If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer ASAP. In fact, it is not a big deal to find a lawyer, but it is a big deal to find a GOOD lawyer. So before you pick an attorney, don’t forget to prepare a list of questions to ask.

By asking the right questions and getting the right answers you will be able to make a well-informed decision and choose the right attorney to represent you.

Below are the top 8 questions to ask before hiring a criminal defense lawyer (get your pencil and paper ready)!

How Long Have You Practiced Criminal Law?

Yes, the experience is extremely important, but it is more important to choose a lawyer with the right experience. While many attorneys practice a variety of areas of the law, be sure your lawyer has years of criminal law experience.

Have You Handled Cases Like Mine Before?

If the answer to this question is “no” or “only a few”, you better choose another lawyer – someone who has worked on cases like yours in the past, and has a success rate at that.

What is Your Success Rate?

It’s always a good idea to ask a criminal defense lawyer about their success rate. Most attorneys with satisfied clients will have no problem sharing written testimonials. But what if an attorney doesn’t have any client testimonials or doesn’t want to share any with you? Well, this is a red flag you should never ignore.

What are My Options?

Understanding your options is crucially important because the outcome will affect you for the rest of your life. So don’t hesitate to ask the lawyer the following questions:

• What sort of outcome should I expect?
• What kind of potential problems might affect the outcome of my case?
• Would you recommend a guilty plea, a plea agreement, or a trial?

Will You Be Working Directly on My Case?

If you have decided to hire a criminal defense attorney from a law firm, don’t forget to ask your potential lawyer if he or she will be completely involved in your case from start to finish. The thing is attorneys usually delegate certain tasks to other members of the legal team. You have the right to know what other attorneys will be working on your case, what they will be doing, and how much experience they have.

How Long Do You Think My Case Will Take to Resolve?

In fact, the amount of time it takes to get a resolution varies widely from case to case. So no lawyer can give you a definite amount of time. However, an attorney should be able to give you a rough estimate based on their personal experiences with similar cases. Having an idea about the time frame will help you prepare for the process accordingly.

How Much Will My Defense Cost?

The legal defense can be costly, so it is important to understand the costs that you will be facing throughout the process. Here are more questions you can ask:

• Do you charge an hourly rate or a flat fee?
• If you charge by the hour, what is your rate?
• If you charge a flat fee, what is it? What does it include? Is it refundable? Do I have to pay it all up front?
• What other expenses would I have to pay outside of your fee?

Now, you can compare estimates offered by multiple attorneys and make a decision.

How Often Will We Communicate?

Being charged with a criminal offense is a stressful and intimidating experience. That’s why you need a lawyer who will be available for you when questions arise and will keep you informed about your case.

Try Out AppearMe for Consumers – Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer the Smart Way

If you are looking for a good criminal defense lawyer, try out AppearMe for Consumers. All attorneys in our nationwide network have been vetted for an active license and have a clean disciplinary history. And trust me, the web app is so easy and straightforward to use. You simply have to:

•  Visit our website
•  Submit a request
•  Receive proposals
•  Select your criminal defense lawyer.

Oh, and did we mention how quickly you can find your lawyer? In just a few minutes (yes, you read that right).

If any extra details are needed, here is the phone number and email you need. Call AppearMe at (888) 900-3080 or send an email to [email protected].