Any time you’ve been charged with a crime, it is in your best interest to retain a criminal defense attorney who can represent you in your ensuing case. But if you’ve never worked with an attorney before, it can be an intimidating process to research and then hire an attorney for your case.
So how do you go about selecting a qualified criminal defense attorney who you’re comfortable working with? Here are just a few of the factors you should take into consideration when searching for a lawyer. Reach out to a bail bondsman in Angleton for more information on how bail bonds may play a role in your case.
Reputation
Any attorney you decide to work with should have a reputation for outstanding work. You should ask around to friends and family, and spend some time researching attorneys online to see what people have to say about their services. Look for attorneys who have a lot of positive reviews and testimonials—when this is the case, you can gain some peace of mind that you’re working with a capable professional who can get you good results. Part of this also comes with years of service in the field. While there’s not necessarily anything wrong with going with a younger attorney for your case, you can trust that someone who has already built up years of service in the field will truly know what they’re doing, and is still in business because they’ve had numerous satisfied clients.
Practice area
Make sure that any attorney you work with has experience in your particular practice area. If possible, avoid working with a “general practice” attorney—you’ll want to work with someone who has a focus on criminal defense. Even the area of criminal defense, though, is quite broad. There are some attorneys who specialize in white collar crime, others who tend to practice in drug crime and others who might focus on violent crime or sex crimes. Make sure that the attorney you select has plenty of experience in your particular type of case. This will ensure that you have someone who knows the ins and outs of your specific type of case and will be able to come prepared with tried and tested methods for your defense.
Cost
Working with a private attorney will always cost more than a public defender, because a public defender’s services are provided free of charge. That being said, private attorneys tend to have more resources at their disposal and more training in a particular practice area. You should consider how much the attorney charges, as well as how they charge (by the hour, by the case) and when they invoice.
Rapport
How easy do you see it being to establish a rapport with your attorney? It is a good idea to try to find an attorney with whom you can develop a strong working relationship. If you don’t feel like you can talk to or trust your attorney, then that could have a detrimental effect on your case. Consider not just the attorney’s personality, but also how easy it is to get in touch with them. If you feel like you constantly have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to get a hold of your attorney to ask about your case, then you’re probably not going to have a very effective working relationship.
For more information about choosing a criminal defense attorney, or for help with criminal bonds in Angleton, contact Brazoria County Bail Bonds today.