If you are facing a criminal charge, then you know just how serious the consequences can be if you hire the wrong criminal defense lawyer. Just one Google search yields thousands of criminal defense attorneys in your area, so how can you find a great lawyer to help you win your case? Here are a few characteristics that you can look for in a potential criminal defense attorney:

Great Communication Skills 

Oftentimes, facing a criminal charge is the most stressful time in a person’s life. By choosing a lawyer that communicates clearly and often, you can save yourself the additional stress of trying to interpret their words. Also, legal jargon is often difficult for people outside of the legal industry to understand, and a great lawyer will break down these terms in a way that is easily comprehensible. 

During a case evaluation, pay close attention to how your potential lawyer assesses your case, and cross-reference your experience with online reviews to get an idea of their communication skills.  

Has Plenty of Criminal Defense Experience 

Some lawyers choose to be “jack of all trades” and have a wide variety of legal specialties. This is not a bad thing by any means, but pay close attention to their criminal defense experience in particular. Any potential lawyer that you hire should have a variety of cases where they achieved favorable outcomes. More specifically, this potential lawyer should have ample experience defeating the exact type of charge you are facing. Since criminal charges are incredibly serious, it is recommended that you hire someone with the experience necessary to help you win your fight. 

Well Connected With Local Judicial System 

Each geographical location has its own specific judicial hierarchy. This means the network of prosecutors, judges, and other influential legal representatives. Since defense attorneys often have professional relationships with prosecutors and residing judges, it is important to hire an attorney with a great local reputation. By hiring a well-respected lawyer in your area, they will know who to call upon for important information. Additionally, a well-established lawyer will know how to get things done efficiently in their given area.  

Displays Great Research and Investigative Skills

Building a successful criminal defense is largely centered around investigating and researching. This means that finding a law firm, like the Law Offices of Graham D. Donath, APC, who are known for their research process is vital. However, it can be difficult to judge a potential attorney’s skills just by meeting them, this is where your own research can come in handy. Start by looking at online reviews of this lawyer, looking for how “thorough” the client felt the firm was. Additionally, check any news mentions, and see what kinds of difficult cases they have had favorable outcomes on. By doing this you can get a peek into the strength of their research process. Also, feel free to ask a lawyer about their personal process during a case evaluation, it can’t hurt to ask! 

 

There are many other qualities that make for a winning criminal defense lawyer, and this is not meant to be an exhaustive list. But keeping these characteristics in mind when you interview lawyers, can help you make a well-thought out decision about who to trust with your criminal case.