In situations where you are unfortunate to be arrested and charged with felony, the first thing you need to keep in mind is to stay calm and find yourself a criminal attorney. However, if you are in such a situation for the first time then it is evident that you may not know what to do. The answers of these basic questions you can ask the prospective attorney can help you with details about his experience.
Ask if the attorney has experience in handling criminal law.
In the past you could ask for an attorney who practices general law in situations where you need a divorce, need your Will written or if you were arrested and charged with felony, however, modern times has seen a change in this practice where you find attorneys specializing in just one or two areas. Many times you would come across attorneys who do not deal with criminal cases. This is exactly why you need to find out if the lawyer practices criminal law.
Ask if the attorney works on cases of similar nature
We find lawyers who practice criminal law refusing certain types of cases because they specialize in only certain areas of criminal law. Some handle federal criminal cases and some others handle only state cases. The two areas follow different practice methods. Some others refuse DUI cases, murder and sometimes child sex cases. This makes it vital for you to know if the attorney handles the type of case you are charged with.
Ask for the results the attorney has achieved
It is not only important for the attorney to have handled cases that are specific to yours; they need to have had good results as well. You would not want somebody who makes you plead guilty and has done this to most of his past clients. It is important that you do your research to identify if the attorney has had success handling cases similar to yours. When you are able to determine the results obtained in the past it will get easier for you to trust the lawyer and be confident of his skills.
Choosing an attorney is a very important act which determines your future. The lawyer you choose would help you make it through the difficult times. Finding answers to these queries will help you choose a skillful lawyer who has the power to make or break your life.