Being charged with a crime may be a stressful and scary situation. A guilty verdict means your reputation, career, and even your freedom may be jeopardized. You can’t overstate the value of hiring an experienced, specialized criminal lawyer to represent you. When your liberty is at stake, the repercussions of hiring the wrong attorney go well beyond regret, wasted time, and money. Taking the time to evaluate your legal counsel alternatives properly is critical.
His Background And Experience
It’s suggested that you inquire about the lawyer’s schooling, when they were licensed as a practitioner, and their work experience defending persons prosecuted under criminal law. You should specifically ask the lawyer the following questions:
What year did they finish their law degree. How long have they practised law, and what lawsuits have they worked on. Which courts have they functioned as legal advisers in, and whether the attorney or legal practice in which they work focuses solely on criminal law affairs.
His Primary Area Of Focus
In contrast to doctors, who often train and specialize in a specific area of medicine, any lawyer with a law licence is legally permitted to represent anyone in any matter throughout the State. As a result, there are many attorneys that operate in the field of “General Practice.” This is similar to a jack-of-all-trades strategy to the law. They know a bit of everything. Furthermore, many attorneys will have websites that advertise various distinct areas of practice – for example, Divorce / Criminal / Personal Injury – each of which is unique. When your career, reputation, and liberty are at risk, you want a lawyer who is solely dedicated to criminal law practice daily.
His Fees
For many people, the issue of money and legal costs is quite sensitive. You want to hire a competent lawyer who will help you handle your criminal situation, but you don’t want to hire one whose price is so expensive that it would cause you financial hardship. If your lawyer doesn’t give you a clear response to the question, “How much will this cost?” you should be cautious. Criminal Lawyers determine their fees in a variety of methods. Some charge an hourly fee that is deducted from an initial retainer. (These types of arrangements can be pretty unpredictable.) If your case goes on for a long time, hourly fee agreements might add up to a lot of money.
Experience On Similar Cases And Expected Result
When evaluating lawyers, it is always preferable to select one that has handled numerous cases similar to yours. This offers a significant benefit. First, your lawyer has already been down this path with this type of case and understands how to handle it and what strategy will bring you the best possible result. Second, your attorney will not be “reinventing the wheel” or learning on the go. He has already dealt with several cases similar to yours. If your lawyer has prior experience with cases similar to yours, he will be able to provide you with expert advice on some of the probable outcomes of the case.
At Franks & Rechenberg, P.C, we take our cases very seriously. To learn more about how we can represent you in your case, contact us today.