If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need to act fast – and that includes hiring an attorney. But don’t act too fast. You want to make sure you are hiring the right attorney for you and your case. How do you know who’s right for you? You’ll have to make that decision but we can give you a few things to consider.
1. EXPERIENCE. You should know the level of experience your attorney has – and not just experience, but relevant experience. If your attorney has 20 years of experience as an attorney but has never handled a criminal case before, they probably don’t have the kind of experience you need. Along that same vein, if an attorney has 10 years of experience handling misdemeanors and traffic cases but has never handled a more serious charge, you may want to hire them for a DUI but not for murder. Consider the experience the attorney has overall, the type of law they’ve practiced, the types of cases they’ve handled and the courts they’ve practiced in. Federal court is very different from state court and even at the state level, each city/county can operate very differently.
2. REPUTATION. If you know someone who has used this attorney before, get their insight. An attorney could look great on paper but if you know someone who has had a less than stellar experience with them, find out why. Maybe it was a personality conflict or maybe it was something bigger. On the flip side, if someone has used an attorney and is recommending them, take that into consideration too and use that opportunity to learn more about the attorney’s style and personality to help you make your decision.
3. COST. Unfortunately, this should be a consideration. If you aren’t able to afford an attorney, you may be able to have one appointed. If you are able to afford one, you may not want to go with the cheapest attorney you can find. Consider what you are able to pay and make sure you include that in your decision. You want to be able to afford your attorney so you aren’t left with a bill you can’t pay, but you also want to make sure you a hiring a high-quality attorney.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, we’re here to help. Take a look at our approach and give us a call if you think we might be the right attorney for you.