If you are facing criminal charges, you must be under tumultuous stress as it is and the last thing you’d want on your mind right now would be having to deal with an incompetent attorney. Hiring a good criminal defense attorney can be a struggle, especially if you haven’t had this experience earlier and do not know what factors you should be looking out for. The reason why hiring an attorney is a crucial decision is that you could possibly be spending your entire life behind bars if you end up hiring the wrong resource. Your criminal lawyer needs to be experienced, well-versed, proactive, and have connections. Keep reading to find three tips that you need to consider when hiring a New York Criminal Defense Attorney
1. Ensure That They Have Credible Experience
When you are hiring a criminal defense attorney, you need to make sure that they have some experience in cases similar to yours. A good experience and a high success rate would mean that your lawyer would have some idea of how to navigate cases similar to yours, and would increase the probability of you winning your case. While experienced lawyers would have a higher fee, the amount would totally be worth it. Prior to hiring them, be sure to check for their credentials and ask a few questions about their previous experience – if they beat around the bush and give vague answers, chances are that they could be exaggerating about their experience.
2. Ensure That They Specialize In Criminal Law
While many lawyers must have worked on cases similar to yours as a paralegal or an assistant in the past, it is also important that they specialize in criminal law specifically. You should make sure that they are well-versed in criminal law by asking questions such as inquiring about the outcome of the criminal cases they fought, their success rate, and the nature of the criminal cases they have experience in. They should be experienced in a case relevant to yours and should be familiar with the rules and regulations off the top of their head. If your lawyer gives you unattainable and very high hopes, you should know that they are possibly not as experienced and well-versed as they might show.
3. Ensure That They Have Good Referrals
When you are looking for a criminal defense attorney, it is always a good idea to ask around in your social circle and check if any of your friends or family know a good and credible lawyer. If you have acquaintances with lawyers from other domains such as civil law or family law, you can check with them for referrals as well. If the above doesn’t work out for you, you can always look for credible lawyers online through search engines and LinkedIn. Be sure to check the internet for reviews on any particular lawyers you shortlist. If the lawyers you shortlist have their own references, be sure to check in on them as well to ensure you do your research prior to hiring your attorney.
