When charged with a criminal offense, seeking the assistance of a legal expert becomes unavoidable. No matter how big or minor charges are, it can be risky to handle a legal matter without professional assistance. If not handled properly, even minor crimes can have serious consequences and you end up having a criminal record on this site that can trouble you for years. But finding a good lawyer can help you avoid consequences like hefty penalties or jail time. When facing criminal charges, hiring a qualified lawyer is important. However, the lawyer who created your Will or helped you with taxation issues is of no help for charges like assault, drug possession, or robbery. When looking for a lawyer, you need to know the difference between civil lawyers and criminal defence lawyers.
A criminal defence attorney is a professional specializing in criminal law. But when searching for criminal defence lawyers, you should remember that not all lawyers are created equal. Criminal law is complicated and needs several years of practice to become proficient in representing individuals accused of serious crimes. Even if you’re innocent, you can’t take a risk of choosing an incompetent lawyer because an inexperienced lawyer can jeopardize your case. No matter how serious your crime is, the outcome of criminal cases largely depends on the skills of a lawyer. So, to increase your chances of getting a favorable outcome of criminal charges, finding the right lawyer is of utmost importance. If you don’t know any reputed lawyer in your area, here are some tips to choose the best criminal defence lawyer to fight your case and represent you in criminal court if needed.
Specialization & Experience
As mentioned above, lawyers have different areas of specialization- civil and criminal. However, even some criminal lawyers have specializations like theft and robbery, sexual assault, fraud, and more. When searching for a lawyer, check their practice area to make sure they specialize in cases similar to yours. Avoid law firms that offer both civil and criminal legal services. Remember, jack of all trades, master of none. Only those who specialize in criminal law have in-depth knowledge and experience to provide the best possible legal representation to their clients. You should find out how many cases similar to yours the attorney has handled in the past and their success rate in those cases.
Courtroom Experience
Lawyers try to resolve cases through negotiations. However, if your case goes to trial, you need a lawyer who has the experience and confidence to represent you before the jury. The courtroom is extremely important because a minor mistake before the judge can have life-changing consequences for you. If the law firm offers a free consultation, make sure to take advantage of it. Meet the lawyer to discuss your case and ask about their courtroom experience. It is best to hire a criminal defence attorney who has several years of experience in the local courts.
Fee Structure
When looking for an attorney, skills, and experience are the most important factors. However, finding the top criminal lawyer is of no use if you can’t afford their fee. Some top-rated lawyers charge exorbitant fees that could be out of your budget. So, make sure you find out the fee structure. You should ask total cost of handling your case and if there will be any additional costs.