Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer |
Posted: July 19, 2019 |
When accused of a crime, innocent or guilty, everyone deserves their day in court. And having the right criminal defense lawyer in Anne Arundel County by your side is imperative to guaranteeing your rights. No one should ever represent themselves in court. Even the best lawyers, when accused of a crime, hire legal representation. That should tell you something. So, if your uncle is a real estate attorney, and he tells you that he can represent you in criminal court politely decline and find a good criminal defense attorney. Here are a few things to consider when interviewing a criminal defense lawyer to hire to represent you. #1 – Size of Attorney Office – There are many good single-attorney offices. That means there is one attorney with a staff who helps him or her prepare for court. The risk of going with a single-attorney office is that they may have so many cases that you get little attention. There are also many good multi-attorney offices, with office staff. And then there are large firms with lots of criminal defense lawyers. The risk of going with a big firm is that you may be assigned to an inexperienced attorney. As you research criminal defense law firms, ask about case load and how much time you will receive. Ask about rates and other expenses, and how much you should expect to be charged. #2 – Legal Experience – Once you feel good about the size of the firm, check experience. Do the attorneys at the firm have experience with defendants with your same criminal charges? And if so, how many cases have they tried? Understanding that every criminal trial is different, what is the win/loss ratio. What was their work experience before becoming a criminal defense attorney? One thing to look for is if the attorney has previously worked in the prosecutor’s office. This is referred to as working both sides of the street. They have experience prosecuting and defending – a good skill to have. These criminal defense lawyers have a leg up in that they know the prosecuting attorneys and their styles. They will also have relationships with judges, clerks, and others who work in the local court system. #3 – Criminal Law Expertise – Also review with the prospective criminal defense attorney their level of knowledge of the law for the particular crime you have been charged. The law and criminal statutes are highly specialized. An attorney cannot know all facets of criminal law from white collar tax evasion to drug possession to the various murder chargers. Ask how many cases they have tried in your area. If they do not have the required experience, they can refer you to another attorney. When all is said and done, one of the most important things about hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Anne Arundel County is that you trust the person to provide you the best legal representation possible.
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