What To Look For In A Criminal Defense Lawyer

Here are some tips to help you find the best criminal defense lawyer in your local area

Facing criminal charges is always very stressful and serious, and this is mainly because you or your loved one’s future is on the line. We’re lucky to have partnered up with Summit Defense, an Oakland Criminal Defense Lawyer, to support us in developing this list of what you should look for while hiring a defense attorney.

So follow the below tips to ensure that you’re making the very best hiring decision for you and your unique case!

1. Be Sure To Hire A Law Firm With Many Years Of Experience

You should make sure you know how long a prospective law firm has been in business, and how long your specific lawyer has been handling similar cases to yours.

Hiring a firm that specializes in your legal situation will always go a long way in ensuring your best results, because they’ll know exactly what to do in order to handle your unique circumstances based upon their past experiences.

2. Check Out Online Testimonials And Reviews From Past Clients

Online reviews have become more important than ever before for every purchasing/hiring decision, and hiring your criminal defense lawyer is no different.

Be sure to go through their website and see what their past clients are saying there, but also go through independent review pages to obtain a more objective understanding as to what it’s like to work with a specific specialist. Sites like Google Reviews and Yelp are good places to look when you’re trying to get to know a law firm better.

3. Be Sure To Hire An Attorney With Local Court Experience

Hiring a defense attorney that has years of experience handling criminal cases within your local area will always support your efforts towards a favorable outcome.

Each court system will have unique staff members and procedures, so hiring a lawyer who understands your court system will help you when it comes to giving you an advantage over prosecutors and judges.

4. Understand If You’re Hiring An Individual Lawyer Or A Team

Your best bet is always to work with a law firm that employs a whole team of criminal law specialists, and this is because they’ll be able to work together to plan out your defense. An individual lawyer may also be very busy handling several other clients and won’t be able to dedicate enough time to your case.

Knowing that you have multiple lawyers on your case will also provide you better peace of mind, because you’ll know that specialized professionals are working together to ensure your best course for legal action.

5. Communication Is Critical

Criminal court proceedings are always extremely stressful, which is why your lawyer and hired law firm should make things easier for you or your loved one. This includes good two-way communication, and them answering your questions.

This means that you should be provided with a lawyer’s email, as well as the emails of legal assistants that will be working on your case.

6. Be Wary Of Any Guarantees

Criminal charges are inherently unique, and it’s an unfortunate part of the criminal defense industry that law firms will take advantage of people’s vulnerable moments and guarantee specific results.

It’s always very unethical to provide any guarantees within criminal cases, so always be suspicious when a law firm guarantees you anything about the results of your specific legal situation.

Reach Out To An Oakland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today!

Finding the best criminal defense lawyer in your area is always a lot easier said than done, but doing your online research will support you in these efforts towards the hiring decision that’s best for you or your loved one.

Learn more about hiring a criminal defense law firm by speaking directly with the legal specialists at Summit Defense via the link at the top of the page!