If you have been charged with a crime, you will quickly want to retain an attorney. It is very important to find a lawyer who has expertise in the area of criminal defense because it is very specialized.
If you can’t afford to hire a lawyer, you will be appointed a public defender to defend your case. However, if you are looking to hire a private practice lawyer, here are the top four things you should look for before making your final decision.
1. Ask all potential lawyers what their track record is.
When searching for the right Chicago criminal lawyer, it’s important to ask each lawyer you are considering about their wins and losses. On our website you will see a slideshow of our past wins in the footer below.
This is an important step because you will be able to learn about the lawyers strengths and weaknesses in each legal area, thus helping you pick the one best for your criminal case.
2. What is their fee structure?
Many, if not all, criminal lawyers in Chicago charge by the hour (with a retainer fee before beginning). In a big city like Chicago, rates are often very competitive from lawyer to lawyer. However, lawyers that have great reputations and have won the most cases will charge more for their time. Since this is a criminal case, with your freedom at risk, it may be worth investing in a lawyer that costs more.
To learn more about our fee structure, click here to contact us.
3. Ask for references.
Talking to past or current clients of theirs will give you a good idea of what to expect. If a lawyer hesitates to give you references or some of the references he/she gives you don’t check out, you may want to steer clear of that attorney.
4. Use common sense and your gut.
Ultimately you are choosing someone who will go to court to defend you and protect you from possibly seeing jail time. Trust is a big element in any lawyer/client relationship. You will want to make sure that whatever attorney you go with, irregardless of price, reputation, reference, etc, that you trust them.
