You’ve been charged with a crime. Now what? You need legal representation, but how do you know you’ll get the right lawyer on your side? Choosing a criminal defense lawyer isn’t something you should take lightly. There are four things you should consider when making that decision.
- Experience
You need to hire a lawyer who has experience in criminal law. Take it a step further and find a lawyer who is experienced in the type of crime you’re accused of committing. A seasoned professional could be the difference between jail time and a fine or getting off without consequences because you’re innocent. If the lawyer has experience, but not in the specific crime you’re accused of, he or she may not know all the ins and outs of how to handle the case.
- Location
If your case is being charged by the hour and your lawyer has to travel to your county to represent you, you’ll be paying for travel time. You need to consider your budget for fighting the case to determine whether this is worth the cost. It could also be beneficial to hire a local lawyer, as he or she might have a greater knowledge about the judge, the district attorney, and others involved in the case.
- Success
Although you might find a lawyer with a lot of experience dealing with the crime you’re accused of, it won’t do you any good if the lawyer doesn’t have any success with those cases. Find out how many similar cases the lawyer has fought, as well as how many of those were successful. Successful doesn’t always mean a complete win and the charges being dropped, but could mean lesser charges were brought or a lesser punishment was handed down.
- Compatibility
If you and your lawyer don’t have compatible personalities, it may not be wise for you to work together. Sometimes there are small disagreements that can be easily resolved when you’re both willing to listen to understand each other, but if you seriously don’t like the lawyer, it might be hard. Find someone you can trust, who you can feel comfortable around, and who you feel will actually listen to you and fight for you.
Getting Started Today
When you’re charged with a crime, whether you’re guilty or innocent, you need legal representation you can count on. Contact a lawyer, like a criminal lawyer in Civic Center San Francisco, CA from Hallinan Law Firm, today to get the legal counsel you deserve.