Top 7 tips for finding a criminal law firm

Finding a law firm to represent you in a criminal case can be hugely stressful as this decision could play a huge part in determining the outcome of the case.

No two lawyers are the same, and each will have slightly different ideas on the best approach to take based on the information around your charge.

We don’t need to tell you how severe the consequences of choosing the wrong lawyer can be when facing criminal charges and you understandably want to make sure that you have a defence attorney with the best possible experience and success record in similar cases.

Knowing how important this decision is to your case is a good start, but it can be difficult to know where to start in your search, especially in such a high-pressure situation.

Here are seven of the most important tips to follow when choosing a law firm to represent you in a criminal case:

1. Choose someone pro-active

There is no time to waste when facing a criminal charge and you need someone in your corner who will begin working on your defence the moment they take on your case.

If you get in touch with a law firm and they are slow to get back to you or say that an attorney will ring you back in a few days, move on.

If they are slow to respond now, the chances are that they could be sluggish during criminal proceedings, a chance that is just not worth taking.

You need a lawyer that is pro-active, responds quickly, and will be fully committed to your case from day one.

2. Check out some reviews

Nothing will reassure you more that you are making the right decision when it comes to picking a criminal lawyer than a swathe of reviews from previous clients who have faced similar charges to you.

Law firms will often place some previous client accounts on their website to advertise previous successes but take these with a pinch of salt.

These reviews, whilst they may be legitimate clients, will be cherry picked to show the firm in a positive light and any bad experiences that previous clients have had will likely be found on more neutral sites.

Google+ is a good place to start when looking for reviews as these cannot be removed or deleted by the firm themselves.

Of course, one bad review does not equal a bad lawyer but if the unbiased reviews are overwhelmingly negative, it is definitely time to move your search elsewhere.

3. Choose a specialist

All lawyers have their specialties and just because they have an impressive record in property law, or civil matters, does not mean that they will be effective in a criminal case.

Make sure to choose an attorney who either specialises in criminal law exclusively, or who at least has a track record of success defending criminal charges.

If there is a good chance that the case may go to court you should also ensure that they have plenty of courtroom experience as knowing the perfect time to make an off the cuff objection could prove the difference at a crucial moment.

4. Avoid confusing fees

You and your lawyer should be fully focussed on the case in hand without the distraction of confusion over how fees will be paid, how much they will be, and when they are due.

During an initial consultation a lawyer should be able to set out exactly what services are and are not included in the fees you will pay and how much any additional services will cost.

5. Choose someone willing to act on your behalf

A criminal lawyer should use their expertise and the facts of your case to recommend what they see as the most appropriate course of action.

However, at the end of the day they are a representative of you and it is your call when it comes to the major decisions.

Choose a Criminal defense solicitor who will listen to exactly what your priorities are and who will work closely alongside you to help achieve the best possible outcome.

6. Don’t ignore gut instinct

If something doesn’t feel quite right in your early chats with a potential attorney the chances are that they probably aren’t the one for you.

You could be working with them for a prolonged period of time depending on the nature of the case and compatibility should not be overlooked.

Developing a plan that you both believe in and are fully committed to implementing is vital to success in any criminal case.

7. Go local

Each court and each judge do things in a slightly different way so having a lawyer with local knowledge and connections could give you the edge come trial.

It may be tempting to go with the largest national firm that will take you but the advantages of a slightly smaller firm with a proven record in the local courts should not be overlooked.