Have you gotten in trouble with the law and need an experienced, aggressive criminal defense attorney to fight for your rights? If you’ve been charged with a crime in Arizona, reach out to our Flagstaff law firm to discuss your case. Continue reading to see the five major things to look for when choosing the right lawyer to defend you and your rights.
#1 Experience in Relevant Cases
Depending on the crime you’re accused of, you should seek out an attorney with experience in defending similar charges. If you’re unsure, ask.
If you’ve been charged with a DUI or drug charges, contact law firms who heavily focus on these criminal defense services. During your initial consultation, ask about how many similar cases they’ve taken on, how many led to positive results for their clients, and how they would represent you.
It is also a good idea to ensure the attorney has trial experience to effectively fight for you in case your case goes to court. Verify previous cases the law firm has handled by checking public records, reading customer reviews, or reviewing case studies.
#2 Reputation & Reviews
If your chosen attorney has experience, there’s a good chance they have online reviews. Check legal directories like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see if previous clients and cases have been listed. If you don’t have an attorney in mind, the aforementioned websites are a good place to start.
If you know someone who faced similar charges and got a favorable outcome, ask who represented them. Similarly, if you know an attorney, ask if they have a recommendation for a good criminal law lawyer.
You should also do your due diligence when it comes to selecting a legal representative by looking up their state bar association membership and looking for any disciplinary records.
Many reputable organizations and institutions offer awards and recognitions in criminal defense. You can rest assured knowing your chosen attorney has received accolades for their services, or you can narrow down your search by looking for lawyers who’ve been recognized in the past.
#3 Clear Communication & Transparency
Criminal matters are serious and can have long-lasting effects on one’s life and livelihood. This is why clear, concise communication is a vital skill your attorney must possess. Furthermore, fee transparency is important and should be discussed upfront.
Here are a few suggestions on fees that should be clearly communicated:
- Request a clear breakdown of all fees.
- Ask your lawyer if they charge flat fees or hourly rates.
- Clarify additional costs, such as court fees or hiring expert witnesses.
- Get a written fee agreement to avoid surprises down the road.
- Compare pricing with other attorneys to ensure you’re being billed fairly.
#4 Availability & Responsiveness
If your freedom is on the line, you must have an attorney who is available for questions and responds in a timely fashion. The last thing you want is to be left in the dark over a high-stress matter.
A good criminal defender will promptly return your calls and emails. In addition, you should ask how often you can expect to get case updates. Your attorney should also have the time to take on your case without any delays.
Ask about how they intend to communicate updates to you. For example, does the law firm have a support team for promptly returning messages?
If, at any point during your interactions with your lawyer, you feel that they are difficult to reach or unresponsive, you might want to keep looking.
#5 Courtroom & Negotiating Skills
To mitigate your punishment for your crime, you want to work with an attorney with courtroom experience and confident negotiating skills. You can verify this in a few ways:
- Attend an unrelated hearing.
- Watch videos of the lawyer in action (if available).
- Observe the attorney’s demeanor during your initial consultation.
- Ask if they’ve faced high-pressure courtroom situations and how they handled them.
- Check for client reviews that mention courtroom representation.
Additionally, you can ask about their experience when it comes to negotiating plea deals and their track record of winning cases that go to court.
Hire an Aggressive & Experienced Arizona Criminal Law Attorney
Regardless of the crime you’ve been charged with, you deserve aggressive representation from an experienced law team. The lawyers at Antol & Sherman diligently work to guard your freedom by ensuring your rights are upheld to secure a fair trial and just outcome in your case.
We offer free case consultations. Reach out today to set up a time to speak with a criminal law attorney about the crime(s) you’re facing. At the very least, you will receive friendly advice from a knowledgeable legal expert. In the best-case scenario, we represent you and fight for your freedom or a reduced sentence.