Guide to Choosing the Right Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney
When someone is being accused of any crime it is a serious matter that requires an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney. Often, people rush to hire any attorney and do not ask the proper questions before hiring that attorney.
When choosing a Chicago criminal defense attorney it is important to consider the following:
Does the attorney focus his practice in criminal law?
This is an important consideration because you want an attorney who is familiar with the proper criminal procedures, criminal laws, and the courtroom familiarity that come with the experience developed by practicing criminal defense on a daily basis. You want an attorney who practices criminal defense and understands the best way to defend a criminal case from beginning to end.
Does the attorney have experience preparing and arguing motions in criminal cases?
This is an important consideration because you want an attorney who knows how to spot when there are constitutional violations and who has the experience to properly prepare and argue those motions in court. These skills can only be developed by practicing criminal defense on a daily basis.
Does the attorney have experience preparing for trial and trying criminal cases?
This is an important consideration because you want an attorney who is not afraid to take the criminal case to trial. This type of confidence is only developed by practicing criminal defense on a daily basis.
Is the attorney able to recognize when the State can meet their burden and, if so, is he able to negotiate a fair plea agreement?
This is an important consideration because in every criminal case the defense attorney has to continually evaluate the evidence and must know from experience when to advise the defendant to enter into a plea agreement and when to advise the client to take their case to trial. Ultimately, the client will make the decision but the client needs to be able to make an informed decision based on the experience and advice of the attorney.
Does the attorney's legal fees determine the quality of the representation?
No. But, you often get what you pay for. In my experience as a criminal defense attorney, I often receive phone calls from people who looked for the cheapest price initially but paid a higher price with their freedom or traffic/criminal record and were dissatisfied with the outcome of their case. Price is important, but it should not be the only factor when you hire an attorney.
These are just some of the considerations to consider when you hire a Chicago criminal defense attorney. You should only hire a Chicago criminal defense attorney with whom you are comfortable with and whom you feel is capable of representing you in court effectively.
When choosing a Chicago criminal defense attorney it is important to consider the following:
Does the attorney focus his practice in criminal law?
This is an important consideration because you want an attorney who is familiar with the proper criminal procedures, criminal laws, and the courtroom familiarity that come with the experience developed by practicing criminal defense on a daily basis. You want an attorney who practices criminal defense and understands the best way to defend a criminal case from beginning to end.
Does the attorney have experience preparing and arguing motions in criminal cases?
This is an important consideration because you want an attorney who knows how to spot when there are constitutional violations and who has the experience to properly prepare and argue those motions in court. These skills can only be developed by practicing criminal defense on a daily basis.
Does the attorney have experience preparing for trial and trying criminal cases?
This is an important consideration because you want an attorney who is not afraid to take the criminal case to trial. This type of confidence is only developed by practicing criminal defense on a daily basis.
Is the attorney able to recognize when the State can meet their burden and, if so, is he able to negotiate a fair plea agreement?
This is an important consideration because in every criminal case the defense attorney has to continually evaluate the evidence and must know from experience when to advise the defendant to enter into a plea agreement and when to advise the client to take their case to trial. Ultimately, the client will make the decision but the client needs to be able to make an informed decision based on the experience and advice of the attorney.
Does the attorney's legal fees determine the quality of the representation?
No. But, you often get what you pay for. In my experience as a criminal defense attorney, I often receive phone calls from people who looked for the cheapest price initially but paid a higher price with their freedom or traffic/criminal record and were dissatisfied with the outcome of their case. Price is important, but it should not be the only factor when you hire an attorney.
These are just some of the considerations to consider when you hire a Chicago criminal defense attorney. You should only hire a Chicago criminal defense attorney with whom you are comfortable with and whom you feel is capable of representing you in court effectively.
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