Why You Need A Criminal Defence Lawyer

Guilty or not, if you are charged with a criminal offense you need to hire a criminal defence lawyer. Criminal charges mean you can face jail time, a fine, and your reputation and job potential will be damaged. Find someone who specializes in the type of charges you face and ask questions at your first meeting. A criminal charge made against you is a serious matter and requires serious attention.

It might be tempting to just wait it out and hope to pay just a fine. However, often once an investigation has started, a simple misdemeanor charge can turn into a complex and serious charge. What you may have thought would result in a fine will end up carrying with it a jail sentence or worse, time in a federal penitentiary. Waiting to see how it turns out and hoping for the best, is not in your best interest.

First, make a list of lawyers by asking people you know for a recommendation. Ask your friends, family members, and neighbors. If you have ever used an attorney, ask them for a referral. You can also check the internet for lawyers and the yellow pages.

There are also legal associations you can check with in your state and there is the State Bar. Ask for someone who specializes in the same type of charge you are facing. Have several names to choose from in order to increase your ability to pick the right one for you.

Once you have a list of names, you want to find out about their legal practice and their reputation. Choose someone who has experience handling cases like yours. You also want to know if their experience is with state courts or federal courts. There is a difference between how the two operate and you want someone who knows their way around.

You want the best representation so choose someone who has experience and knowledge with the charges made against you. The laws and court system are complicated and you want someone who knows what they are doing.

Some things you will want to ask are what their acquittal rate is. If they have a strong record of acquittals, it means they are dedicated and able to build a rapport with juries necessary to win your case. Ask how many cases have they taken to trial? How long do they expect the process to take for your case? How do they plan to represent you?

You also want to find out what their fee schedule is. How much are you expected to pay to begin and what to expect to pay if your case goes to trial? A flat fee is the usual for a relatively simple misdemeanor charge while an hourly rate is the usual fee for a more complicated case. In addition, ask about additional cost such as court filing fees, phone calls, photocopies, and expert witnesses.

It is important you trust your criminal defence lawyer. You are facing serious consequences so it is important to have a lawyer sitting next to you with experience, knowledge and a good reputation with the courts and judges sitting next to you.

If you are looking for a criminal defence lawyer toronto contact Donna V Pledge Barrister & Solicitor 1013 Wilson Avenue Suite 203 Toronto ON M3K 1G1 (416) 630-8702 . Contact your toronto criminal lawyers today.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.