Ample Experience Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
Good Standing Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
Annual Review Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.
Client Commitment Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.

What Is Criminal Defense?

Criminal defense is a legal practice area that focuses on representing individuals who are charged with committing offenses. Criminal defense lawyers work to protect the rights and interests of their clients. Their goal is to make sure their clients receive a fair trial and that their constitutional rights are being upheld. Common areas of criminal defense include:

Assault and battery
Embezzlement
Harassment
Arson
Theft
Homicide
Fraud
Kidnapping
Probation violations
Public intoxications
Rape
Robbery
Vandalism
White collar crimes

How Can a Criminal Defense Lawyer Help Me?

An experienced lawyer can give you the knowledge and backing you need to navigate the legal system, finding the best possible results for your case. Because laws are different from state to state, speaking with a lawyer near you is critical in understanding all the elements of your situation and making the best decisions to move forward. A family law lawyer can help with:

Legal advice and counsel
Trial representation
Strategy development
Questioning witnesses
Conducting investigations
Filing legal motions
Reducing consequences

What Are the Top Questions When Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

These questions can help you decide if you feel comfortable and confident that a lawyer has the qualifications, experience, and ability to manage your case well. Many lawyers offer free consultations that allow you to understand your options and get specific legal advice before hiring them. Top questions include:

What is your experience in handling criminal defense cases?
Have you managed cases like mine?
What is your approach to defending criminal defense cases?
What is your record in negotiating favorable plea agreements?
How do you communicate with clients about the progress of their cases?
What are your fees and billing structure?

Tips for Hiring a Lawyer

Taking the time to find a lawyer who is right for you and will represent your best interests is an important first step in protecting your rights. Find a lawyer who understands your case, knows your needs and goals, and has the experience to get the best outcome. Things to do:

Ask for recommendations
Research lawyers online
Schedule consultations
Review experience and expertise
Talk about billing and fees
Trust your instincts

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.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation

Seek to determine whether the attorney can represent you. There is no one-size-fits-all legal solution and it may turn out your needs are better served by an attorney in a different specialization.
It’s important to find a legal ally who is both competent in the law and someone you can trust to protect your interests.
Discuss how the practice’s billing works and discuss possible additional charges or fees that may arise during or after the resolution of your case.

An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.

Types of legal fees:

Bill by the hour: Many attorneys bill by the hour. How much an attorney bills you per hour will vary based on a number of factors. For instance, an attorney’s hourly fee may fluctuate based on whether that hour is spent representing you in court or doing research on your case. Attorneys in one practice area may bill you more than attorneys in a different practice area.

Contingent fee: Some lawyers will accept payment via contingent fee. In this arrangement, the lawyer receives a percentage of the total monetary recovery if you win your lawsuit. In sum, the lawyer only gets paid if you win. Contingent fee agreements are limited to specific practice areas in civil law.

Flat fee: For “routine” legal work where the attorney generally knows the amount of time and resources necessary to complete the task, he/she may be willing to bill you a flat fee for services performed.

Common legal terms explained

Affidavit – A sworn written statement made under oath. An affidavit is meant to be a supporting document to the court assisting in the verification of certain facts. An affidavit may or may not require notarization.