When criminal charges are levied against you, it doesn’t matter if you’re guilty or not. The criminal justice system is very complicated and can be confusing to navigate without an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side.

You need to know that the criminal defense lawyer you hire for this critical job could make all the difference in your case. They will be responsible for making sure that your rights are protected and all possible defenses are used to minimize the impact of these charges.

This article will help guide you through the process of choosing the best criminal defense attorney so that when it’s time for trial, there’s no doubt who won.

1. Experience Counts

The first factor to think about when choosing the best attorney is whether they have experience in your type of case.

If you are accused of murder, it’s not very wise to hire an attorney who has mostly dealt with DUI charges before. The stakes are too high for anything less than the most qualified professional on your side of the courtroom.

Experience counts because attorneys can handle any situation that comes up more easily if they’ve already done it plenty of times before. Rather than starting from scratch each time, these professionals will know what to expect and how best to deal with new challenges that come up.

A good place to start when looking for the best criminal defense attorney is to check with past clients. You can ask if they would recommend this professional and whether their case turned out well in the end.

The more experience an attorney has, the better your chances are of getting a positive outcome in court.

2. Good Communication Skills

The best criminal defense lawyer will be someone who is not only skilled but also good at communicating with you and other parties involved.

Even though it might seem like a straightforward case to you as the defendant, there are many different angles that need to be considered during the trial. The more information an attorney has about your case, the better equipped they’ll be when making arguments in court or negotiating outside of trial settings.

Being able to communicate effectively means knowing how to listen well. That way, no relevant pieces of evidence slip through the cracks. It can also mean looking out for any potential misunderstandings between yourself and this professional that could result from poor communication skills.

Good rapport and strong communication between you and your lawyer are the foundation of a good relationship. You want to be able to trust this person with the fate of your life, and that goes beyond their ability to fight for you in court.

3. Availability and Flexibility

When you’re dealing with a serious criminal charge, there’s no time to waste. You want an attorney who is experienced and available when you need them most.

Whether you get arrested at night or during business hours, your lawyer should be easy to reach 24/7 in case of emergencies. This way they can step in immediately if something comes up where their help is needed right away.

They should also be flexible in their approach and open to negotiation when it comes to resolving your case. They’ll need to talk with the prosecutor and listen closely for any offers that could reduce the severity of these charges or help you avoid jail time completely.

This type of attorney will have a solid understanding of how the criminal justice system works. So they know just what kind of deal is possible given your unique circumstances.

Having an experienced defense lawyer who is available around the clock can make all the difference in terms of minimizing damage from serious accusations like DUI arrest, drug possession, assault, theft, murder…etc. These professionals are familiar with local laws and court systems making them uniquely qualified for this job.

4. Affordability

You might assume that hiring the best lawyer will cost you a fortune. But this is not necessarily true anymore thanks to emerging models of legal representation.

Some lawyers are billing by results rather than traditional hourly rates. This makes it easier for clients with lower budgets to get good legal advice.

When looking at potential attorneys, ask them about their fee structure and how much your case could end up costing if things don’t go well in court. You’ll want some idea of what you’re getting into financially before signing any paperwork. Or even taking on significant debt.

Keep in that many law firms offer payment plans to make the cost of hiring a lawyer more affordable. Depending on your income, monthly installments might be an option as opposed to paying everything upfront.

The best criminal defense lawyers will offer fair rates and flexibility when it comes to billing arrangements. They’re proud enough about their work to not take advantage of people who are already under duress.

5. Review and Recommendations

Now that you know what the best criminal defense attorney looks like, it’s time to start looking for one.

Ask your friends and family members if they have any referrals from people they’ve worked with in the past who were happy with their services. You can also ask them why these lawyers stood out compared to others in your area.

If none of this yields good results, go online and look at reviews on legal websites. Find out what previous clients had to say about the services they received.

If you see any red flags or mention of unprofessional behavior, move on to another candidate. You want an attorney who is ethical and trustworthy so you’re comfortable working with them over the long term.

Are you looking for the best law firm? Check out Prentiss Law Office today.

Choose the Best Criminal Defense Attorney

Choosing the best criminal defense attorney is no easy task. It takes some effort on your part to assess their qualifications and determine whether they’re right for you or not.

But if you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll end up with a legal team that can help minimize damage from your charges and get you back on track as quickly as possible.

We hope that helps. For more interesting content, keep reading our articles.