1. Experience
Experience is listed first because it is the number one thing to look for in a criminal defense attorney. It is imperative that you find an attorney who has plenty of experience practicing criminal law. You wouldn’t ask a dentist to perform knee surgery, so do not hire just any lawyer to represent you in a criminal case. Criminal law is a niche area of the law that requires an attorney who works in that space and, preferably, has done so for a long time.
Keep it local. If you hire a criminal defense attorney who regularly practices in the same courthouse where your case is being litigated, that attorney will have established relationships with the judges and prosecutors who you are up against. If you are facing charges in Pinellas County, do not hire an attorney from Miami-Dade. Like fingerprints, every courtroom is different, and you’ll need a criminal defense attorney who knows your specific courtroom.
2. Accessibility
The number one knock on most attorneys is that their clients can never get in touch with them. There is nothing worse than being left in the dark when you are facing criminal charges. Unlike civil lawyers, criminal lawyers do not get paid by the hour; therefore, there is no financial incentive to speak to clients regularly. Make sure that the attorney you hire will commit to updating you on your case at least every few weeks. And be clear that you want to talk to the attorney handling your case – not a different attorney or paralegal.
3. Cost
Unless you are filthy rich, cost will always be a determining factor in who you should hire as your criminal defense attorney. Before hiring an attorney, call around and get an idea of the price range for the services you are seeking. If someone is strangely higher or lower than the range you have found, a red flag should go up in your mind. Why is this person so expensive or inexpensive? Sometimes good criminal attorneys can charge more because of their track record but be sure that you check their Google reviews and other ratings to make sure you are getting what you pay for.
4. Reputation
With today’s technology, we can rate and view ratings for everything from hotdog stands to neurosurgeons. No matter what a business may offer, someone likely has an opinion about it and was willing to put it on the internet. Before hiring an attorney, check that attorney’s reviews. Start by searching their name on Google and looking at their Google business page. Also consider legal-based sites like Avvo.com or Justia.com for more input on your potential attorney. Try to make sure you are concentrating on those reviews by people who have hired that attorney and not someone who just knows them. Try to find out what kind of results the attorney was able to get for that client. Read the reviews closely because the proof is often in the details.
5. Trials
The last case scenario for any case is to go to trial. But if you hire an attorney who is not highly experienced at going to trial, trial will never truly be an option. The prosecutor must know that your attorney is willing to go to the mat and fight for you and make the State prove their case against you beyond any and all reasonable doubt. While most cases do not go to trial, it should always be on the table. And some cases are destined for trial from the beginning. Ask your prospective criminal defense attorney how many jury trials they have tried to verdict. Ask them if they were the lead attorney or if they were the second chair (assistant to the lead attorney). This information will tell you if your attorney is formidable and can take your case to trial if needed.
At Hendry & Parker, we pride ourselves on being experienced, accessible, cost-effective, highly regarded, and ready to go to trial at the drop of a hat. Call today for a free consultation. (727) 205-5555.