Where to Locate The Very Best Criminal Attorney in Arizona

It can be overwhelming to find and select a criminal defense attorney in Arizona. With so many attorneys around, it can be challenging to decide which attorney to go with. If you are wondering where to find the best criminal attorney in Arizona, go through our tips on finding a good attorney given below:

Ask The Attorney For Referrals

If you have ever worked with an attorney in the past, ask him/her for recommendations and referrals. Even if the attorney doesn't handle criminal cases, he/she will know at least a couple of criminal lawyers. He/she may have known these attorneys from law school or an earlier association. Another good source for information is friends and family members who may have worked with a defense lawyer in the past. If your friend or family member was arrested for even a DUI, he/she would have had to contact a criminal defense attorney as Arizona has some of the strictest DUI laws. They may be able to guide you to the right person.

Check How Qualified The Attorney Is

Once you have got the referral for the attorney, the next thing to do is find out about his/her qualifications. Find out if the attorney is licensed and is in the good books of the Bar. You can check the Arizona State Bar Website to check if the attorney is licensed or not. Also, check if the attorney has ever been disciplined by the Bar. State Bars have ethical rules that lawyers have to follow. If attorneys don't follow these rules, they can be disciplined by the Bar. Avoid any attorney who has a history of serious disciplinary actions against him/her.

Find Out If The Attorney Has Any Experience Handling Criminal Cases

Make sure the attorney you are considering has extensive experience handling criminal cases. Find out how many criminal cases he/she has handled and how many of them have been successful. This information is important because the attorney should know how to handle the complexities of your case.

Check For Reviews and Testimonials

You should be able to get reviews about criminal attorneys on the internet. Besides Google, check other popular websites like Facebook, Yelp, and other legal directories. An attorney with good reviews will be a good choice. If you can, speak to an older client of the attorney to understand how he/she works and whether he/she is as good as he/she claims to be.

Find Out Whether Attorney Will Actually Be Handling Your Case

Sometimes, if the legal firm is large, the criminal attorney's team or assistant handles most of the case. You ideally want the criminal attorney to handle your case and represent you in court instead of a junior team member.

Find Out About Attorney Fees

This is important because you should be able to afford the attorney. No matter how good the attorney is, if you cannot afford his/her services, then it will be of no help. Check with the attorney about his/her fees in the initial meetings themselves. Usually, the cost of handling criminal cases will be higher depending on the severity of the crime. Find out from the attorney about what is included in the fees. Some of the fee structures don't include the trial. You don't want to be informed about this at the last minute.

Meet With The Attorney

Once your initial investigation is completed, schedule a meeting with the attorney. Go to the meeting with an open mind, but ask all the questions you want to and get all doubts clarified. Many criminal defense attorneys in Arizona offer free first-time consultations to potential clients. If possible, meet two or three different attorneys and get an idea of their personalities and working cultures. Remember that the attorney you hire will give you legal advice and be responsible for some of the most crucial decisions of your life. It is important that you feel good about this attorney. Once you meet the attorney, determine whether you are comfortable with him/her. Every attorney has his/her own style of talking, handling cases, and so on. You will get to see this side of the attorney at the meeting. Make sure you are comfortable with talking to the attorney so that you can freely discuss everything with him/her.

Note whether the attorney communicates clearly. Speaking is one of the attorney's primary jobs. He/she will have to talk at your trial, present your case to the judge, speak to the opposition, and also witnesses to get information about your case. So make sure the attorney you choose can speak well and communicate.

Check If The Attorney Is Confident

This is also very important. If the attorney is not confident about your case and handling it, then there is very little chance that he/she will present it in court. A confident attorney will make a good impression in court.

Ask Yourself If You Trust The Attorney

This is one of the most important steps in the entire attorney selection process. You should be able to trust the attorney. You will be sharing confidential information about your life with the attorney. If you don't trust him/her, you will not be 100% honest with him/her. Another reason why this is important is that you should be able to consider any legal advice that the attorney gives you. If you don't trust the attorney, you will not trust the advice that he/she gives.

Looking for a good criminal attorney can be a harrowing experience. The type of attorney you choose for your criminal case will determine what kind of life you live in the future. Make sure you do all your research well and pick the right attorney.

If you are looking for a good criminal attorney, contact Lane, Hupp, & Crowley, PLC. We have years of experience handling criminal cases and will do our best to get the best possible outcomes for you. Contact us for a free consultation today!