The first time you need to choose a criminal defense attorney you might find that the urgency of the situation precludes the appropriate amount of research that you can do. There is often little time in between the initial arrest and the arraignment hearing. If you are unprepared, you could find that you don’t have the ability to find the best match for you and your case.
Many defendants feel that the lawyer’s opinion of their guilt or innocence plays a vital role in their ability to provide quality representation. This is not really accurate. A lawyer should be able to view the aspects of the case and their implication when it comes to the law. He or she should also be able to find holes in the prosecution’s case, as there are often potential possibilities that have not been explored thoroughly by the police. This is what separates a quality lawyer form a marginal one.
When you are initially arrested you might have some expectations that are not well in tune with how the legal system really works. Real life doesn’t happen the way they show you on TV, especially when criminal charges are filed.
You often won’t even meet your lawyer until you’re in the courtroom awaiting the start of your first hearing. Sometimes you’ll meet him or her just before you’re permitted into the courtroom. On a less frequent occasion you’ll meet them while you’re in a holding cell. This makes the selection process a little more difficult.
It’s not uncommon for many people to start with a public defender and then hire a criminal defense attorney once they’ve made bail. If for some reason you are unable to make bail, it’s best to try to have a trusted friend or member of your family find you an attorney. You are not likely to have ample access to a phone to call the law offices, ask questions, and choose accordingly. Many lock ups only offer an hour or two of phone access per day, split between all of the inmates on your tier. This is not a great way to hunt down a lawyer.
It’s important that the lawyer that ends up representing you has an excellent track record and is able to take your case straight into the courtroom. If you end up hiring an attorney that has little to no courtroom experience you may find that you’re being pushed to take a deal that is based more on the attorney’s inability to represent you in court than the actual facts of the case. You and your lawyer don’t have to be friends, but you do need to be able to place a certain level of confidence in their ability to provide you with vigorous representation.
It’s not unusual for people who are in the legal system to be able to provide you with opinions based on experience about many criminals. You might find that employees of the legal system are just as apt to give you information as those who have been charged with a criminal act. Some lawyers have great strengths in certain areas of criminal defense. For instance, a lawyer that takes on mostly cases of driving while under the influence might not be able to manage a capital case.
If you tend to experience criminal issues on a fairly regular basis, it’s probably in your best interest to keep a lawyer that you’re confident in on retainer just in case you need their services. Having a criminal defense lawyer all ready to go in the event that you are arrested makes it much easier to navigate the system. You may or may not be guilty of a crime, but if you can see trouble written on the walls beforehand, it’s best to be prepared.
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