How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer to Represent You in Court

Are you feeling defeated as a result of the criminal charges you are facing? Do you wish to find legal help, but you don’t know what measures to take?

It’s common to have mixed feelings about the criminal charges brought against you. Note that making a mistake doesn’t automatically make you a bad person. The role of the justice system is to determine your innocence.

You deserve a strong legal defense with no possibility of conviction in your case. But what’s the suitable approach to finding the best criminal defense lawyer? Here are six things to consider to see you through the process:

1. Education and Accreditation

Hire a criminal defense lawyer with proper professional and educational credentials. Find out the law school they attended and their American Bar Association status. The mission at hand is to determine the lawyer’s legitimacy.

Lawyers hold licenses that apply to different states. Visit the state licensing agency to confirm the credentials of your potential attorney. Only work with a lawyer that has no criminal record.

Find out how long they’ve handled criminal defense cases. They should be in a position to anticipate the prosecution’s actions or strategies. The attorney should have plenty of experience representing clients in local courts.

Do they have top-notch research and investigative skills? Do they look for tiny details of a case to discover things that were overlooked? Can they showcase critical thinking when presenting defenses in court? If you want to know whether we can handle your unique case, visit our website for more information.

2. Their Success Rate Handling Cases Like Yours

The attorney should be familiar with cases like yours. Learn more about their track record to determine your chances of winning.

Find out if cases like yours usually go to trial. Can they evaluate the unique circumstances and facts to your charge for good outcomes? They should be able to personalize the strategy and defense to your particular charge.

Check their rate of success with helping clients avoid imprisonment. Have they ever succeeded at getting charges dropped for their clients during the stage of investigation?

3. Testimonials from Previous Clients

Testimonials can help you learn more about a legal representative. They can also gear you toward finding the best criminal defense lawyer. A good criminal lawyer will consider client feedback to improve their practice.

The attorney’s former clients can give helpful accounts of the legal services. They also offer insights on the overall experience of legal representation. The testimonials can even come from other legal counsels in the community.

Your criminal lawyer should be reputable for showing concern for the well-being of his or her client well-being. Their testimonials should reveal that they are easily approachable. This is to find a criminal defense lawyer who values their clients.

Does the lawyer guarantee that any information divulged in your meeting will be confidential? Attorney-client privilege, which is established to protect legal counsels from spilling secrets of  clients, should always be upheld.

4. Attorney Fees

The American Rule states that each party in a legal battle must pay their legal fees. Furthermore, your funding will depend on the type of case, geography, and the attorney’s experience. Most lawyers charge highly for felonies since they come with large penalties and more court appearances.

A highly experienced lawyer will charge more since they handle cases swiftly and satisfactorily. They may bill according to hours, the type of case, and retainer status.

The average hourly fee for criminal defense lawyers is $150 per hour. This charge pays for any expenses the attorney will incur while representing you.

Lawyers who follow the billing strategy, have a fixed fee for representing defenders. These fees are constant no matter the time spent on the case.

Your potential criminal lawyer may want you to pay an up-front retainer fee. Expect them to send you regular statements that show the time spent on your case.

Ask for a signed, written contract before transacting with a criminal defense lawyer near me. The contract should highlight the terms and conditions of the legal service. Negotiate payment plans and a fee schedule before bringing the legal expert on board.

5. What Strategy Will they Use on Your Case

Ask the lawyer for a defensive plan and strategy personalized for your case. They should also give reasons for choosing those strategies. Check the options they have other than proceeding to trial.

Find out whether they will negotiate a fair plea deal. This is to cut the costs and time involved in pursuing a criminal case.

A good criminal defense lawyer should inform you about your role in the case. What do they expect you to do during the preparation stage? Will they need any background information or documents in this process?

Playing a role in your criminal case may affect the outcome positively. For instance, you may seek treatment in a DUI case to show your willingness to be sober. Only participate in the process when advised by your lawyer.

6. What is Their Communication Strategy Like

The lawyer should accommodate your questions or concerns regarding the process. They should regularly check on you with valuable updates about the case. Tell them that you feel confident and comfortable in them if they keep in touch often.

A good Savannah criminal defense lawyer recognizes both verbal and non-verbal language. They pay close attention to your body language, tone, and voice.

Is your potential lawyer capable of establishing relationships quickly? They should maintain a good rapport with you throughout the different stages of your case. Additionally, your lawyer should be in a position to end the relationship amicably if things don’t turn out well.

Find out whether they have an assistant to respond to calls when they’re unreachable. Does the attorney have extra training in communication skills? How are they using these skills to give the best legal representation to clients?

Find the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer

The results of your criminal case depend heavily on your lawyers’ qualifications. Consider the qualities discussed in this article to find the best criminal defense lawyer.

Do you want to hire a criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and freedom in Savanna? Our firm has criminal attorneys who have had experience working as prosecutors.

We have the complete experience and know-how necessary to build strong defenses for your advantage. Get your free case evaluation today.