Lawyers or attorneys specializing in law that defend people, businesses and other entities in court against criminal charges are called criminal defense lawyers. The charge itself and its basis cover a diverse spectrum of crimes. They assist clients in defending themselves against the claim in appellate, federal or state courts through bail bond hearings, trials, and appeals.
How well they perform and how well they are able to defend you in the court in front of the judge and jury can quite literally uproot your life. If an incompetent attorney is placed in charge of your case, hope for results in your favor can dim out a little.
This is why it’s imperative that you vet your options thoroughly before making the commitment and making them part of your legal team. Once you’ve got one or two names for criminal defense lawyers in your county, set up interviews with them to evaluate your case.
It’s also important to keep in mind that time is of the essence when you’re facing criminal charges. This is why when you go to meet the Riverside criminal defense lawyer, you go prepared. There are a few documents that you can bring along that will make the assessment easier and involve less back and forth. This may include:
- Bail papers;
- Documents received from the court (related to the charges or appearance dates);
- Warrants & related paperwork;
In addition, a list of witnesses, other defendants involved in the case, and a list of victims, along with a written account of your side of the story. To get more granular insights into the potential lawyer’s expertise, bring a list of questions.
If you’re not sure what questions to put in our list, here we guide you on how to choose a criminal defense lawyer and important questions to ask them.
Factors To Consider While Hiring The Top Criminal Defense Lawyer
Here are some of the most important factors that you need to consider when selecting a criminal defense lawyer in California.
1. Experience In Trial
Trial experience is perhaps one of the most crucial factors to consider when you are looking for the right criminal defense lawyer—the most experienced lawyers who have walked into courtrooms and negotiated plea agreements. Many of them have so much experience that they have become friends with the prosecutor. Someone like that might not be the best option for you to consider.
Hiring the services of a lawyer with trial experience does not mean that the case must always go to trial, but it does mean that the lawyer will never be afraid to go on trial and win the case for you whenever it is necessary.
2. Legal Competence
A criminal defense lawyer in California must be legally skilled in the latest legal developments, techniques, and science in criminal defense law to provide proper legal representation for their client. Just passing the BAR exam and having the license to practice law does not mean that the lawyer is on top of the latest legal developments in criminal defense.
Many states require lawyers to get annual professional education. However, the annual education requirement is not linked to a specific area of their practice. Legal competence in criminal defense means that there is a connection between the representation and their education.
3. Accessibility
Accessibility is a critical factor that you need to consider when choosing a criminal defense lawyer. Accessibility is the client’s ability to get in touch with the criminal defense lawyer or the legal staff that they are working with. One of the biggest problems that people face when they are working with their criminal defense lawyers is that they can only get in touch with their hired criminal defense lawyers when the lawyer needs to be paid.
It is quite unfortunate, but many criminal defense lawyers can provide you with their contact information and tell you that you can contact them at any time. Many of them only bother responding when they are on the clock. We believe that when a legal professional is representing someone in a criminal matter, it is one of the most personal undertakings that a lawyer can experience in their career. Proper representation extends beyond the money they earn by putting up a good fight for their clients. It requires learning the facts from the client and understanding both the how and the why behind the accusation.
Book a No-Strings Consultation with an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer at Aloupas Law, P.C.
Many people believe that the most expensive lawyers are the best and that the least expensive lawyers are the worst. While it is true that price is frequently the first consideration, it should never be the deciding factor.
Selecting a criminal defense attorney solely on the basis of price overlooks the importance of their background, skill, and availability. A criminal defense lawyer with multiple clients may charge you less because he has so many clients, but he may not have the time to prepare a proper defense for you, may lack competence, or may not be as accessible as you require.
If you need the services of a top criminal defense lawyer, reach out to Aloupas Law, P.C.
FAQs
Q1. How many years have you been practicing criminal law?
Specializing in criminal law doesn’t always translate to expertise. For that, the lawyer’s experience is a primary factor for you to consider. This is why the question inquiring about the attorney’s experience practicing criminal law is one of the first ones.
An attorney who has spent multiple years practicing criminal law, defending cases that are similar to the charges you’re facing, will be able to advise you properly. They use their experience to formulate an effective strategy for your defense in court.
However, don’t base your final decision solely on the number of years the potential criminal defense lawyer has. Also, inquire whether they’ve represented any clients in the courthouse where your case will be going to trial.
Q2. What are your qualifications?
It is good to investigate your lawyer’s qualifications. You can ask questions such as: Which law school did you go to? Which bar associations are you a part of? What areas of law do you specialize in? Do you have additional degrees or certifications?
Q3. Have you defended other clients with similar cases? & What is your success rate?
The first half of the question might be covered in the first one we’ve mentioned in the list. You want to ask whether your defendant has experience handling similar cases, as it will save you money and time.
The success rate is an obvious question as you want your case to turn in your favor. It shows that the criminal defense lawyer you’re interviewing possesses flexibility within their criminal law expertise.
If they have a higher success rate with different types of criminal cases, it means that they are able to sort through the unique requirements of your case and find the best possible defense strategy.
Q4. How much will my defense cost??
Different lawyers bill their clients differently. Some charge an hourly rate, while others offer an inclusive fee that covers most of the costs involved in representing your case. Ask them to give you a breakdown of how the fees are structured and whether there will be any additional expenses incurred in the future.
Q5. How do you maintain communication lines with clients?
When you and your criminal defense lawyer are developing a defense strategy for your case, you will have lots of questions for your lawyer. This means that open lines of communication are necessary for developing the case effectively.
You want a lawyer who keeps you in the loop with whatever is happening with the case and gives you frequent updates.
Q6. Do I have a strong case? Do I have cases other than going to trial?
There is no guarantee which way the case will go and how the judges will close it and no lawyer should guarantee a specific result. However, you can ask the lawyer whether there are chances of your case playing out in your favor.
Q7. How long will the process be?
It’s important that you know that your lawyer is not in control of how long it takes to get your case resolved. However, they can give you an estimate or a time frame depending on what preliminary information concerning your case.
Q8. What role will I be playing for your case?
Your role will include helping the criminal defense lawyer prepare documents using relevant background information. Other than that, you will be given strict directions to not speak to victims or engage in other types of legal work. Your lawyer will communicate what you need to do to help your case and its outcome.
