In Trouble with the Law? Here’s How to Pick a Criminal Lawyer
by admin on Jul.13, 2010, under Legal and Financial, Lifestyle
- Image by Renata F. Oliveira via Flickr
When you have been arrested and charged with a crime you need an attorney. However, you do not want to entrust your future with just any attorney. Below are five factors that you should consider when choosing your criminal Houston defense attorney.
1). Track Record
Do not just look at wins and losses, what is more important is the attorney’s history of negotiating good results for their clients. For example, do they have a track record of getting felonies lowered to misdemeanors or a history of getting no jail time and probation instead.
2). Cost
Defense attorneys ( this includes DWI attorneys too) have a wide variety of price ranges. There is the court-appointed indigent counsel to multi-million dollar “dream teams.” You need to take a serious look at your unique financial situation and determine what exactly you can afford. When you meet with your prospective criminal lawyer in Houston for the first time you should see what their typical payment methods are. For example, will you need a large retainer or will you be billed monthly for outstanding costs. It might also be important for you to know if the attorney takes credit card payments.
3). Experience
How much time has the attorney spent doing criminal defense work. Is it something that they do on a regular basis or is this a “friend of a friend” attorney that does 99% real estate work and has not done a criminal case such as probation violation, forgery defense, etc. since they first came out of law school? Although it might save you money to not get another attorney you may not get as favorable result as you could of if you had just used someone that prosecutors and judges are used to dealing with rather than someone they typically see arguing about a will.
4). Demeanor
It may not seem like much to you but it can make all the difference to your case. If your attorney’s demeanor is so horrible that judges groan the second they see him or her it will probably not end in a favorable result for you.
5). Location
You need to find an attorney familiar with the procedures and protocols of the county in which your case will be heard.
Related articles
- When to hire a criminal lawyer? (thebrandbarry.com)
