What to Look For When Hiring Defense Attorneys

Defense Attorneys

About 2% of defendants choose to take their legal cases to trial.

If you want to join the 2% and win your case, you’ll need a good defense attorney that can handle your case. Unfortunately, finding one isn’t easy because you must consider several things to ensure they’re a good fit.

In this guide, you’ll learn all about the main things to look for when hiring defense attorneys. This will prevent you from spending your money on someone that can’t help, and it’ll increase your odds of winning. 

Read on to get all the information you need, no matter what your case looks like.

Former Prosecutors

Some of the best defense attorneys are those that are former prosecutors.

With experience on the other side of the court, former prosecutors know exactly what the prosecution is thinking at every stage of a case. Because of this, they can create a solid strategy to help you avoid conviction.

One way a former prosecutor can help you is by considering the potential questions the prosecution may ask. Thanks to their insight, they’ll help you prepare multiple answers for different types of questions so you can enter the court with confidence.

Experienced Law Firms

Another thing to look for is a law firm full of experienced defense attorneys. If an attorney has several years of experience, they’ll have an easier time handling your case.

You can find numerous law firms by searching for them online. However, you’ll need to ask them about their history to determine whether they’re experienced.

When looking for a defense attorney, it’s best to find someone that specializes in your type of case. For example, if you’re facing first offense DUI penalties, you’ll want someone that’s helped others with similar offenses.

If a law firm doesn’t have defense attorneys with experience in your case, it’s best to look for another one.

Positive Client Reviews

No matter what kind of defense attorney you want, you should find someone with positive client reviews.

Positive reviews show that previous clients were satisfied with their results from working with a criminal lawyer. If a lawyer has mostly positive reviews, you’ll likely have a good experience with them.

Keep in mind that people can leave negative reviews for a variety of reasons. Because of this, read several negative reviews to get a better idea of why people left them. If the negative reviews are due to minor inconveniences, you may still have a good experience with the criminal lawyer.

Jury Trial Experience

Similar to a former prosecutor, hiring someone with jury trial experience will significantly increase your odds of winning legal cases.

When someone files a lawsuit, they can either settle with the defendant or take things to trial. Many people choose to settle because it allows them to get guaranteed compensation faster. As a result, many attorneys have little experience in criminal trials.

If an accuser decides to go to trial, having a lawyer that knows how the jury operates will make it easier to build your case. This will prevent you from wasting money and facing a harsher punishment if you’re found guilty.

Good First Impression

If an attorney doesn’t leave a good first impression, there’s a large chance you won’t have good chemistry when working with them.

Good first impressions are important because you’ll discover several things about an attorney:

  • You’ll learn about the way they communicate
  • You can determine whether they care
  • You’ll remember the encounter

After meeting for the first time, you should only hire an attorney if you feel confident they can assist you. The first meeting should be enough to decide whether they’ll suit you because a good attorney will ensure you’re comfortable.

Necessary Qualifications

Many people overlook qualifications because they assume attorneys have everything for legal cases. However, some attorneys operate without the necessary qualifications required for legal assistance.

To become a legal defense attorney, one must get a bachelor’s degree and attend law school. After getting a law degree, they must pass a bar exam that allows them to get a license.

When meeting with an attorney, ask them to see their license to ensure you’re not dealing with fraud. If they can’t prove they’re licensed, look elsewhere.

Reasonable Rates

The last thing to look for when hiring defense attorneys is a fair price.

Unfortunately, finding out how much an attorney charges will require consulting with them. Only after presenting your case can they give you an estimation of how much their services will cost.

Some of the main factors that affect an attorney’s rates are:

  • Required services
  • Experience
  • Demand
  • Case type

Discover the rates of several attorneys to determine whether one is charging too much. If you find a cheap, lesser-known attorney that has great reviews, they may be a better option than a popular one that charges more.

Look Online for Criminal Defense Attorneys Now

Now that you know what to look for in criminal defense attorneys, take to the internet to find a few that interest you.

Keep in mind that a good defense attorney doesn’t have to meet all of these requirements. However, they should have enough experience with your type of case.

If you have a tight budget, you’ll still have plenty of options to choose from. By referencing this article, you can narrow down your options to ensure you get the best results.

Check out the rest of our legal section to learn more about defense attorneys and law firms.