How To Find A Criminal Defense Lawyer With 7 Key Questions

You can't believe it's happening to you. There's a pit in your stomach as the cop starts coming toward you and utters the words "I'm arresting you for a criminal offense."
Your mind starts racing with thoughts like " What in the world am I going to do? How is this going to affect my life, freedom, family, job? What can I do to protect myself? How do I decide on the right lawyer so I have the best legal help possible?"
Regrettably, this crisis is a possibility for anyone. Innocent people are charged with crimes as a result of many different circumstances, such as honest mistakes, or overzealous, or malicious actions by others. Good people also make mistakes and choose the wrong course of action in a difficult situation.
Whatever the case is, you sure enough need the best representation you can get.
All of a Sudden Nothing is More Important
You realize that a conviction will have ruinous effects on your life so it's important to seek the best attorney you can afford, whether you need an Oklahoma criminal defense lawyer (my state) or one who can represent you in another state of the U.S.
And even though you are "under the gun" to hire someone, this decision must be made with care. After all, if your life was threatened in a medical emergency, such as needing brain surgery, you probably wouldn't want the cheapest doctor to perform it. Moreover, you shouldn't choose an attorney based on who charges the least. At the same time, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to hire the most expensive person.
How Are You Supposed to Pick a Criminal Defense Attorney, then?
Should you hire your brother-in-law's estate planning lawyer, or the attorney who handled your high school friend's divorce? What about going to the yellow pages and picking the lawyer on the first page of the attorney listings, or the law firm with a two page ad?
I don't advocate any of those methods for someone charged with a criminal offense. The problem is that just because someone went to law school and passed the bar exam, that doesn't mean he or she is effective and experienced in criminal defense. Many have never set foot in a courtroom.
All Lawyers Are Not the Same
In the medical field there are doctors who specialize in certain parts of the body and so, too, many lawyers concentrate on just a few areas of the law. There are just too many types of law for someone to be an expert in every area.
Think of it this way. Do you really think that someone who spends most of their time writing and negotiating contracts for businesses would be as effective in the courtroom as a lawyer with decades of experience in criminal law?
What's more, when you hire an expert, you have to expect that the cost is going to be higher than hiring someone else with only a moderate amount of knowledge or experience.
That leads us to:
7 Key Questions to Find the Right Lawyer for your Criminal Defense
1. The first question to ask would be simply, How many years has the lawyer practiced criminal law.Someone with a fair number of years of experience, such as 10 years or more, would be preferred. Your future is too important to hand over your defense to a new law school graduate.
2. The second question you'll want to learn the answer to will be how many trials has the lawyer handled. This is important because your lawyer should be familiar and confident with the process. There are some so called "criminal lawyers" who rarely, or never go to trial and are known as "settling attorneys". Many times they aren't comfortable in trials, and even if it isn't best for their client, they find a way to settle without going to trial. The prosecution can sense that fear of going to trial, which can have a detrimental effect on possible plea bargaining for the client. Definitely, a lawyer who has tried 50 to 100 or more cases will maintain a stronger bargaining position.
3. Another thing you should determine is the number of jury trials the attorney has handled. Additional areas of expertise are needed in jury trial with facets like selecting jurors, and knowing how to be persuasive to jury members. As you can probably guess, more experience with jury trials is better than less. If your lawyer has handled 40 or 50 jury trials, he or she should have learned a lot about strategy in that area.
4. While you can certainly ask a potential lawyer about his or her experience, an even better way to determine that is is through a reliable certification process. Some states recognize specializations in different areas of law and if a lawyer qualifies according to the state's requirements, he can reflect that specialization in his marketing and advertising materials. However, many states don't allow specializations (including my state of Oklahoma). Fortunately, there is a national certification available through the National Board of Trial Advocacy This is a very rigorous certification process, requiring significant experience in criminal trials, a written exam, peer review and recertification every 5 years.
If a lawyer has achieved this certification, you have an unbiased third party validation of her experience, instead of having to rely simply on what the lawyer says about her ability.
5. Something else you should ask about is how and when the lawyer will communicate with you. Use the first consultation (which is often free, however be sure to ask ahead of time) to assess whether you will be comfortable and confident handing your case over to this person.
6. Make sure to ask if the lawyer you think you are hiring will actually be the one who is handling your case. This is important because some firms will have you talk to a lead lawyer initially and then give your case to a newer lawyer in the firm to handle. I believe a criminal charge deserves an experienced and seasoned lawyer, not someone just out of law school.
7. Ask about the costs involved. Find out whether the lawyer charges an hourly rate or a flat fee. Obviously, it is better for you, the client, to get a flat fee. That way you know exactly how much you need to pay as opposed to being concerned that the lawyer is trying to string things along in order to increase his fees. Also, determine what is covered in the flat fee, such as does that fee cover fees for a trial or will there be additional costs for that?
Remember if the lawyer's fee is much lower than others that it could be a red flag.
A much lower fee can mean he is not as experienced (not good for you), or he may handle a high volume of cases. The problem with the high volume situation is that he won't be able to spend as much time or attention on your case (also not desirable) as the lawyer who takes fewer cases but charges more.
I've also known of attorneys who entice clients by stating they will only charge a small amount such as $100.00 to go to court for you. However, they don't mention that you'll have to continue to pay them for every phone call or each document they do for you. And, pretty soon the total expense can be higher than a set fee charged by someone else.
A lower fee could also indicate that the lawyer is the "settling" kind of lawyer as I mentioned before, who won't go to trial even if its in your best interest. And since he knows he won't ever be going to trial he can charge less, as trials involve significantly more work.
I believe these questions will allow you to become informed in this important decision making process so you can find a criminal defense lawyer who will skillfully protect your rights and freedom.

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LA County Criminal Defense Lawyers - The Importance of Seeking Lawyers Advice

If you are a resident of LA County and you have been accused of a crime then is appropriate to consult a criminal defense lawyer immediately to make sure you are given the proper legal advice.
While there are federal laws to govern every crime committed, there are some states that implement their own criminal laws in addition to the federal laws on crimes. An LA county criminal defense lawyer would be in the best position to give legal advice on this matter.
A person seeking for a qualified LA county criminal defense lawyer should not worry because most LA county lawyers have their own websites from where they can get the information they want. Their websites do not only show useful contact information for criminal defense lawyers but they also offer free legal consultation to prospective clients. The person accused of a crime or his family can consult with the lawyer either personally or through the internet.
A person who has been accused of a crime should seek a criminal defense lawyer even if he believes he is innocent of the charges. There are legal procedures being followed by most states and this includes the issuance of a warrant of arrest. Even if the accused is innocent of the criminal charges a warrant can still be issued for his arrest and he can still be put to jail.
Not all people are aware of the legal procedures being followed by the courts so to make sure that the accused gets the best legal advice, he should consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. The criminal defense lawyer can advise the accused of his rights even before he is arrested as well as once arrested. And even if the accused has been arrested he can still apply for bail depending on the type of crime he has allegedly committed.
Some criminals lounging in jail are innocent but they failed to get the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney so their cases were not properly pleaded in court. There are legal principles that may absolve the accused form the crime charged but only the criminal defense lawyers can advise him of these principles.
It is important to get a lawyer from LA County because he is presumed to know the federal and state laws applicable to your case. Such lawyer would also be more knowledgeable about the courts and the strategies of the district attorneys in LA County and can thus provide the accused the best legal strategy for his case.
Being accused of a crime can mean losing your property, your friends, your job, even your life. Any person who wants to protect these things should make sure he is being given the best legal strategy that can help him win the case or make the sentence lighter and more bearable.
When choosing a criminal defense lawyer in LA County, the accused should make sure that he is getting the services of a reputable lawyer who has earned the respect of his colleagues as well as of the court officials. This would increase the chances of winning the defense as well as getting justice for the accused.
No matter what criminal case the accused is faced with, whether it is a common driving under the influence case or a bigger rape or murder case, the accused should always prioritize the services of a good criminal defense lawyer. This way he protects his rights and his life.

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Guidelines in Hiring a Richmond Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal defense lawyers are the very people you will call in times of unfortunate incidents such as being arrested or being charged with a crime. Legal advices and representations are what you require during these trying instances.
Getting a criminal defense lawyer at once is also essential because you got to know your rights. And there is a proper way of responding to the police and to the court officials. You should know those as well. Criminal defense lawyers would be able to help with these.
The criminal defense lawyers from Richmond are always ready to discuss your case with you. They are more than willing to protect you, your family, your properties, your freedom, as well as your reputation. The lawyers of Richmond would be there to help.
But there are countless of Richmond criminal defense lawyers that you can go to, all with good honors and numerous laurels to boost. To give you an idea who to contact in times of trouble, here are the things that can serve as a guideline.
Are these defense lawyers expert in the field of criminal law?
Criminal cases are very much different from civil cases. And the expertise of a lawyer is usually either of the two. Seldom would you see a lawyer who specializes in both fields at the same time. The laws governing a criminal case is more strict than that of a civil case. So make sure that the lawyer you are getting are real-deal criminal defense lawyers.
Do these lawyers have a good winning percentage?
It really doesn't matter if you go to a big law firm or a small one. What matters is the main person who will handle your case. Has he won a lot of cases lately? Do you have faith that he can take your case towards acquittal or settlement? A good criminal defense lawyer is a winning lawyer. He should be able to effortlessly win the case.
Does the criminal defense lawyer new to his job?
Experience counts. If the lawyer you are going to get has just handled a case or two, you are gambling on his abilities to represent you. Anyway, good lawyers, no matter how short time they had spent, has the power to win any case. But you've got to request for a mentor for that lawyer should you feel uncomfortable with him handling your case single-handedly.
Has the criminal defense lawyer handled a similar case before and has won?
A case always is different from another, even though the may seem to be very similar. But the lawyer's attack on the defense is usually the same. They just change tactics slightly, depending on the merits of the case. A lawyer that has handled a case similar to yours before is a good option because he, more or less, knows how the entire proceeding will head to.
Is the criminal defense lawyer knowledgeable with the case and the law?
This is very important. The criminal defense lawyer that is going to represent you in court should be well-schooled as well as well-informed of the case. He should know by mind and by heart, the articles of the constitution that are applied against you. While it is true that he cannot memorize the whole constitutional provisions, he should at least research on similar cases and matters before hand.
These are what you should ask yourself if you are in the stages of hiring a criminal defense lawyer. Better answer these questions right now, than do it when necessary, as you might not have time to prepare.

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DUI Insurance - What You Should Do After An Alcohol Related Driving Conviction

If you know those that have a conviction of this expensive drunk driving criminal offense, it can help you through this particular frustrating time if you speak with them. They can demonstrate whatever they experienced and the consequences that came from this circumstance. This can be a hard time for you personally so you will need all the aid available.
Inside today's contemporary culture any alcohol induced accident could be looked harshly upon by the legal system. Because of this you have to find a good specialized defense law firm which takes care of DWI arrests. In the event he or she shows your innocence therefore you aren't convicted with driving while intoxicated then you will be in great shape.
Locate Your Specialty Lawyer
You need to find the very best attorney for the money, not simply any kind of cheap regular lawyer. It might be possible to get no cost consulting through some of them. Make sure you ask them many things during this period. This can be a terrific way to acquire legal advice.
The insurance company might decline ones plan if you happen to be convicted of a DWI and you may lose your drivers' license for your state. Be sure to start looking for a new insurance company and obtain some quotations on their particular premiums.
Don't Allow The Policy To Lapse
DUI car insurance can be higher and also cost you more than what you have previously paid for a policy before. You must have insurance to be able to drive a car legal however. Don't allow your insurance policy to lapse as many companies won't touch a person after a lapse in your policy.
Don't Become Responsible for A Multiple Criminal offense
An insurance company which gives you a policy can have you having to pay high prices but this is life. You have got to avoid drinking when you might be driving a vehicle. If responsible for another drinking-related criminal offense and additionally you receive multiple DWI's, you risk getting your license taken away for an appreciably longer time.
It is difficult to find insurance providers willing to accept a liability on an individual responsible for this sort of offense. Begin your search on the internet and if you find a site that provides DWI insurance and other policies, check them out and find out if they will offer a quote. The more info you receive the better off you are.
Be Positive And Look Onward To The Future
After you locate a high quality business and buy your DUI insurance you are going to be at your DMV very quickly and also anticipating your coming future. You simply have to go on the web and commence researching. Your bill could be expensive however remaining covered with a policy is a legal requirement.
DUI auto insurance will not be the end of everything. This is a necessity following your conviction. Acquire your attorney, battle the arrest, get your coverage.
What you want to Complete Right now
You have to determine immediately exactly what DWI insurance prices you will end up facing so that you can get started arranging how to make the payments.

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Help Your Criminal Lawyer To Help You

Human daily lives are, directly or indirectly, under the effects of the legal laws and who knows you might need a Criminal Lawyer one day. Though it happens in the entire world, not many of us realize it. Very small things like smoking cigarettes and huge thing like purchasing a property are all ruled by legal system. The world is growing in complexity. There are bad relationships, new technologies, and financial loss. These things can make good people making mistakes and finally in need of aid from professional criminal defense lawyer. Yet, no attorney can create a good resolution on their own. Those attorneys will need total collaboration with the client. This way, the door to get best defenses is opened widely.
Quality time: The simplest effort that one can attribute to help the defense attorney is making and attending an appointment to discuss every aspect of the case. For your information, many juvenile and circuit in America show how ignorance a client might be. Many clients of those cases refused to attend the meeting that their client has set.
So, try to come to every appointment that your lawyer has made, it would be great if you also ready to talk about all details, related documents, and witnesses of your case with your attorney. We all are aware that lawyers are very busy people. Thus, if you have the reason to fail to come on the expected meeting, call the attorney and reschedule another meeting. Last minute before the trial begins is never a suitable time for you to make initial meeting with the attorney.
Be honest: When you talk to your attorney, remember that he or she is not you parent, your friend, or your priest. Thus, you must not make any exaggeration, change, or justification to the fact. Only tell them things that you remember honestly. Also remember that the attorney is on your side, they will help you finding the available defenses, giving advices on your case, and inform you about possible resolution.
There is a formula about honesty in this matter: the more honest you are to your lawyer, the higher the possibility that your attorney find the best defense for you. Alternatively, if you prefer to lie, you risk yourself losing the case because you have broken the trust between you and your attorney.
Everything can be evidence: Criminal laws often ignore the right and the wrong. In front of the laws, the only helpful things are constitutional questions, witness credibility, and best evidence. Often, the resolution of criminal trial is determined by the ability of the witness to tell a good story with more consistency in providing facts.
You are supposed to help your criminal defense attorney by giving them everything about the case including witnesses, supporting info, and alibis. If you are not even close to the crime scene when the crime happened, proof it. There is a lot of things that you can use as evidence such as toll slips, restaurants receipts, property titles, contracts, and statements from colleagues.
If you are physically unable of doing a crime that is accused to you, you must still be careful. Have a serious consultation with your attorney. You are not in a fairy tale world.

Criminal Lawyer Files: The Truth About Fraudulent Online Auctions

Online auctions may be fun, hassle-free and rewarding. But, it is not easy to always avoid being the victim connected with an devious buyer or vendor at an online market because online auction fraud is currently usual. Fraud is any motive to hide or cover the authentic way to obtain a proposal making it look almost like it came from a legitimate origin. There are methods you'll be able to lower your likelihood of being a unwilling recipient. Realize just as much as you can about how exactly the online auction method works before bidding or placing a service available for purchase. Pay attention to fraud alerts posted at online auction marketplace websites.
Auction scams consists of fraud attributable to the misrepresentation of any product marketed on sale via an Internet auction site or even the non-delivery of merchandise acquired via an Internet auction site.
People are highly wary against getting into World wide web purchases with topics displaying the following behaviour: The owner posts the public sale as though he is located in the States, then replies to victims having a congratulatory email proclaiming he's outside of the United States for company reasons, family crisis, etc. In the same way, beware of suppliers who post the auction under one identity, and request the funds to be transferred to a different person. Be wary of any bank card purchases where the address on the card holder does not match the shipping address. Always have the card holder's certification before shipping any goods.
Virtually all net auction fraudulent conditions entail simple scams where people purportedly win goods by being the best bidder. Almost all sounds good till they give the check and do not get the product or service. In other instances, con artists set up bogus escrow companies and sites. By doing this, the scammers usually can accumulate products as well as collect funds. The affected individuals never suspect anything until they have already sent their check to the fake escrow service or routed their merchandise away and off to the customer considering the money is securely sitting in escrow.
The money is frequently transmitted by means of wire transfer. In an effort to get funds via wire transfer, the recipient must provide you with the full information from the sender as well as the receiver's full name and address. The money might be obtained anywhere in the nation applying this info. You do not have to give the money transfer control number (MTCN) or even the reply to any secret issue, numerous topics have proposed to the victims. Money sent by using wire transfer results in little option to the victim.
Consumer supporters attribute the rise in web auction fraud to the surging public attention towards online auctions and the ease with which scams often may be perpetrated. It usually merely needs placing nonexistent things for sale within a false identity after which waiting for unsuspecting customers. Some scammers usually are usually more advanced, having numerous reliable auctions to develop self-assurance among customers, who are encouraged to post responses at auction sites, before initiating a deceitful sale. Others will endeavour to take identities and build falsified sites under real names or hijack genuine present auction accounts by getting security passwords through bogus solicitations to enlisted retailers.

5 Easy Ways To Find A Great Criminal Defense Attorney

It is not always necessary that you are criminal or have committed a crime to require a good legal counsel. When you are looking for a criminal Defense attorney you should ensure that you find and engage the best you can afford. There are many technicalities, circumstantial evidences, wrong-time wrong-place type scenarios and the like that could put you on a spot without you being guilty of anything. In such cases, here is how you would ensure that you find and get the best criminal defense lawyer there is.

1. Go to the Internet to search for legal counsels who specialize in criminal defense - there is no better place to start your search than the Net. Key in your requirement and it will give you long lists of possible resources. Make a list of the first 10 best sites and then research each one of these eminent sites carefully. Look for success stories, scams and disgruntled clients, feedback and reviews or testimonials. Each angle will give you an insight into the performance of the company and its professionals.

2. Verify credentials - unless it is a company of national or state repute, do not take anything at face value. You need a great lawyer to defend you whether you are guilty or not. You cannot afford to risk conviction for the moment you are convicted; your life may become a nightmare. This conviction will follow you and harass you in your professional and personal lifelong.

3. Ask for personal references - talk with friends, colleagues, family and ask them to refer you to someone they would have already tried or know firsthand. Personal references in such a situation might be a little difficult to get, but if you ask around you would definitely get someone who knows someone who father/sister/ brother/ etc is a great professional in the field. This would be your best bet for two reasons: (i) the reference comes through friends or family members and hence you would get preferential treatment; (ii) since this is firsthand info, you are getting your money's worth.

4. Ask for interviews - talk with the proposed professional and watch out for your gut feelings. As with a doctor, you should be extremely comfortable talking and confiding in this person. Unless this professional inspires in your trust and complete reliance, you better keep looking. Look for signs of confidence (not to be confused with over-confidence) and self-assurance besides professional expertise.

5. Experience - needless to say that the professional you should hire should be one who has behind him/ her a series of success stories; the more complex the better. If you have to choose between a gold medalist who has just passed out from law school, and one who has some 20 years of practicing behind him/ her, I would go for the one with 20 years experience. This does not mean that the gold medalist is of no use - all theory no practice; rather, it means that you are using the advantage the experienced professional to your benefit.