When interviewing a criminal defense lawyer, be sure to ask these ten important questions:
(1) How much is this going to cost?
One of the most common questions attorneys receive, "
how much does a criminal defense attorney cost?" Rightfully so, right? In criminal law, a lot of attorneys will quote flat rate fees for their services. Even so, there's a range they can charge within depending on experience. While you may be charged a flat fee, some criminal defense lawyers allow you to make payments on that flat rate fee. Due to this, it's a great question to ask, it goes beyond just hourly rates, it gives you a solid idea of the costs you may expect to pay.
(2) How long have you practiced criminal law?
You always want to ask this question because you need the best criminal defense attorney you can hire. Again, this is a serious matter and one that should you always label a top priority. Experience matters, results matter, so this is an important question to ask. For example, New Orleans criminal defense attorney Lance J. Robinson has over 22 years of experience and has represented over 2,400 clients. When your livelihood is on the line, would you rather have an attorney with 22 years of experience or 2 years experience? Common sense, right?
(3) How often do your cases go to trial?
If you've been doing research, you've likely heard that criminal defense lawyers can settle many of their cases via plea bargains instead of going to trial. That is true. Also, we may be able to appear for you so you don't have to appear in court. Our attorney has both plea bargain and trial experience, but that's what you should look for. You want your criminal defense lawyer to be experienced in both, which is why this is a good criminal defense lawyer question to ask.
(4) How would you handle my case?
When you reach out to a lawyer, this is a good question to ask. It will give you the opportunity to see how they're planning to approach your legal matter. You want to be informed every step of the way, so never hesitate to ask this question. You can also find out if the attorney thinks you should go to trial or settle without a trial. You'll be able to see if you have a high risk to appear in court or an attorney can fill in for you.
(5) Do you have a specialized area of law?
Criminal law covers a variety of cases. Some lawyers see the majority of their cases come from a specific legal issues, this could include drugs, murder, DUI, or white-collar crimes. Some criminal attorneys specialize in less serious crimes, such as DUI, DWI, disturbing the peace, or lwed conduct.
We always recommend finding a criminal defense lawyer that specializes in the specific area of law you need.
What do criminal defense attorneys do?
(6) How often do we get to communicate?
Communication is key and we understand you want to be informed about your current criminal case. When you’re facing criminal charges and the reality of possible incarceration and large fines is hitting you, you want an attorney that's going to be available to answer all your questions. While we can't speak for other attorneys, Lance J. Robinson is always available for client calls. We get it, we understand how serious your case is and we make sure our expert team is always available. Every attorney you talk to will likely say they're available, but it's not always true. The best thing you can do is read reviews to get an idea of which criminal defense lawyers will care about their clients.
(7) How long have you been practicing criminal law in this area?
Here's a great question to ask because it matters. How long have you been practicing in this area? Most criminal cases are in specific areas, so you want an experienced criminal defense attorney that knows the "system." For example, since Lance has been practicing in New Orleans over the last 2 decades, he knows the prosecution. It matters, we can build our case based on what we know the prosecution is going to bring forward. You should search for a lawyer that has plenty of experience in a specific location.
(8) What will you need from me?
If the criminal defense lawyer needs anything from you, they will let you right away. You'll likely have some documents or other important information that you need to contribute to your case, but your attorney can walk you through everything you'll need.
(9) How long do you think my case will take?
While you may not be able to get a direct answer for this question, an experienced attorney can give you a ballpark figure. It’s impossible to know an exact time frame, but a good lawyer can give you a solid estimate.
(10) Why should I choose you?
Yes! Ask it! Again, you want the best criminal defense lawyer your money can buy. If we're speaking about ourselves, we're going to point to our experience and results. We have a ton of reviews online you can check, just look through Google.
