CHOOSING THE BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER
What is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Criminal defense lawyers specialize in defending individuals or companies who have been charged with criminal activity. This could be those charged with drug offenses, sex crimes, or any other criminal activity. No matter if it is drugs, sex crime charges, or something else entirely, a criminal defense lawyer is your advocate in the courtroom to help you come out on top.
As of 2015, over 70 million people have indexed criminal records with the III (Interstate Identification Index). Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer is important. Because the law in the United States has so many different branches relating to different crimes, it is important to find legal services that specialize in helping you fight the crime you have been charged with. Here are some things to consider when choosing a criminal defense lawyer:
Choosing The Right Lawyer
The first step in choosing the right criminal defense lawyer is to look for someone who has a passion for their job. Remember, a good court room defense (if it comes to that, which hopefully it doesn't), is a mixture of emotion and logic. Having a passionate lawyer fighting for your case can help sway the jury to your favor. Passionate lawyers will show interest in you and listen to your story. They will find all of the right angles to cover in order to help present the strongest case possible for your defense.
While you should look for a confident lawyer, be careful of any lawyer that offers a "guarantee." While every firm would love to be able to guarantee you specific results, that is simply not an accurate representation of how the legal system works. Lawyers who offer guarantees are typically under practiced and don't have a complete understanding of the system. While we do not guarantee any specific result or outcome of your legal battle, we can promise to do everything in our power to help you fight your defense case with the best possible outcome in mind.
When it comes to experience, not all experience is the same. Someone with 25 years of experience fighting child custody battles isn't necessarily going to know how to fight drug charges. Likewise, a lawyer with extensive experience in drug law is not going to be your best advocate if you have been charged with sex crimes. To find a good fit, look for a lawyer who has significant experience representing people who were charged with crimes similar to the ones you were charged with.
Additionally, make sure that your lawyer is backed up by a great team. Often it takes more than just a single person to properly advocate for your case. Though only one criminal defense lawyer will represent you in court (if it comes to that), there will be a firm or team of people behind that lawyer who will do due diligence on your behalf to ensure you have the strongest case possible. Go with your gut here. If something feels off about the firm or about the lawyer, start looking around again. Especially in the case of drug or sex-related crimes, you need the absolute best on your side. Between the increasing false sex crime charges and the more hostile and sue happy world, it is important to have the best team covering your back.
If you are still on the fence about a specific lawyer or firm, start checking references. All law firms will have a reputation to uphold, and with a little effort, it should be easy to get some information from previous clients to how the firm handled their case. If you would like, check out our testimonials page to find clients who had charges similar to yours. We would be happy to put you in touch where it is possible to give you peace of mind in choosing the right firm.
Last, look for a lawyer that can speak your language. Legalese is often very difficult to understand, and lawyers know this. Great lawyers will help break down legal terms and documents for you so that you are able to understand exactly what is being said. Look for a lawyer who speaks clearly and can help interpret all the choices moving forward.