A criminal defense attorney should be one of the first calls you make if you have been charged with a felony or misdemeanor. It is never smart to decide to represent yourself. Having a lawyer by your side to defend your rights is essential. The average person doesn’t have half the knowledge and experience he needs to build a case for himself. This requires education and legal knowledge.
If you have never used a lawyer before, you may have no idea how to find one. Knowing where to go to find a criminal defense lawyer is something that everyone in this position should know how to do.
Whether you have a lot of money to hire a legal professional or nothing at all, everyone charged with a crime needs a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire your own, a public defender will be assigned to you.
While you are in jail or at your first court appearance, you will be asked if you want a public defender. If he does, you should request one. After completing the form and answering questions about your financial circumstances, it will be up to the judge or magistrate to determine if you will receive a public defender.
If your application for a public defender is approved, you have no say in which attorney will be assigned to you. You should accept whoever without hesitation.
If, instead, the judge decides that your income is such that you can hire your own lawyer, your application will be denied and you will need to hire your own private criminal defense lawyer. Once the charges have been filed, you should not waste time, as time is of the essence. Find a legal specialist to defend you as quickly as possible.
To find a criminal defense lawyer who will work hard on your case and give you 100 percent of their effort, you can ask your circle of family and friends for suggestions. If you hear a name mentioned by more than one person, then that person deserves a closer look on your part. Your coworkers may also have some names to catch your attention.
You need to find out what the person you are talking to thought about the lawyer. Was the individual well qualified and knowledgeable? What was the end result? Would you recommend the criminal defense attorney? Did you feel comfortable speaking with the legal professional? These are all questions you should ask yourself.
For those of you who are very private and don’t feel comfortable talking to others about the pending charges against you, go online to find resources to help you. There are websites that will help identify attorneys in your area who you can contact for more information. You should be able to find names, phone numbers, and email addresses on the various websites.
