You work hard for your money, so it’s hard to see it go to waste in the wrong criminal defense attorney. The attorney knows law pretty well- but that’s no excuse for slacking on the job. Investigate the personality and services of the attorney first before signing away your money.
The right criminal defense attorney should never pressure you into a sale. If the attorney tries to discredit their competition and continually pressures you to make a decision before going to see them, something is probably wrong. This is the worst tactic conceived, yet some attorneys still do this. It’s just too bad that they lose the trust that intelligent consumers would otherwise give them.
Always look for a history behind an attorney. Ask them to give you instances in which they did great, and even when they didn’t do so well. Inexperienced attorneys will shy away from such conversations because they think it hurts their credibility. If they can’t show you such information, you are better off siding with an attorney that can be honest about their services.
Don’t let an attorney handle your emotions the wrong way. Some attorneys like to tell clients that they know the judge or prosecutor in your case personally, and will speak highly of them. They might even go as far as to say they are good friends with them! This is a common tactic that tries to get you to think that the attorney can “pull strings” for you. In reality, this is probably not the case.
The deal-breaker for many is when you ask an attorney for his or her personal phone number. Ask an attorney if you can call them at any point, day or night. If he or she hesitates, the attorney probably doesn’t care about clients as much as others would. A good attorney should focus on customer service and not be selfish. Indeed, sometimes an emergency call isn’t just helpful- it’s mandatory when convicted of another crime.
The best way to get an honest review of an attorney is to talk to a past client. If you are lucky, you can go off the advice of your friends to see which attorneys will actually help your case, and which will instead just see you as a walking wallet full of cash. Personal feedback is the best option in weighing your possibilities, but not always possible.
Final Thoughts
Being convicted of a crime can have huge repercussions on your life. You won’t want to trust just anyone with your future in employment and happiness. Remember these tips to keep your odds of success in the case running high.