wants to have to deal with a criminal case, but there are times when they just happen. Maybe you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, made a mistake, or have been mistakenly accused. No matter what the case may be, you have the right to be properly represented. This will ensure that you understand your rights and increase the chances that you get a fair sentence, or it could help you prove your innocence. The only issue is that many people look for a criminal attorney at the last minute and don’t really know what makes for a good one. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should be looking for when hiring a criminal defense attorney.
Experience
The most important thing to look for when hiring a criminal attorney is experience. The attorney or firm need to have experience with not only criminal cases, but criminal cases like yours specifically. Your best bet here would be to go with a firm that has a long track record working with criminal law cases and a very diverse team of lawyers working for them.
If you’re looking for a great criminal defense firm, Simon Law Group is a great place to start. Firms like these have been around for a while and have a solid history working with all sorts of clients, so you shouldn’t have issues finding someone familiar with your type of case.
Another thing you have to pay very special attention to is trial experience. Some lawyers may advertise themselves as criminal defense attorneys but barely ever see a jury. This is something you can easily verify through court records, so make sure the person you’re working with has been to trial a few times and won.
Communication
You also have to make sure that your communication styles mesh and that you understand the words that are coming from your attorney’s mouth. Some attorneys just have a bad time explaining things to their clients, and you need things to be as clear as possible. If you don’t understand something, ask them to clarify things for you. If you can’t understand what they’re saying no matter how they put it, or they get irritated and dismiss you, look for someone else.
Work with someone who’s accessible too. You won’t be able to contact your attorney 24/7, but they should be able to get back to you reasonably fast after you leave them messages. You should also be able to always get in contact with someone who knows the facts of your case if you have questions that need to be answered immediately.
Confidence
Confidence is extremely important when working with a criminal defense attorney. If it is for a major case, there’s a strong chance that they’ll need to convince a jury. This is impossible to do if you don’t have a certain level of confidence. So, if you notice any signs of uncertainty or shakiness when speaking with your attorney, you might want to look somewhere else.
Finding a good criminal defense attorney is not always easy, so if you have time, don’t rush into hiring someone. If you look for the signs in this article and make sure that the attorney you pick ticks all the right boxes, the chances of you getting treated fairly by the court will improve instantly.