subject: Hiring A Criminal Attorney - 5 Things To Keep In Mind [print this page] When you or a loved one is arrested for a crime and you are looking to hire a criminal attorney, it's important to keep some things in mind. It's easy to hire the first guy who knocks on the door or slips you his card in jail, but that might not be the right guy for your case. If you want to make a decision that will benefit your fight against the prosecution, here are five things to remember and do.
Schedule Consultations
There's no law that says you have to hire the first criminal attorney you sit down with. Most lawyers are happy to meet with you for free and offer you a review of your case. This is a chance for you to hear them out, evaluate their personality, and decide if you want to move forward. But if you only meet with one, you don't know what else is out there. You need to act quickly, of course, but you can still make a measured decision.
Interview Them
A lot of potential clients see the initial consultation as a chance for the criminal attorney to decide whether or not he wants to take the case. While this is partly true, it's also a chance for you to decide whether or not you want to hire them. Throw out any questions you have that can help you make that decision. Now's not the time to be shy.
Experience
There are no traits a criminal attorney can bring to the table that are more important than experience. Do not even consider hiring a lawyer who doesn't have at least a few years under his belt, trying cases like yours in the jurisdiction. Most lawyers will trumpet their experience on their official websites, which means you don't even need to bother with the ones who just got into the game yesterday.
Good Communication
You're not hiring a friend, you're hiring a criminal attorney. That said, the traits of a good lawyer are often not that far from those of a good friend. Chief among these traits are the ability to listen and communicate. If you find yourself unable to make that connection, you're unlikely to be happy with the progress of the case.
Assertiveness
Shrinking violets do not typically make good trial lawyers, especially on the defendant's side of the table. While you don't necessarily want to hire a bully, you certainly want someone with a backbone.
