5 Important Questions to Ask When Hiring a Criminal Defence Lawyer
Whether you’ve been charged with a simple traffic violation or you’ve gotten involved with a major criminal case, you’ll need to look for professional criminal lawyers in Sydney. These experts will gather evidence on your behalf, liaise with witnesses and industry specialists, and take other steps to prove your innocence or at least reduce your sentence. On the other hand, not all lawyers have the same amount of experience nor do they provide the same level of service, so you need to weigh your options and find the right people to rely on. Asking yourself the following queries can help you on your quest to hire the right legal professionals.
How long have you been a criminal law expert?
There’s nothing wrong with hiring lawyers who have just graduated and entered the field. But those who have been working in the legal system for long often deliver superior solutions simply because of the amount of real-life experience they have. So, consider hiring those with years or even decades of experience under their belt when looking for criminal lawyers.
Do you specialise in criminal law?
You won’t go to an orthopaedic surgeon if you’re primarily dealing with lung issues, and you won’t schedule an appointment with a urologist if you are facing digestive problems. Similarly, if you are facing criminal accusations, you shouldn’t hire a lawyer who doesn’t specialise in it. Remember that criminal defence lawyers know the right strategies to use to win your case. Other than that, they have access to a wide range of resources that can be used to resolve your legal troubles.
Have you worked on similar cases as mine?
The answer would be “Yes”. Different legal proceedings may have different nuances, but most of the time, the approach to win the case remains the same. So do not hesitate to know about the law firm’s success rate when it comes to similar cases. By choosing a lawyer who’s familiar with your case and has won similar ones, you’ll hire an expert who will represent you well in court and help you obtain the best possible outcome.
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Do you provide a free initial consultation?
Even if a lawyer seems perfect on paper, you won’t know how well you’d work together until you meet in person. So, as soon as possible, schedule a face-to-face meeting so you can properly discuss the case. During this meeting, your lawyer will review specific case details as well as the charges you face, break down what happened during your arrest, and ask about your personal history as well as criminal history, if any. Reputable lawyers won’t charge you anything for this initial meeting, so steer clear of those who don’t offer free consultations.
How accessible will you be throughout the case?
Fast and consistent communication is one of the keys to successfully winning a criminal case. Make sure your lawyer has a 24/7 live answering service that will allow them to respond immediately if you are contacted or arrested by police. They must also be willing to accommodate you, make an appointment, or answer your calls when the need arises.
Not all criminal defence lawyers offer the same level of expertise. By asking the questions previously mentioned, you can separate the wheat from the chaff and hire the best possible lawyer for your legal cases.