Whether you are being investigated for a crime or have already been charged, hiring a criminal defense lawyer is vital. Furthermore, a good criminal defense lawyer can explain your rights in all stages of the criminal process and help make the difference between a reduced plea bargain or dismissal and a jail sentence. These professionals will assess your case, build the best defense to support it and protect your rights. Not to mention, having a lawyer by your side for criminal legal representation also saves you money in the long run. However, while you can find a plethora of criminal defense attorneys in Grand Forks, choosing the right one is not as easy as it sounds.
Nonetheless, if you do proper research and ask the right questions, you can easily find the best criminal defense lawyer. Read on to find out four questions to ask before hiring a criminal defense lawyer.
1. How long have you practiced criminal law? When it comes to choosing the right criminal defense lawyer, make sure you ask them how long they have practiced criminal law. Furthermore, it’s a good way to determine that the lawyer has actually had experience as a criminal defense lawyer, instead of simply handling a few cases.
2. What is your success rate? Before hiring a criminal defense lawyer, make sure you find out the lawyer’s success rate in handling cases like yours. Furthermore, reputable lawyers won’t have a problem divulging the number of cases they have successfully argued as well the ones they have lost.
3.How much do you charge? While a criminal defense lawyer should not be chosen solely on the fee factor, it is important to find out how much the lawyer charges so you can budget accordingly. Furthermore, although local market conditions, namely supply, demand and the nature of the competition can determine what lawyers charge, there can be variations in their fees based on some other factors such as lawyer’s reputation, specialization among others.
4. How will you let me know what’s happening with my case? Communication is key when working with a criminal defense lawyer. Furthermore, make sure you ask the lawyer how often and under what circumstances you will hear from them. Furthermore, you’ll want to know how your case is coming along and about other important dates.
While these were some of the questions you should ask before hiring a criminal defense attorney in Grand Forks, there are many others, such as qualifications, reviews and testimonials among many others.