Top Hiawatha, IA Federal Criminal Law Lawyers Near You

Are You Facing Federal Criminal Charges?

A federal criminal conviction can mean severe fines and federal prison time, depending on the crime in question. If you are being investigated or have been charged with a federal criminal offense, you will want to retain a skilled Hiawatha federal criminal law lawyer.

Different Types of Federal Criminal Law Charges

Federal crimes are any acts considered illegal by a federal law and are prosecuted under federal law, not state law. Breaking any law is not good, but breaking a federal law could lead you to stiffer penalties and incarceration.

A federal criminal law attorney can help you build your defense, no matter that severity of the charge. Federal crimes include tax evasion, bank robbery, counterfeiting, kidnapping and many other crimes.

Best Time to Seek Legal Help

No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.

Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation

• Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
• Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
• Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
• Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.

How to Find the Right Attorney

• Determine the area of law that relates to your issue. Attorneys specialize in specific practice areas around legal issues within the broad field of law.
• Seek out recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues. A successful attorney or practice will typically have many satisfied clients.
• Set up consultation appointments to get a better understanding of your case as well as gauge your comfort level with different attorneys. Find the attorney who is the right fit for your needs.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.