When you’re facing criminal charges in Chester County, PA, it is essential to have an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney fighting for you. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case – not all lawyers are created equally. Keep reading to learn how to choose the right attorney and what signs to look for that could indicate a bad choice.
How To Make Sure You Hire a Good Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been charged with a criminal offense, it is important to make sure you hire the right criminal defense attorney for you. The lawyer that you choose can make or break your case, so it is essential that you do your research and pick someone who is experienced, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. Here are some tips for making sure you hire the right criminal defense attorney.
Research Potential Attorneys
The first step in finding the best lawyer for your case is researching potential attorneys. Ask friends and family members who they would recommend or look online for reviews of local attorneys. When researching potential lawyers, be sure to check their credentials and experience.
It’s also important to look at their track record—do they have a history of successful cases? A good way to find out is by looking up their past cases online (many have results on their website) or talking to others who have worked with them.
Communicate With Your Attorney
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential criminal defense attorneys, it’s time to get on the phone and start communicating with them. Talk to each lawyer about their experience handling cases similar to yours and ask questions about their strategy for handling your case.
Ask specific questions about how they would handle certain scenarios and pay close attention to how they respond. A good lawyer will take the time to explain their approach and answer all your questions thoroughly.
Trust Your Instincts
Finally, when it comes time to decide which lawyer is right for you, trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable talking with this person? Do they seem passionate about helping you? Do they seem confident in their ability? All these factors can help guide your decision-making process when choosing which attorney is best suited for your criminal case.
Determining When It’s Time To Move On From Your Criminal Defense Attorney
Sometimes, no matter how much research and due diligence you do, you end up choosing the wrong attorney. Here are some indications that it might be time to move on:
Lack of Communication
One of the most important qualities of any good lawyer is communication. If your attorney isn’t returning your calls or emails promptly or fails to keep you updated on new developments, they may not be the best lawyer for your case.
Lack of Respect
Another critical quality in a criminal defense attorney is respect. Your lawyer should treat you with courtesy and respect at all times. If your current attorney seems dismissive of any concerns you have or makes comments that could be interpreted as belittling or condescending, seek out someone else who will care about what you have to say and work with you toward a successful outcome.
Promising Specific Results
No reputable lawyer can promise specific results before knowing all the facts surrounding a case. If you are working with a lawyer who keeps making promises that seem too good to be true, they likely are. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will be honest with their client about potential outcomes and provide realistic expectations rather than false promises.
Pushing You To Plead Guilty
All plea offers must be discussed between the defendant, their family members (if applicable), and their legal counsel before making any decisions. If an attorney is pushing you to plead guilty without considering any other options, they may not be looking out for your best interests.
Surprise Fees
If an attorney tries to tack on surprise fees after an agreement has been made on payment plans/amounts, this could be problematic, and it might be time to move on. It’s best practice for lawyers to be upfront regarding costs associated with representing clients before signing a fee agreement so that no surprises occur down the line.
Select the Right Chester County Criminal Defense Lawyer for Your Case By Scheduling Free Consultations
Hiring a Chester County criminal defense attorney is not a small decision; it can mean the difference between jail time and freedom in some cases. That’s why it’s essential that you choose an attorney who has the knowledge and skills necessary to represent you properly.
Call our law office at (610) 430-3535 to schedule a free case evaluation with our criminal defense attorney DiCindio Law in West Chester, PA.