Have you been accused of a criminal offense? It is imperative that someone legally defends you. Criminal defense attorneys will simplify the process that you are about to face and protect your rights from arrest to appeal after conviction. Hiring a qualified and professional criminal defense attorney marks the difference between a jail sentence and getting the charges dropped.Criminal defense attorneys handle various practice areas including, but not limited to, drug crimes, domestic violence, white-collar crimes, traffic violations, juvenile crimes, and parole and probation offenses. In terms of drug crimes, attorneys represent clients who are charged with possession, manufacture, distribution, and abuse for all types of substances including narcotics and marijuana.There are several important factors that you should think about when researching which attorney to choose. First, an attorney with many years of experience is a better choice than one fresh out of law school. Moreover, make sure that the attorney has produced positive results from his past experience. Furthermore, you should know how many trials the attorney has handled. This aspect is very important because some attorneys rarely go to trail and are therefore not confident with the process. You must also make sure that the attorney you choose has reliable certification to practice law in the specific area of criminal defense. You should also know how and when the lawyer would be able to converse with you. Make sure your first consultation with the attorney is free, most of them are. A free consultation gives you the opportunity to feel out the attorney and make sure that he or she is the best match for you. Additionally, make sure the lawyer you think you are hiring is the one that will actually be handling your case. Another important question to ask is if the lawyer charges an hourly rate or a flat fee. Also, you must know what is covered within the flat fee. Finally, if a lawyer’s fee is much lower than others you have consulted with, that should be a red flag. Bargains are not the best deal in terms of criminal defense.
