There are a number of situations in life when you have to
decide whether to hire a lawyer. For instance, if you're
purchasing a house or having trouble paying your bills,
hiring a lawyer may not be a necessity, but it's a good
idea nonetheless. However, if you've been charged with
driving under the influence, assault, or some other crime,
hiring a criminal lawyer is mandatory. You'll want to make
sure that your legal rights are protected throughout the
entire judicial process.

But where do you begin, when you're hoping to hire a
qualified criminal lawyer? One of the best ways to find an
effective attorney is to consult with your family and
friends. There is nothing better than a personal
recommendation, especially one that comes from someone who
is close to you. However, there are times when it might be
difficult to obtain a personal referral. In those
situations, you might consider consulting the local bar
association or an Internet site such as lawyers.com. The
Internet, in fact, can provide a wealth of information
about individual lawyers. For instance, you can find out
about a lawyer's level of expertise in criminal law,
biographical information, whether the lawyer is in good
standing with the bar, and other pertinent facts. In
addition, online archives of your local newspaper might
include articles about cases that a particular lawyer has
tried. You'll want to hire a lawyer with plenty of
experience in the area of criminal law involved in your
case, whether it be traffic offenses, drug crimes, or white
collar crimes.

The next step is contacting the lawyer's office. If an
attorney cannot meet with you on short notice, don't count
the lawyer out. Effective lawyers are quite busy, so, if a
lawyer is short on time, that may actually be a positive
sign. Pay close attention to how your call is handled by
the lawyer's staff. The staff should be courteous and be
willing to answer all of your questions.

You should be aware of the fact that criminal defense
lawyers tend to charge by the hour. As an alternative,
they may charge a flat fee up front. Generally speaking,
rules of professional conduct bar a lawyer from charging a
contingency fee for a criminal case. Since legal fees can
vary, you might want to engage in some comparison shopping.
However, be advised that the better lawyers tend to charge
more for their services. Since your freedom and reputation
are at stake, you should invest in the best lawyer you can
afford.

Given the fact that criminal cases are often settled
through plea agreements with a district attorney's office,
it can be important for a criminal lawyer to be on good
terms with the D.A. Certainly, good relations between the
two can only enhance your case. Therefore, you'll want a
lawyer who has fairly regular contact with the prosecuting
attorney in the county in which your case resides. Also,
it's a good idea if you hire a lawyer who is affiliated
with a group such as the National Association of Criminal
Defense Lawyers. Such an association shows that your
lawyer wants to keep abreast of new developments in the
area of criminal law.

Prior to hiring a criminal lawyer, be sure to ask for
references. You'll want to know how clients view the
attorney's expertise. You should also obtain a copy of the
law firm's brochure, so you have a clear understanding of
the outfit you're dealing with. It is also vitally
important that you obtain a copy of the lawyer's retainer
agreement so that you're aware of any up-front costs
involved in obtaining legal representation.

In the end, you'll want to select a lawyer that you're
comfortable with, one that truly understands your case and
can work well on your behalf. You'll find that an
effective criminal attorney is well worth his or her fee.