Hiring a Criminal Lawyer

There are a number of situations in life when you have
to decide whether to hire a lawyer. For instance, if
you're purchasing a house or having trouble paying your
bills, hiring a lawyer may not be a necessity, but it's
a good idea nonetheless. However, if you've been
charged with driving under the influence, assault, or
some other crime, hiring a criminal lawyer is
mandatory. You'll want to make sure that your legal
rights are protected throughout the entire judicial
process.

But where do you begin, when you're hoping to hire a
qualified criminal lawyer? One of the best ways to
find an effective attorney is to consult with your
family and friends. There is nothing better than a
personal recommendation, especially one that comes from
someone who is close to you. However, there are times
when it might be difficult to obtain a personal
referral. In those situations, you might consider
consulting the local bar association or an Internet
site such as lawyers.com. The Internet, in fact, can
provide a wealth of information about individual
lawyers. For instance, you can find out about a
lawyer's level of expertise in criminal law,
biographical information, whether the lawyer is in good
standing with the bar, and other pertinent facts. In
addition, online archives of your local newspaper might
include articles about cases that a particular lawyer
has tried. You'll want to hire a lawyer with plenty
of experience in the area of criminal law involved in
your case, whether it be traffic offenses, drug crimes,
or white collar crimes.

The next step is contacting the lawyer's office. If
an attorney cannot meet with you on short notice, don't
count the lawyer out. Effective lawyers are quite
busy, so, if a lawyer is short on time, that may
actually be a positive sign. Pay close attention to
how your call is handled by the lawyer's staff. The
staff should be courteous and be willing to answer all
of your questions.

You should be aware of the fact that criminal defense
lawyers tend to charge by the hour. As an alternative,
they may charge a flat fee up front. Generally
speaking, rules of professional conduct bar a lawyer
from charging a contingency fee for a criminal case.
Since legal fees can vary, you might want to engage in
some comparison shopping. However, be advised that the
better lawyers tend to charge more for their services.
Since your freedom and reputation are at stake, you
should invest in the best lawyer you can afford.

Given the fact that criminal cases are often settled
through plea agreements with a district attorney's
office, it can be important for a criminal lawyer to be
on good terms with the D.A. Certainly, good relations
between the two can only enhance your case. Therefore,
you'll want a lawyer who has fairly regular contact
with the prosecuting attorney in the county in which
your case resides. Also, it's a good idea if you hire
a lawyer who is affiliated with a group such as the
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Such
an association shows that your lawyer wants to keep
abreast of new developments in the area of criminal
law.

Prior to hiring a criminal lawyer, be sure to ask for
references. You'll want to know how clients view the
attorney's expertise. You should also obtain a copy of
the law firm's brochure, so you have a clear
understanding of the outfit you're dealing with. It is
also vitally important that you obtain a copy of the
lawyer's retainer agreement so that you're aware of any
up-front costs involved in obtaining legal
representation.

In the end, you'll want to select a lawyer that you're
comfortable with, one that truly understands your case
and can work well on your behalf. You'll find that an
effective criminal attorney is well worth his or her fee.

Criminal-Lawyer-Central.com is a directory of criminal lawyers across the United States.
Visit the criminal lawyer site for more information.