Finding the right criminal attorney for your case is a lot more complex than responding to an ad seen in the newspaper. It takes time, research, and dedication. The problem is that you have to act fast in order to ensure the most positive outcome of your case. When interviewing city centre lawyers in Glasgow, these are the traits that you need to be looking for:
- Local Knowledge
Criminal attorneys may all have similar basic training in this area of the law, but there is an advantage to choosing a local lawyer. An attorney who operates out of your town or city, for example, will know which prosecutors are more likely to plead prior to the trial being taken to court. They are familiar with the police officers in the area and know just how well each one is able to perform in front of a jury.
- Experience with Your Charges
The attorney who you choose should have a lot of experience in representing defendants charged with the same or similar crimes as yourself. Ideally, you will be able to choose one specialises in your particular charge, such as a drug charge, DUI or tax fraud. Ask the attorney of interest a series of questions such as:
- Have you represented individuals charged with this type of crime before?
- What have been the outcomes of those cases?
- Do you specialise in a certain area of the law?
- How much time will you be able to devote to my case?
- A Workable Personality
Even the “best” lawyer in town may not be the best for everyone if their personalities don’t match. The attorney you choose should make you feel at ease with who they are, their approach, and what their stance is on your case. You should feel comfortable with the amount of control they will have over the case. When narrowing down which attorney you feel most comfortable with, ask yourself:
- Can I speak openly with this attorney?
- Is the attorney patient and willing to explain the law in a way that I can understand?
- Does the attorney seem compassionate and interested in helping me with my case?
- Does the attorney seem like an individual who will be able to gain the trust of the judge, prosecutors, and possibly the jurors?
- No Guarantees
If after discussing your case an attorney advises you of a “guaranteed” result, this is not the criminal attorney for you. The fact is that despite other previous outcomes to cases similar to your own, no one can be sure exactly what will happen when you go to court. There are no guarantees when it comes to the outcome of your case, and no attorney should be making promises.
What you should be looking for is an attorney who will sit down with you and create a proper plan for your defence. He or she should explain why such actions should be taken when they should be taken, and be willing to consider your input. Your attorney will likely advise you of potential outcomes of your case based on the defence plan, but they should not advise you of any absolute results.
