Call us now:
How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal conviction can impact almost every area of your life, including the possibility that you could spend time in jail. Staying out of prison is serious business, and if you are in trouble, you have to make big decisions quickly about who will represent you in court.
When you’re facing criminal charges, finding the best criminal defense attorney can seem like a daunting task. So how do you choose the best criminal defense attorney for your case? After all, your lawyer will be your eyes, ears, voice, and most avid defender against the government. Plus, hiring a lawyer can be expensive.
But how can you spot a high-quality criminal defense lawyer when they all seem the same? Search engines and web research is easily affected by paid advertising and marketing puffery. How can you know that a criminal defense attorney is an expert in his field when you can’t see what they do with your own eyes? First of all you need to think about this topic and organize your thoughts.
First of all, what exactly does a criminal defense attorney do? A criminal defense attorney represents you in court. They speak on your behalf to the judge, the jury, and the prosecutors, and they accompany you to all hearings. This includes having a trial and questioning witnesses in the courtroom.
While many criminal defense lawyers are known for their demeanor in the courtroom, most criminal defense lawyers do the bulk of their work outside of court. This work includes:
A criminal defense lawyer who fails to prepare the case and do legwork outside of the courtroom is not going to be successful inside of the courtroom.
Determine Your Needs First
You need a specialist in criminal defense if you’ve been accused of a crime. There are levels of specialization in criminal defense, for example some lawyers practice only criminal law. Some lawyers handle criminal law and handle lots of drug cases. Some lawyers handle only criminal law, handle lots of drug cases, and have trial experience with drug cases, etc. However, the highest level of specialization is if your attorney is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law. Attorneys who have reached this level of specialization are recognized as experts in their field by the Florida Bar, their peers, and judges. Matt Landsman is a Board Certified Criminal Trial expert and has been so since 2016.
Then you need to narrow down what kind of case you have, and figure out how to best pair up your needs with a high quality criminal defense attorney you can trust.
Best Qualities for a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Just because someone went to law school doesn’t mean they will make a good criminal defense lawyer. Criminal defense lawyers need to possess a very specific skill set to be successful in court.
Find An Attorney Who Practices Only Criminal Law
First, narrow your search for an attorney by limiting it to those whose practice focuses on criminal defense. Seasoned criminal attorneys should have abundant experience defending people who’ve been accused of a variety of crimes, particularly the one you are charged with.
Experience matters.
Find An Attorney Familiar With Local Courts
Local procedures vary much more widely. And different judges and prosecutors have different personalities. Hiring an attorney with experience handling cases in your jurisdiction can provide an unexpected advantage. From knowing how similar issues have been handled by the State or Judge in similar circumstances to being more informed about sentencing options than other lawyers.
An attorney who works in your area will be familiar with how cases are handled by local courts. They will know many of the prosecutors and judges and understand how to work with their personalities. This familiarity helps your defense attorney know what strategies will work best in your situation, and will ultimately lead to getting the best result possible for your case.
Use The Free Consultation To Find A Lawyer You Can Trust
Many attorneys offer potential clients a free consultation. Choose an attorney you can trust to not only advocate for your best interests but also someone who will tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. Keep in mind when Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer that you are looking for a person not just an idea.
At the end of the day, you want to trust and be comfortable with the knowledge, skill, and service of the criminal defense attorney you choose.
Ask if They are Knowledgeable in your Area of Law
Your criminal defense lawyer should have a strong understanding of the criminal law that applies in your case. It’s even better if they know how the law is applied in your specific jurisdiction. The reality is that different judges and prosecutors apply the law differently.
Regardless of how impressive a lawyer might look, when Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer it’s important to identify whether they are right for your case. An experienced defense attorney with decades of experience and glowing reviews might sound great until you realize most of their experience is with white-collar crime, and you need a lawyer who knows DUI defense or felony sex crimes.
Understanding Fee Structures and Agreements
Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer is going to involve cost. Most criminal defense attorneys typically charge clients for their representation using one of two fee structures:
hourly fees or
retainer agreements
With an hourly fee agreement, a lawyer sets an hourly rate and bills the client for all time spent on their case. Fee structures typically charge clients for every moment of a lawyer’s time, including court appearances and phone calls. The amount a criminal defense lawyer charges as an hourly fee varies by attorney.
A retainer agreement involves paying a flat fee for the lawyer’s representation. The retainer fee covers all the work they do in your case. How much a lawyer charges for a retainer also varies by firm. Case type also typically impacts the fee. More complicated cases or serious charges usually involve higher retainer fees than simpler cases. These are some things to bear in mind when Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
You will also want to keep in mind some common issues you may be thinking about:
There is no one right way to find a good criminal defense lawyer in Florida. One approach to avoid Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer is simply searching the internet and choosing one of the first results that pop up. Sometimes, law firms pay substantial amounts of money to appear first in search results. These results often have a term like “sponsored” above the posting, letting you know they paid an advertising fee to appear first, or they have skewed the results with hidden internet marketing techniques.
While reputable criminal defense attorneys can appear high in a search result list, there is no guarantee that the best lawyer for your case will appear first. Instead, a more strategic approach to locating a good lawyer is to use resources such as the Florida Bar, where you can find experts in your geographic area. Put effort into Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Gainesville or Florida.
If you are interested in hiring a Board Certified Criminal Trial lawyer who has a staggering amount of experience and extensive knowledge in the local area of Gainesville, Alachua County, You are on the right track. Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer is easy – Call, email, or text Gainesville Defense attorney Matt Landsman for a free consultation, and let an expert help you today.