Most of the time, if you need to hire a criminal defence lawyer, things are probably pretty stressful, making it very hard to make a smart decision about the best lawyer for the job. Hiring the wrong lawyer can lead to disastrous consequences. It can affect the quality of your case, and it may cost you a lot of money. If you want to get the most out of your experience, then be sure to look for a lawyer with the following traits.
Look for a Lawyer with Credentials
First and foremost, always make sure the lawyer is accredited and has an excellent educational background. While it is not necessary for your criminal defence lawyer to go to the best schools, you should make sure the lawyer has gone to a respected school. Moreover, check to see if the lawyer has passed all appropriate tests and is in good standing with legal organizations, which is a simple benchmark that all working lawyers should be able to prove.
You Need a Lawyer with Relevant Experience
While all lawyers should have the proper schooling and accreditation, not all lawyers will have the right experience to get the job done. If you need a criminal defence lawyer, look for one that has worked on similar cases. The law is vast and complex. It is impossible for a single lawyer to be versed in all areas. Even if the lawyer is very good in one area of the law, he or she may not have the experience necessary to support your case. Look for a lawyer who has successfully represented cases similar to your own.
Seek an Honest Attorney
Honesty is not always associated with the law profession, but the fact that lawyers will represent their clients at all costs is a different point entirely. You actually want a lawyer who will be honest with you. You need a lawyer who will be upfront about your case’s potential. Do not need a lawyer to feed you false hopes. Moreover, if your lawyer uses underhanded methods, it may end up hurting your case overall. Dishonesty in court can be illegal. You do not want that to complicate your potential for a favourable sentence.
Hire a Law Professional with Organizational Skills
Because the law is so complex, you need a lawyer who can keep track of all the details. There are important dates to meet, there are papers that need filing, and there are a thousand other things to manage, which is one reason why you need to hire a lawyer. If you try to do it yourself, you will surely get overwhelmed. Therefore, make sure your lawyer is up to the challenge. Your lawyer should know what is going on, and he or she should prepare for all the important parts of the process. You do not want to complicate your case because your lawyer is disorganized.
Only Work with Punctual Attorneys
When you work with a lawyer, hourly charges will apply. In this sense, time is money when you hire a lawyer. Accordingly, you do not want to get waylaid by a lawyer who is not timely, which can make your costs skyrocket. Worse, a lawyer who is not punctual can actually hinder your outcome in court. Just think about all the dates and deadlines involved with a legal case. If your lawyer is not timely in meeting those deadlines, then you are the one who will inevitably suffer.
Choose a Lawyer that Makes You Feel Comfortable
Ultimately, you should hire a lawyer who connects with you best. Obviously, you do not want to make this decision lightly, but you have to work closely with your lawyer. This relationship may have to last for months or even years. Therefore, even if the lawyer looks good on paper, you should not hire a lawyer that makes you feel uncomfortable. You are more likely to be forthcoming with a lawyer you trust, and that sense of confidence can bode well for the entirety of your criminal case.