What to Look for When Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Austin
If you need criminal defense representation, the attorney that helped you buy your house or handled your aunt’s case won’t be able to help you out. An experienced criminal defense lawyer is the difference between a jail sentence and an acquittal. You may think the initial investment might be a bit steep, however, this could be an investment in your freedom.
Finding the right lawyer can be a confusing process, that’s why we distilled the process down to a few points:
Criminal Law Experience
A lawyer should be able to show you that he has successfully defended cases like yours in the past. If, for example, you are charged with a white-collar crime, you don’t want to get a lawyer who handles mostly drug offenses.
You should always ask a potential lawyer the following:
- If they have represented people with similar cases
- How many of those cases the law firm handles per year
- What have those outcomes been
In some cases, you may want to speak with their colleagues as well. A criminal defense lawyer that is respected by their colleagues is usually very talented, and has developed good relationships with judges, which may help your case later.
Local Court Experience
Hiring a lawyer with experience in the jurisdiction where your case will be tried can improve your chances of getting a better verdict in court.
- Sometimes, an inexperienced or out-of-area attorney may overlook local laws.
- A local attorney will have a better understanding of how police officers are most likely to plead in court.
- A local attorney will have a better ability to guess which way certain attorneys are going to plead the moment before trial.
- A local attorney will be able to make an experienced guess about which attorneys will negotiate.
During a criminal case, you’ll want every advantage you can get. You don’t want to sacrifice criminal-law knowledge and experience for local court experience, but if you can find a lawyer that checks all these boxes you stand a better chance of a favorable outcome in court. The attorneys at Carroll Troberman, PLLC, Blair Carroll and Meredith “Shelly” Troberman, have great professional relationships with judges and prosecutors in Central Texas courts.
Personal Connection
You want to feel comfortable when talking to your lawyer. Your lawyer needs to represent you in your case, so you want there to be a personal connection in your professional relationship. Look for a lawyer who involves you in all the decisions that need to be made and who sees you as more than just another case.
