What to Look for in a Criminal Defense Attorney

Upon being arrested, many people find themselves in a panicked and frightened state. This is not always the best time to make important decisions that can affect you for the rest of your life but it is crucial that you maintain the presence of mind to contact a lawyer before anything else takes place. Although you may be feeling desperate, you need to be selective about who you want representing you in the courtroom. The skill, experience, and professionalism of your criminal defense attorney can play a large role in determining the outcome of your case. There are several things that you should be looking for when you are considering a lawyer. PS. Are you wondering if you can lose your medical license due to a domestic violence charge in California?  We’ve got the answer.

Area of Expertise

Many criminal defense lawyers specialize in handling specific types of cases such as DUIs or domestic violence offenses. Ideally, your attorney should have extensive experience defending clients who have been charged with crimes similar to yours. They will have a deeper knowledge of that particular area of law and will be better prepared to help you with your case. It is important to ask questions and learn more about an attorney to make sure they are the person you want defending you.

Professionalism

You need to have full faith in your criminal defense attorney and their ability to build a strong case for you. If you find that your attorney is consistently late, unprepared, unavailable, or otherwise unprofessional and unreliable, you have the option to walk away or look for someone else to represent you. There is little reason to believe that a lawyer will be dependable inside a courtroom if they do not show professionalism outside of one.

Communication

Often, a persuasive argument hinges on the eloquence of the speaker as much as it does on the facts they are presenting. There are many reasons why communication is such an important skill to look for in a criminal defense attorney. Not only do you want someone who is articulate with their words arguing in your defense, but you also want a lawyer who can clearly explain or discuss the details of your case with you in plain, simple language that you can understand. There will be times when you need to make a decision regarding how to proceed with your case, and it is important that your attorney is able to effectively communicate any important information to you that could influence your decision.

Rapport

It is likely that you will need to be in contact with your criminal defense attorney on a regular basis for the duration of your case. Aside from their professional qualifications, experience, skills, and expertise, the situation can be much less stressful if you find a lawyer whose personality is a good fit for you. Your lawyer should be someone you generally get along well with and feel comfortable around. They should genuinely care about your case and show personal concern regarding the outcome of your case.