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Originally Posted On: https://diazlf.com/dallas-tx-attorneys-how-to-find-the-best-criminal-defense-attorney-near-me/

Every year, over 10 million people are arrested. If you are one of these people and you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime, you’ll need a criminal defense attorney. Don’t try to navigate the criminal justice process yourself. Instead, you need a Dallas criminal defense lawyer to represent you.

If you’re unsure of what to look for in an attorney, read on. We’re going to answer all the questions you might have when you are wondering how to find a “criminal defense attorney near me.”

Ask for Referrals From Family and Friends

Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find the best criminal defense attorney. Ask your family and friends if they have any recommendations that they have personally worked with. It’s important that their referral is based on their experiences with an attorney, not something they heard from someone else.

You can also ask them who to avoid as well. Use these referrals to put together a list of potential attorneys to research and then interview when it’s time to decide.

Do Your Own Research

Even if you get a recommendation from a family member or friend, you should still do your own research. Start with the Internet and start Googling. Don’t just rely on the first attorney who shows up in your search though. Do some independent research on them, even the ones who have been recommended to you.

Read up on them, read online reviews, and see if they have ever been disciplined by your state bar association. Their reputation is important as well, as they will have to work with court personnel such as other attorneys, the prosecutor, and the judge. If your attorney has a bad reputation, others may be less willing to work with them, which could negatively impact your case.

Find Someone Who Specializes in Your Type of Case

One of the goals of your research is to find someone who specializes in your type of case. If you’ve been charged with a crime, you want someone who knows the laws surrounding that offense inside and out and has prior experience with similar cases. Not only do you need someone who specializes in criminal law, you need an attorney who has represented clients who have been charged with crimes similar to yours.

If you’ve been charged with assault but your attorney only specializes in drug offenses, you might want to look elsewhere. Even if you have a family member or friend who is an attorney, if they don’t specialize in criminal law, you really should find an attorney who does. They’re also a good source for a referral.

Check on Trial Experience

Once you find an attorney who specializes in criminal law and your particular offense, you should also look into their trial experience. While most cases end in a plea bargain, if you decide to take your case to trial, you’ll need an attorney who is experienced at taking cases to trial. If they have never tried a case in front of a jury, you might want to consider a different attorney.

Make Sure They Explain Things to You

The criminal justice system is confusing and often hard to navigate, especially if you are not an expert. Your attorney should be willing to explain everything to you so you can make informed decisions about your case, whether to plead guilty or not guilty, and whether to accept a plea bargain.

Ask plenty of questions when you meet with them to make sure they are willing to ensure that you are fully informed. They should be very clear about things with you to make sure your decisions are sound and educated.

Ask How They Will Communicate

Understanding what to expect from your attorney regarding communication will help set your expectations. Ask how they plan to communicate, whether that’s via phone, text, or email, and how long you should expect to wait for a response.

You can also ask whether they will communicate with your family if necessary, especially if you are incarcerated while awaiting trial. Communicating with your family so they understand what is happening with your case (as long as they have your permission), can be very important.

Meet With Potential Attorneys

The best way to gather most of this information is to meet with potential attorneys. Most criminal defense attorneys will provide a free case review or consultation to provide information about their representation, experience, fees, and case strategy. This is a great gauge to determine if you feel comfortable working with them and whether they will effectively communicate and explain things to you.

Some questions to ask potential attorneys include:

• How long have you practiced criminal law?
• Do you have trial experience?
• What is your fee?
• What do you need from me?
• When and how will you communicate?
• Will there be others working on my case?
• Do you think I should plea or take the case to trial?
• How long will the case take?
• What is your success rate?
• What strategy will you use?

Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with the attorney as you could be facing stiff penalties. If you don’t feel confident that they can best represent you, move to the next lawyer on your list.

Searching For “Criminal Defense Attorney Near Me”? Use These Tips

Your search for a “criminal defense attorney near me” can end right here. Use these tips to find an experienced criminal defense attorney who will work to best represent you and get you the most optimal outcome for your case.

Here at the Manuel Diaz Law Firm, we have experienced criminal defense attorneys who have represented a wide variety of clients charged with state and federal offenses. Contact us today for a free case consultation.