Law

5 Questions to Ask a Criminal Defense Attorney

Jinal Shah

July 8, 2024
2 min read

Facing criminal charges is not a great experience. Thus, you must hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to build a strong defense. Picking the right lawyer is not the easiest task. One of the best ways to make the right choice is by interviewing different candidates. This article highlights the top questions you must ask your criminal defense lawyer. Learn more here!

Questions to ask

Are you going to handle my case personally?

Many times, the main lawyer does not attend the initial consultation. Therefore, you must ask this question. In some cases, the consultation is conducted by a junior lawyer. Since you must build a rapport with your attorney, it is important to ask this question.

How often do you make court appearances?

Quite a few folks neglect to ask this question. Not all criminal defense lawyers take all criminal cases. After all, some attorneys focus exclusively on drug-related charges. Whereas, some handle violent crimes, and yet others handle only theft-related offenses. Verify if the offense you are accused of is related to the professional area in which your prospective lawyer specializes the most.

What kind of fee do you charge?

Fee is one major factor in deciding whether or not to hire a particular lawyer. Everyone has a different budget, so it’s important to choose a lawyer within your budget to avoid financial issues. Make sure you ask your lawyer about their fee during the initial consultation for maximum transparency.

Do you have experience in handling criminal defense cases?

Hiring a brand-new attorney is always a great idea; however, there is nothing better than going for an experienced one. Having experience handling criminal defense cases gives an overview of the condition. Further, they will know what to expect and understand how to present your side in the best way possible.

How do you communicate with your clients?

The client and the lawyer are based on effective communication. Make sure you do not hire a lawyer who does not communicate with you. Instead, look for the one who communicates the case progress to you. Further, they must update you regularly. Additionally, ask about their preferred mode of communication.