With well over a million available lawyers across the country, it can be difficult to know how to go about choosing one when you are in need of legal representation. How will you know which ones offer quality services, and which ones may not?
Selecting your criminal defense attorney in Texas is a very serious undertaking. Below you will find some useful advice from Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian on making this decision at a most important time in your life.
- Locating The Right Defense Attorney For Your Criminal Case
Selecting an attorney involves more than just finding someone who knows the law. While you certainly want someone with a strong record of success, you also need to find someone who will meet the unique needs of your circumstances and have a complete grasp of your requirements.
It is best to find counsel that speaks to you in plain language and who provides you with the facts you need to make informed decisions about your future. Try to find someone with whom you connect on a personal level so that you will be able to work collaboratively as your case progresses. You also need someone who has a comprehensive understanding of all available legal defense strategies relevant to the time of offense with which you have been charged.
- Seeking An Experienced Professional
Lawyers can differ in a number of key ways, and it is crucial that you grasp the distinctions when making a hiring decision. Some tend to focus on civil personal injury claims, while others spend most of their time handling criminal cases. It is best to find someone with vast experience in criminal defense as well as someone who knows the ins and outs of your specific type of case.
For instance, if you are facing an assault charge, it may not be wise to select an advocate who primarily works on drunk driving cases. Take a close look at each prospective attorney’s website to determine where there interest and experience truly lies.
- Resources Matter
Taking a criminal case to trial is not something that should be attempted alone. The fact is that even the finest defense attorneys require a strong support team in the form of paralegals, administrative assistants, and others who can work together to build the strongest possible client defense.
You may also want to look for a firm that employs multiple practitioners who would be able to step into the shoes of their colleagues to handle a case in pinch. The reputation of these other attorneys is something else you ought to research prior to making your selection. A solid team typically makes for a stronger defense strategy.
- Verify References
Always seek personal references from friends, family members, and others in your realm who have been through similar situations and have retained legal counsel. The best Texas criminal defense lawyers are likely well-known in the community for their skills and track records, so be sure to ask around, and you will surely get some strong referrals.
Confidence matters, so try to find a lawyer who feels strongly in their ability to advocate on your behalf, but who will also be entirely candid with you about the situation in which you find yourself. Any lawyer who promises a particular outcome is likely not the attorney for you.
With a bit of due diligence, it is possible to narrow down the field of criminal defense attorneys to find one who suits your needs and will work hard to protect your rights.