How To Find a Drug Criminal Defense Attorney

The criminal penalties for drug crimes can be harsh. Even possession of a small amount of drugs can result in jail time. Many drug charge defendants accept a plea deal because they don’t think they have any other choice. Before you just accept what the prosecutor tells you and end up with a criminal record, make sure you understand your legal rights with the help of an experienced defense attorney.

Experienced criminal defense attorneys are familiar with the local law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges in cases just like yours. This article provides helpful advice for finding a drug crime defense lawyer to handle your case. Contact an experienced drug crime defense lawyer in your area who can immediately respond to your drug case and give you legal advice.

Criminal Drug Charges

Drug crime charges are some of the most common criminal cases, including simple possession cases for personal use. There are many criminal charges associated with controlled substances, including:

• Drug possession
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Drug distribution
• Drug trafficking
• Drug manufacturing
• Growing marijuana
• Prescription drug fraud

Drug Charges Based on Type of Drugs

Drug offenses and penalties can depend on the type of illegal substances involved and may include mandatory minimums. Drugs are generally classified by schedule under the Controlled Substances Act. Many states follow the federal drug scheduling into five categories. The drugs are categorized by the drug’s accepted medical use and danger of abuse and dependency.

• Schedule I: No current medical use and a high potential for abuse (including LSD, ecstasy, and heroin)
• Schedule II: Drugs with a high potential for abuse and dependence (including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl)
• Schedule III: Drugs with a moderate to low potential for abuse (including ketamine, codeine, and anabolic steroids)
• Schedule IV: Drugs with a low risk of dependence or abuse (including Valium, Xanax, and Ativan)
• Schedule V: Drugs with a lower potential for abuse, such as over-the-counter cold medicines

Most first-time drug possession charges are generally charged as misdemeanor criminal offenses. However, if larger quantities are involved or the defendant is accused of trafficking or drug distribution, it could result in felony drug charges. Most drug crimes are prosecuted under state law. However, when drug-related crimes involve crossing state lines, they can be charged as crimes under federal law and prosecuted in federal court.

Ways To Find a Drug Crime Attorney

Knowing where to start can be challenging when looking for a drug defense attorney. Here are some options to help you find the right criminal defense lawyer to handle your case.

Contact Your State Bar Association

Many state and local bar associations offer a legal referral service to the public. You may be able to contact your local bar association and ask for a referral to a law office that handles drug crime charges. The bar association may note that the referral is not an endorsement of the lawyer, but they may offer an initial consultation for a set fee. Check your state’s bar association website to see if they offer legal representation referrals.

Search Online for a Drug Crime Lawyer

An online search may yield too many results to know where to start. Many of the listings from search engines like Google will be for paid ads and may not be the best law firm to handle your type of drug crime. However, third-party legal resource websites like LawInfo can help you find licensed attorneys in your area that can answer your questions about specific areas of law, including drug laws. To search for a drug crime attorney, you can use this link to search for a drug defense lawyer where you live.

Talk to Family and Friends

If you have friends or family members who faced illegal drug-related criminal charges before, they may have a recommendation for a lawyer who helped with their case. If you know someone who is a lawyer in another type of practice area, they may be able to refer you to a law firm that handles drug defense cases. However, before you hire an attorney, you should still ask for an initial consultation to see if they are the right lawyer for you.

Finding the Right Criminal Defense Attorney for Your Case

Before you hire an attorney, meet with the lawyer to see if you want them to represent you in court. You can talk to multiple lawyers before you decide who to hire. Go in with some questions written down to ask the attorney, including:

• Will you be the lawyer handling my case?
• Do you charge a flat fee or an hourly rate?
• How will you keep me informed about updates in my case?
• What can I expect after I hire you to handle my drug charges?
• What steps should I be taking while I wait for the court date?
• How many jury or court trials have you conducted related to drug crimes?

Contact an experienced drug crime defense attorney in your area who can explain your legal defense options and represent you in court.