So you have found yourself in trouble with the law. You are dealing with a criminal charge, and you are not sure where to turn next. You may even be feeling a bit lost.
It can be an extremely scary situation to be in, but you do not have to do it alone. Hiring a specialized lawyer can help you deal with criminal charges as well as understand the entire system you are dealing with.
But you may be thinking that there are thousands of highly specialized lawyers in the United States. So how do you know which one is right for you? Where can you even start with finding one?Â
You can start with this guide to help you learn the steps to finding a highly specialized attorney that is right for you.
Ask Your Network
The first thing that you should do when trying to find a lawyer is to ask people you know. Utilizing your network will ensure you are getting advice from people you trust. You never know, someone you know may have had a highly specialized lawyer dealing with a similar charge as yours.
If that is the case, you can do some quick research to determine if this is the right option for you. If you find someone using your network, this is one of the quickest ways to get the help that you need. However, you may not always get the right advice within your network.
If that is the case, you’ll have to try something else.
Research Online
You can easily do a quick search to find attorneys as well. When you do this on a basic search engine, you are able to see how the attorney ranks and the specialty that they have.
When looking at the rankings, you should also read reviews from past customers.Â
Reading reviews will give you a good idea of what to expect from this specialized lawyer.
If you want to take it a step further, you can visit their website to read testimonials from previous clients. If they do not have any testimonials, it is probably time to move on to a different lawyer. You want to make sure that you are working with someone that you can trust and that has the skills to do it.
Although this is a great way to start with your research, narrowing down your specific criminal charge is important. This is how you will find a highly specialized lawyer dealing with your specific criminal charge.Â
Otherwise, you may find a great lawyer that doesn’t actually specialize in your specific criminal charges. This will do you no good.
For instance, if you are accused of a sexual assault offense, you will want to be as specific as possible when searching for a lawyer online, as this will ensure that you find one that specializes in sexual assault charges. The same goes for any other type of charge you have been charged with.
Ask the Right Questions
If you find a lawyer that seems right for you, you should not hire them right away. The first thing you need to do is ask the right questions. There are a few things that you need to understand about their work ethic as well as their expertise before they start helping you.
There are a few basic questions that you should ask. They are as follows:
- Do you have a free consultation to determine if this is a good fit?
- How much experience do you have in this type of criminal charge?
- How much experience do you have practicing as a lawyer?
- Have you ever been the subject of any disciplinary action?
- What are your fees?
- How do you accept payment (lump sum, installments, etc.)?
- How many caseloads do you currently have?
You may feel that some of these questions are not necessary. For instance, why does it matter how many caseloads they have? Isn’t the more the better?
Not always! If a lawyer is dealing with a ton of cases, they will have less time to help you, and they will have less time to prepare for court. This could lead to problems down the road.
However, if they do not have a lot of cases at all, that could be another problem within itself. It is important to consider how many caseloads they have before hiring them.
In addition to asking the right questions to one specific lawyer, you should ask multiple lawyers. This is a great way to compare the various options that you have.
Determine the Right Fit
If you end up speaking with multiple lawyers, you should try to have a free consultation with several of them. This way, You are able to see who works with you the best.
Although you may think one lawyer seems the best on paper, you may not get along in person. This could lead to a lot of problems down the road. To avoid this, weighing your options by meeting with them in person is a great way to go about it.
When meeting with them, consider the following:
- Their mannerisms and conversation style
- Their preferred type of communicationÂ
- How they greet you and treat you at the consultationÂ
- If they are relaxed and comfortable or if they are in a rush to do something elseÂ
Considering these questions will allow you to pick the right lawyer for you.
Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Criminal Charges
Every criminal charge is different. The same goes for every lawyer. If you find yourself needing a lawyer for a criminal charge, it is important to find the right lawyer that can help you.Â
By following the steps, you will likely find the best lawyer for you. Be sure to take your time to not rush the process. Otherwise, you may be frustrated in a couple of weeks or months if things are not going your way.
If this article was helpful for you, you can look at others on our site. There is even a specific Crime Tab with more articles like this one!
