Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Criminal Defence Law Firm

The process of being accused of a crime is among the most stressful activities that an individual may be subjected to. The possible outcomes jail, criminal record, loss of job can change the direction of your life permanently. The quality of your legal representation is extremely important in this high stakes environment. Not every law firm however is equal. You need to consider the initial consultation more like a job interview to be sure that you would be leaving your future into capable hands. The right questions can make you differentiate between lawyers who only want you to pay his or her retainer and those who will go to any length on behalf of your rights.

What Is Your Experience With This Particular Charge?

Criminal law is enormous with aspects of minor infraction of the law in traffic all the way to sophisticated fraud and violent offenses. An attorney that is a master of negotiating drunk driving pleas may be lacking in experience to defend a charge of a serious assault. It is important to explicitly inquire about their experience with the cases of the same nature as yours.

You do not need a generalist, but a specialist. Inquire on how many occasions they dealt with this particular charge and what was the results. Did they go to trial? Did they bargain a withdrawal of charges? When you find criminal defence law firm near you make sure their expertise matches your requirements. As an example, when you are in Melbourne and you are charged with drug offenses, you have to employ a local company with which you have the local drug laws figured out and which also has connections with the local magistrates and prosecutors. This insider knowledge can sometimes prevent an unfair sentence and a good outcome.

Who Is Really Going To Take My Case?

Such a situation is quite typical of bigger companies: you meet with a higher partner and are impressed by his/her level of expertise, and after you sign the contract, you are forwarded to a junior colleague. Junior lawyers are usually competent enough; however, you are paying the experience of the senior partner.

Demand wants to know who the heavy lifters are going to be. Is the senior lawyer going to appear in the court or is it overseeing? Request them to contact you directly to the individual handling your file. You should be aware that the one who is defending you in front of a judge is the one who is conversant with the complexities of your defense.

How Do You Structure Your Fees?

Legal expenses are known to run out of control unless they are handled in a transparent way. The answer to the question of hourly rates should not be general without an approximation of the overall time. Request a proper clarification of the fee structure. Does it charge a fixed fee on the whole matter or is it time based?

An established company will be honest on prices. They must include a written costs disclosure which shows the expenses that may be incurred at the various phases of the case including; the cost of an application of bail, plea bargaining, or even a trial. Knowing how much it will cost you in the initial stages will save you unpleasant surprises and enable you to plan in advance on how to defend yourself.

Conclusion

The most important decision that you will make in a criminal case is in choosing the type of legal representation. These questions help you locate a defence team that is not only competent but also puts your mind at ease: inquiring about their particular experience, insisting on the disclosure of fees, and asking who will work on your file. You cannot gamble with your future–ask those difficult questions now so you can be sure when you stand in court in the future.