How To Pick A Good Criminal Defense Attorney

People don’t usually expect to be in trouble with the law. Even if you’re doing something illegal in Ardmore, you probably aren’t planning for the authorities to find out. For this reason, people who find themselves in legal trouble don’t usually have a lawyer lined up. It’s always good to have the number of a great criminal defense attorney saved in your phone.

Tips for Picking a Lawyer

Before you hire someone, there are a few things you should know. Your lawyer has your future in your hands, so you want to pick the one you trust with your case. Here are a few tips to help you find the best person for your situation:

Know That You Don’t Need to Settle for the Public Defender

Your first option for a lawyer is a public defender. If you don’t have enough money for a lawyer, the court appoints you with a public license defender. This person has legal training and experience defending those who are on trial for crimes. There’s no shame in using a public defender. However, there are many benefits to finding a criminal defense lawyer. They have a very strong interest in the outcome of your case and have no ulterior motives. If you can manage to pay for a lawyer, start looking for someone to represent you.

Rely on Recommendations

To begin the hunt for a great attorney, trust your friends. Ask your friends, neighbors, and family members for attorney recommendations. Even if they never used an attorney in a criminal case, they may know someone who has. Create a list of all the names your friends and family members give you. Your job isn’t over yet. As you probably know, you can’t trust recommendations from people. You need to do your own research to find out if their recommendations are up to your standards. When you ask for suggestions, take the time to hear about the other person’s experience. What did they like about the lawyer? What were their complaints? What was the outcome?

Search the Internet

If you don’t have enough suggestions or want more variety, do your own internet search. The first names that pop up aren’t necessarily the best options, so click on the names and read reviews. Generally, the first few results when you search “find a lawyer in Oklahoma City” are the lawyers who paid the most for online marketing. This doesn’t mean that they’re a good or a bad choice; it merely shows that they know how to market their firm. As a general rule, you should stick to attorneys who have a website, client reviews, and accurate contact information. While there may be some exceptions, most reputable law firms have a decent online presence.

Research Their Experience

When it comes to practicing law, experience matters, the more trials a criminal lawyer has under their belt, the more likely it is that they can handle your case. After you find a few lawyers you like, find out how long they have been practicing criminal law and if they worked in other niches of the industry. Don’t be afraid to ask more detailed questions about their history. How many cases have they tried? What’s their record? You may also want to ask whether or not they handled high profile cases.

Read Reviews

It’s also important to read reviews. However, you shouldn’t only read one or two reviews and leave it at that. For an accurate perspective, you need to read multiple reviews. You can find reviews on social media, Google, Yelp, and other platforms. Before you start looking at reviews, you should know that some platforms have hidden agendas or selective reviews. This is why it’s essential to look at multiple review sites before you hire someone. When you read reviews, be realistic. No attorney has a perfect record, and it’s likely that most lawyers have a few dissatisfied clients or enemies. If you see a few bad reviews but mostly good ones, you don’t need to worry.

Don’t Focus Too Much on the Price

You shouldn’t let your budget drive your final decision. At times, people make the mistake of thinking that the best lawyers are the ones who charge the most. Great criminal lawyers do tend to come with a high price, but this isn’t always the case. There are plenty of mediocre and subpar attorneys that overcharge their clients. While you should consider the hourly rate, don’t let that be the only reason you hire someone.

Interview Your Top Picks

All of your research should point you in the direction of a few great lawyers. But you still need to pick one to handle your case. The next step you should take is to interview the prospects. Before you make any final decisions, set up a consultation with two or three of your choices. Even if you need to pay for the consultation, it’s money well-spent. The only way to truly find out if an attorney is a right fit is to meet with them in person. You need to work closely with your lawyer to build a strong case and make a positive impression on the judge and jury. Therefore, you should work with someone you can talk to. They should make you feel at ease and should listen to what you have to say. Even if a lawyer is busy, they don’t need to push you to the side or make you feel as if they won’t treat your case as a priority.

Start Your Search for a Criminal Defense Attorney

If you need a criminal lawyer, now is the time to find someone to represent you at your court date. A misdemeanor or felony can impact your life in ways you can’t imagine. And your only hope of fighting those charges could be to have the best lawyer on your side. You need to fight to get good results. Here at Morton Law Group, we’ve dedicated years of our lives to fighting for justice in Ardmore. We treat every case as a top priority and put you first. When you need a criminal defense attorney, call us.