Questions to Ask Your Potential Criminal Defence Lawyer to Make Sure You Get the Right One
Posted on: 8 December 2018
Whether you have been charged with a felony, or been a victim of an assault, you will need the help of an experienced criminal defence lawyer to prove your innocence. As a result, it makes sense to get the most experienced lawyer in the field that you need help with. Here are some important questions that you should ask your potential lawyers in order to determine whether or not they are right for you.
What is their success rate when handling similar cases?
This is probably the most significant question in determining whether the lawyer is good for you. The success rate of the lawyer is a great sign of their experience and abilities. If you happen to be charged with a DUI offence, you probably shouldn't hire a lawyer that hasn't dealt with a single DUI case in their entire career. Now, do you still think it's a great idea to go with this particular lawyer? He may not be able to prepare the proper defence for the case, or he may not have the proper knowledge about that part of the law. As such, it's quintessential that you choose a lawyer with prior experience in dealing with similar cases.
What's the biggest penalty that you can expect?
This is another essential question to ask your lawyer before allowing him to work on your case. The penalties vary from offence to offence, but they also vary depending on how experienced the attorney is. DUI offences can land you up to one year in jail, but a good lawyer might reduce that time to half. On the other hand, felonies are more complicated, and without a great lawyer, someone could spend more than five years in jail. Because of that, it's essential to ask your lawyer about the maximum penalty that you can face to be capable of deciding how to proceed with the case.
How many trials has the lawyer previously run?
The final question you want to ask your lawyer is how many trials they have run. A good lawyer may be able to prevent a case from reaching the judge's courtroom by simply working out possible dispositions. Even in this case, the lawyer still has to prepare the appropriate defence for you and start a negotiation on your behalf. State lawyers are usually lenient in agreeing to a disposition, which leads to you receiving a smaller sentence.
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