Criminal Defense Attorney Search - Find a Good One

The true fools in the justice system are those who try to represent themselves. No matter what kind of crime you've been charged with, your first order of business should be finding a good criminal defense attorney. This is true regardless of whether you are actually guilty or not. Plenty of people get railroaded by the system every day. Unless you want to be among them, you need the proper representation. Don't just blindly pick one out of the phone book. Take your time and find one who will get you the justice you deserve.

While not a lot of people consider this, you may want to think about the outcome you would find most desirable from your case. If you're dead to rights guilty and don't see any reason to plead otherwise and take it before a jury, you may find that hiring a criminal defense attorney who prides themselves on winning jury trials is a waste of time and money. You might want to look for a lawyer who specialized in getting the best deal for their clients. On the other hand, if you want to take your case the whole way, then by all means look for someone with a great deal of trial experience.

Speaking of experience, you need to understand that not all law is the same. If you were arrested on drug possession, don't go looking for a criminal defense attorney who has a long history of defending people brought up on burglary charges. Not every attorney specializes in certain forms of law, but you can usually find one who does, especially if you live in a big city. If you find a lawyer who handles almost nothing but drug cases, you'll be off to a great start with someone who understands the ins and outs of what the law entails.

Don't be afraid to do a little background research on the criminal defense attorney you're thinking of hiring. Now, if you're sitting in a jail cell, that will be easier said than done. If you're out on bail, however, you have the world of information at your fingertips. Make use of it. The Internet can be a valuable source of information about any professional. Use it and see what you can find. If the search engines fail you, check with your state's bar association. See if the lawyer has been the subject of any disciplinary action. This is information available to the public for a reason. Use every resource you can find when it comes to making your decision.