Home Pop Culture How to Know You’ve Hired the Right Criminal Defense Attorney

How to Know You’ve Hired the Right Criminal Defense Attorney

SHARE
hiring criminal defense attorney
Checklist for hiring criminal defense attorney to fight your case.
hiring criminal defense attorney
Checklist for hiring criminal defense attorney to fight your case.

Checklist for hiring the criminal defense attorney to fight your case. Guide of what to look for when looking for legal representation, from best practices, potential pitfalls along with reviews, experience and passion. 

When you’ve been charged with a crime like theft, assault, or arson, it likely won’t be long until you realize the legal system is daunting and challenging to navigate. You might also feel uncomfortable representing yourself and believe hiring a criminal defense attorney is your best chance of fighting your charges. 

However, as you browse the internet, looking for suitable representation, it can become abundantly clear that there are many criminal defense attorneys to choose from. You might be able to feel more confident in your hiring decision when you notice some of the following things about a particular lawyer: 

Free Consultations

When you meet with reputable criminal defense attorneys like Mark Thiessen, you might gain insight into their suitability for your needs when you learn they offer free consultations. You can sometimes feel pressured to hire particular criminal defense attorneys when you’re already paying for your initial consultation. However, that’s not the case with all law firms. 

At a free consultation, your chosen lawyer can hear the facts of your case, and you can decide whether you want them to represent you. This no-pressure approach can be a weight off your mind during a stressful time in your life. 

Notable Victories

Defending criminal charges can be hard work, especially when the police want to see you charged with your crime and go to great lengths to make it happen. You might feel more confident in your hiring decision if you read information about particularly notable victories your chosen law firm has had with cases similar to your own. Many reputable law firms publish such successes on their websites, giving you insight into their abilities and willingness to go the extra mile for their clients. 

Glowing Reviews and Recommendations

If you’re facing criminal charges for the first time, you likely don’t have any experience with lawyers. Potentially, this means you don’t know who comes highly recommended in your local community. Don’t be afraid to ask around and read reviews to learn who people trust and recommend. 

There are many online databases you can also check to learn about people’s experiences with particular firms or lawyers. The more highly regarded your preferred lawyer is, the more peace of mind you might enjoy when you decide to hire them. 

Transparent Payment Terms

Legal representation can be expensive, with hourly rates ranging from under $200 to more than $400. You likely know that you’ll need to spend money to improve your chances of a successful outcome, but it helps to know just how much you’ll probably need to pay. 

The best lawyers will be transparent with their payment terms, including the costs of hiring them, their hourly rate, and other associated expenses like administration, expert witnesses, and reports. When you have this information, you can make a plan for how you’ll fund your legal journey. 

Communication

Communication is one of the most frustrating parts of navigating the legal system. Multiple parties can be involved in the average criminal case, and it can feel like learning updates about your situation and how it’s progressing can take a long time. 

The best criminal defense attorneys understand how stressful the waiting game can be. They do their best to be available for their clients, updating them on progress being made as soon as the information is available to them. 

Experience

There is nothing wrong with hiring a newly-graduated lawyer to represent you during legal proceedings. However, experience can count for a lot when you’re facing serious charges like assault, manslaughter, and even murder.

When you hire a criminal defense lawyer with years of experience working on cases like yours, you’re often able to draw on their experience and use it to your advantage. They can think about how they were able to succeed in cases in the past and sometimes apply the same techniques and tools in your case. While you might pay more for an experienced lawyer, it can often be worth it if you’re able to have your charges reduced or even dropped. 

Passion

You might believe you’ve hired the right attorney to represent you when you see their determination and passion for your rights to be protected. Reputable criminal defense attorneys work hard for their clients and leave no stone unturned in making sure they defend them to the best of their abilities. 

You won’t know at first glance whether a criminal defense attorney you’ve hired is the right person for the job. However, if they communicate well, are passionate, have notable victories, and offer free consultations, you might feel confident in your hiring decision and know you’ve made an excellent choice.

SHARE