Tips and Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Criminal Lawyer

butlerivana
January 24, 2013

(Guest post from Australian legal writers) If you are in need of any legal help, you might find yourself in a tricky situation when it comes to choosing a legal representative. Most people do not have a good understanding of the type of information they need in order to make a good decision. When choosing a good lawyer, it’s very important that you understand fully what you are getting before you sign that dotted line. A good criminal lawyer should look out for his client’s interest and help them win the case.

Below are some good tips and questons to ask before you hire a criminal lawyer.

*What’s your specialty?

All lawyers receive the general training in law; however each has his/her own specialty. Find a lawyer that deals with the area you need help. For example, you don’t need get a contract attorney when you need a lawyer to handle malpractice suit. Apart from his area of specialty, make sure you note any other special thing you may require. For instance, if your business is in Japan you will need someone who understands Japanese law and who can also speak Japanese.

*How many jury trials have you done?

The answer to this question should be at least five. But for a more serious case, you will need someone with ten or more trials. If the answer is zero, then this is not a good option.

Ask questions pertaining to his experience in this line of law. Ask how long he has been practicing, where he got his degree in law and his success rate. His success rate is determined by the number of cases he has won. You should find out his experience is dealing with similar cases like the one you have.

*Assess your case rate.

You need to give full explanation of your to the lawyer. Keep on asking him questions to understand his grasp in cases similar to yours. Ask the potential results of your case, the strengths and the weaknesses.

*What’s the strategy?

A criminal defense lawyer should be willing to give you a brief overview of his plans on how he will handle the case.

*How do your fees work?

This is a very important question for you to ask before you can sign on a criminal defense lawyer. The attorney should be willing to give you all the information pertaining to fees. Some lawyers charge a monthly fee while others may require some retainer fee. Some may even charge per hour. Ask the type of fee arrangement he is willing to offer and more such questions. Do your calculations before you hire him.

*How he keep you updated?

It’s obvious you will want to know the progress of your case. Therefore make sure you know how often your lawyer will be communicating with you. Will he give you weekly phone call? A daily email? Choose a lawyer with a good communication level that suits you.

* How does he think your case will turn out?

You need someone with confidence to work on your case. Look for a criminal lawyer with confidence that he will make it through your case. Whether you are in fault or not, your lawyer should represent your interests plus try as much as he can to get you the best.
The above question should help you get started. Ask for questions depending on your case and situation. This will help you make a wise decision.