Anyone facing criminal charges, no matter how minor, will greatly benefit from consulting with a skilled criminal lawyer. Even if the attorney is not retained to provide representation in court, the consultation alone helps provide a clearer picture of the charges filed, available defenses, what plea bargains are likely to be offered, and what will happen if you are convicted.
It is his or her job to bring forth any appropriate motions which can significantly improve your situation. Sometimes, these motions result in the dismissal or reduction of charges.
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to find a good criminal defense attorney. Here are a few suggestions:
Referrals: It is possible to find a criminal defense attorney from someone who is already familiar with his or her practice. If you or a friend plays golf with someone who is a lawyer, he or she can probably suggest a criminal defense lawyer in your area. Perhaps a friend or family member has previously been in trouble with the law; that person may be able to give you some suggestions.
Courtroom Observation: Think about sitting in on some public sessions of the court while criminal cases are being tried. If you find a particular criminal defense attorney to be impressive, contact him or her later about the possibility of representing you.
Professional Organizations: Each state has its own organizations of criminal defense lawyers. These professional organizations provide referral services and online directories to help you find a criminal defense attorney near you. State and county bar associations are a good place to start.
Trusting your instincts is more important than anything else when searching for criminal defense lawyers. If you are not comfortable with a particular criminal defense lawyer after your initial consultation, schedule an appointment to speak with a different office. You are under no obligation whatsoever to hire someone just because you had a consultation with him or her.
If during your meeting, a criminal lawyer makes statements that your case is easy to win or promises you won’t go to jail, start making plans to speak with other lawyers. Far too often, a criminal defense lawyer will purposely misrepresent the gravity of a situation or the complexity of a case in order to entice the defendant to pay a retainer. He or she then blames the judge or prosecutor when all of his or her promises turn out to be not true. You can also follow them on Twitter for more information.
