The volumes that make up criminal law statutes are exhaustive. Daily, depending on the jurisdiction, criminal law changes. It can be scary if you find yourself involved in a criminal case. You’ll be comforted to learn that many cases do not make it to trial. For example, in the fiscal year of 2018, while roughly 80,000 people were participating as defendants in federal criminal matters, only 2% of them needed to face a jury of their peers. If you’re facing the other end of accusations that could land you in hot water with the justice system, you’ll need a criminal defense lawyer who can help you land on the other side of it. Finding the right one is paramount.
Not all criminal lawyers work with all types of crimes. Some only work with financial-related crimes, while others only work with cybersecurity-related issues. Still, others only specialize in things like theft, robbery, or capital offenses. A criminal lawyer with a lot of experience will use their skills and judgment to navigate the justice system more smoothly than an inexperienced lawyer. Hiring someone inexperienced can lead you down a path where your attorney is unfamiliar with the process, which could mean they don’t challenge certain issues that become crucial later on in trial or in pleadings that happened before then.
You want to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who has won cases and had success defending clients against similar accusations. The more experience a lawyer has in your type of case, the higher the attorney’s chance of having a better success rate. With greater experience, there are better chances of the lawyers spotting evidence or knowing where to look for additional evidence that can help you.
If your case involves a dispute between parties, good communication skills help ensure mutual understanding about what’s going on for all involved. While this is a skill any attorney will need throughout their career, you’re specifically looking for one who can stay calm under pressure, genuinely listen to everything you’re saying, and be able to respond within the context of the situation, rather than just using canned and prepared vague answers.
The best indicator of whether a criminal defense lawyer is best for you will always be your gut. If you don’t feel safe speaking to a lawyer, move on until you find one that believes you. Taking the time now to pick the right criminal defense lawyer can be the difference you or a loved one needs.