The best criminal defense attorney is one who is responsive, a good communicator, and who gives your case their undivided attention. Only a competent, experienced attorney will do when you are facing high stakes for serious criminal charges.
There are several characteristics of effective defense attorneys that few people know about. Fairness, experience, and respect are among the most important.
Why Your Attorney’s Experience Matters
When you need a defense attorney to help you through a criminal arraignment and trial, your relationship with that person matters. You must be able to trust your attorney to do their homework and represent your interests fairly. But how do you find the right attorney? Start with the following steps:
- Legitimacy. Check with the Missouri State Bar Association for the names of criminal defense attorneys who are in good standing. Make a few phone calls to shorten the list to those available to consider your case.
- Experience. Has the attorney represented other defendants in similar cases? Most importantly, do they primarily practice in the jurisdiction where the trial is planned? An attorney with knowledge of the local prosecutors and judges is key, as they will know of or research similar cases to determine if a deal can be made that will take a jail or prison sentence off the table.
- References. Talk to some of the attorney’s past clients to learn more about their style and abilities. Did other defendants feel fairly represented by this attorney?
- Research. Are there news articles that mention the attorney, or online reviews of their work? Reviews are worth reading, but are best taken with a grain of salt as they can be written by friends or people with an axe to grind.
Set up a consultation with the potential candidates. Here are some things to ask that will get a sense of the attorney’s experience and style:
- How long have you been practicing?
- How many cases do you handle at a time? This is important to know, as an overburdened attorney may not give your case the attention it needs.
- What do you charge? (Ask about paying in installments if necessary.)
- Do you have an assistant? What portion of the work does that person handle?
- What do you know about the judge presiding over the case?
- What is the prosecutor like? How can we expect that person to handle the evidence and testimony of witnesses?
- What are the potential alternatives to a trial? (This can reveal their knowledge of the prosecutor and judge involved, as plea deals and leniency for first-time offenders or low-level crimes are common tools.)
- What is the typical outcome of a trial on these charges in this jurisdiction (using your charges and location)?
- If the case goes to trial, what can I expect in terms of trial preparation?
- Is this case better tried by a judge alone, or by a jury? (Jury trials typically take much longer and the outcomes are less predictable.)
More than the answers the attorney provides, it’s important to get a feeling for how they will represent you, and how they treat you. They should lay out the process that you face, and the options you are provided rather than dictating your actions and responses. The bottom line is, Is the attorney a person you can work with?
When You’ve Narrowed Your Options
Having an experienced attorney from Mueller Law Group can be critical to a positive outcome when your future is on the line in a criminal proceeding. You can’t afford to gamble with ineffective counsel who doesn’t give your case all of the time and energy it deserves. Contact Meuller Law Group for a free consultation today.