You have been arrested and charged with a criminal offense. This can be an extremely frightening and overwhelming experience. You may feel like you are in the ocean without a life raft or an idea of what your future holds. In these moments, it is essential to seek out legal assistance as quickly as possible.
While the stakes may be high, this is not the time to shy away from hiring the best criminal defense lawyer. It will help you understand your rights and options under the law. It will also give you confidence when going up against prosecution, judges, and other defense witnesses during your trial.
A criminal lawyer has knowledge of local court procedures and laws that can prove beneficial in your case. They are also experienced in defending clients who have been charged with a crime—and know how to get you the best outcome possible if you choose to hire them as your legal representative. Read on to learn more about finding a criminal law firm near you if you’ve been charged with a crime.
Ask Friends and Family
There is no age limit for finding a good attorney. If you know someone who has been in a similar situation, ask them who their attorney was and if they would recommend them. If you have family and friends who work in the law industry, they may be able to refer you to an attorney in the area. This is a great way to jump-start your search and get the ball rolling immediately.
Ask Your Attorney
If you were arrested and have a court date coming up, you can call your attorney and ask if they can recommend someone in the local area. If you are on public defense, they will likely have a list of criminal defense lawyers in the vicinity. You can call each one of these attorneys and see if they are available and whether or not they would be able to take your case. This is a quick and easy way to find an attorney who can help you build your defense and make sure you get proceedings underway as quickly as possible.
Use Online Reviews
Reading online reviews from past clients is another great way to find a criminal lawyer near you. Seeing what other people’s experiences were with their legal representation may help you decide which attorney to hire for your case. If the majority of reviews are positive, this is a good sign that the attorney is experienced and capable of handling your case effectively. If the majority of reviews are negative, this may be a red flag and indicate that you should look for another attorney.
Check Out NACDL and ADL
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the American Society of Defense Lawyers (ADL) are both non-profit organizations that help unite attorneys who specialize in criminal defense.
They have searchable databases where you can find attorneys in your area by speciality and by the type of charges they specialize in. You can also find attorneys who are certified specialists in different areas of criminal defense. These are all helpful in finding a criminal lawyer near you.
Check Out the DA’s Track Record
You can also try to find out how successful the district attorney’s office in your area has been in their prosecutions. You can do this by contacting the public information officer in your district. A person who should be able to give you statistics about cases in which they have been involved. This may give you a better idea of which attorneys in your area are more likely to win your case and which you should seek out as legal representation.
Contact Criminal Defense Law Firms You Like
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential criminal lawyers in your area. Now you can contact them directly to schedule a free consultation. During this meeting, you can talk about your case and see if you feel comfortable working with that particular attorney. At this point, you can ask them questions about their experience and their past cases.
You can also get a better idea of what expenses you can expect. And how they would plan to proceed with your defense. This is also a great chance to see if there are any open spots on their caseload. And how soon they can get started on your case.
Bottom Line
Finding a criminal lawyer near you is essential to your case. Having knowledge of the law, as well as experience and success in handling criminal cases, is important. Be sure to talk with as many attorneys as you need to find the one that is right for you. Finding the right criminal lawyer near you can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.
