Are you facing a criminal charge? Would you like to know the best way to handle your case? You are not alone. The legal system is complicated and confusing, and it can be hard to know what steps to take to get the outcome you want. The term “criminal lawyer” immediately conjures up images of one type of attorney: a white-collar criminal defense attorney. While this is undoubtedly an important role, it is not the only way to practice law as a criminal defense attorney. There are several other areas of law where you may need the services of a criminal defense attorney. This article will explore some of the questions that should be asked before hiring a criminal attorney.
Experience matters, a lot
How much legal experience does your potential criminal defense attorney have? It will vary greatly. For some practices, you may need a Chicago criminal attorney who has been practicing law for 15 years or more. If nothing else, a lawyer with this amount of experience should know what to do in the case (e.g., understanding all applicable laws) and how best to approach it and handle it from every conceivable angle required by law. Lawyers who do not have this amount of experience might skip steps or make a mistake that will cost you the case.
When deciding whether they should represent you, be sure that the attorney fits your criteria based on experience. Besides, you have to make sure that the attorney has the license to practice in your state to represent you in a criminal court.
Success rate
You can review all cases handled by your potential attorney in an attempt to determine their success rate with defendants facing similar charges like yours. It is essential to understand how your attorney handled similar cases in court as they would do with yours if necessary. Suppose the lawyer won a case and was successful. That does not mean that he will automatically win another case involving any criminal matter regardless of how similar they are.
Ask your lawyer, “What is my likelihood of winning the case?” Even if a lawyer cannot win the case entirely, they can help you defend it by avoiding trial and getting the first-stage defense.
Moreover, you can read reviews and testimonials from earlier clients to understand your lawyer even better.
Fees and costing
Your next step is to find out the attorney’s fees and costs. How exactly are they calculated? The fee structure should be listed clearly in their retainer. In most states, lawyers can charge you both hourly and non-fixed fees. With the latter, they will get paid by each hour billed to their client so long as no billable hours are missed, even if it is a false start case or case dismissed early in court.
So, you can ask questions like the following to make it even clear-
“How often do I expect my attorney’s price to change?”
Will there be any cost paid if we win the case?”
It is essential to learn how your lawyer thinks and acts before diving into their firm.
Finally, these are things you can consider while hiring a criminal attorney.
