Hiring a Criminal Lawyer
What to Look for in a Federal Crimes Law Firm
Hiring a lawyer is not something that should be taken lightly. Even if you have no legal expertise there are still methods of finding a responsible and competent attorney. Before hiring a lawyer you should ask yourself a few simple questions that could help you through the decision making process.
- Will I be in control of my legal issues? – Even though you are not the lawyer that does not mean you should sit in the back seat while your lawyer makes all the decisions. A good client lawyer relationship begins with communication, and the both of you should make the decisions together regarding the next step in resolving your case.
- How much will legal service cost me? – Hiring an attorney can be very expensive. That is why you and your lawyer should openly discuss the costs of his legal services and any additional fees before you hire. A cost that you should never have to pay is for the initial case evaluation. Do not even consider hiring an attorney who will charge you his regular rate for an initial case evaluation.
- How comfortable will I be with the lawyer? – Putting aside legal training and what prestige’s school they graduated from. How comfortable are you with the lawyer? More often than not you will be spending a lot of time with this person and having good open communication is very important. Try to steer away from attorneys that use technical language you don’t understand. Some times this is used as an intimidation tactic to trick the client. Ultimately though the best judge is your instincts. If you feel comfortable with the lawyer than it is probably in your best interest to hire them over the others.
- Is the attorney experienced enough for my needs? – Being comfortable with the attorney and being able to afford his services are not the only things that need to be considered. The lawyer’s legal expertise should also come into effect, especially when dealing with certain areas of law. It is probably not the best idea to hire a lawyer that has been practicing real estate law for 20 years to litigate your DWI case. Asking for past case results and client information is perfectly acceptable. Lawyers who deny you of these things should almost automatically be red flagged. There are many resources online that can help you narrow down your search results for an attorney such as: www.findlegalhelp.com, The National Federation of Independent Business (www.nfib.com), and www.lawyers.com is also worth looking through.
- What do I do if I’m unhappy with the legal services I have received? – All except for four states have disciplinary systems in place in the event of such an occasion. This is also a good source for investigating previous complaints about prospective lawyers you may be looking at.
By following these 4 simple questions you will be able to find yourself a competent lawyer who should fit your needs. And in the rare chance you are not happy with the service offered you now know where to go to have the situation justified.