When you're faced with criminal charges after an arrest or ongoing investigation, choosing the best Madison criminal defense attorney can be difficult.
Criminal investigations can place an immense amount of stress on those preparing to defend themselves in court. If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s important you seek legal counsel immediately. Although it’s in your best interest to act as quickly as possible, making an informed decision when it comes to selecting an attorney can have a drastic impact on the outcome of your case.
Here are four essential tips for to ensure that you make the right decision when it comes to a Madison criminal defense attorney:
Read Also: 6 Reasons to Contact a Lawyer Before an Arrest in Wisconsin
1. Consider the Attorney's Personality
Consider the sorts of people you work best with professionally. When reviewing potential attorneys, apply these values to their professional persona to determine whether they would be a good fit.
Establishing clear and comfortable communication between you and your attorney can have a major effect on the quality of your experience as well as the ultimate outcome of your situation.
2. Select an Attorney Who Works in Criminal Defense
A common mistake in selecting attorneys is the tendency to gravitate toward “known” lawyers in the area.
Although your friend or relative may have had success with a particular attorney in the past, the specifics of their case may have been different than yours. Not every attorney fits every case. A lawyer specializing in investment fraud probably won’t offer much to an OWI case. If you're asking others for recommendations, keep in mind that every lawyer tends to specialize in a particular field of law, so not all of them will be qualified to represent your case.
If someone you know experienced similar circumstances within the sphere of criminal defense, here are three questions you can use to determine whether or not you should follow up with their referral:
- Did the attorney help them get the kind of results they were looking for?
- Did the attorney actively provide trustworthy advice?
- If faced with similar circumstances in the future, would they use them again?
3. Select a Criminal Defense Attorney Who Specializes in Your Case Type
Many attorneys handle a wide breadth of cases categorized under “criminal defense,” and some concentrate on particular areas of defense. If you’re using search engines to create a list of possible attorneys who could help you with your legal problem, narrow your focus by specifying what kind of criminal defense you are in need of.
Many lawyers list this information directly on their websites along with listings of prior cases available for clients to reference.
4. Communicate Your Particular Circumstances When Interviewing Attorneys
If you decide to meet with someone who seems to fit your needs, prepare a concise yet complete summary of your case in order to ensure both parties are on the same page. The better your attorney understands your situation and your goals, the better advice and counsel they can provide in return.
Here are some points to include when outlining a summary to bring to an interview:
• When an arrest occurred or when police began their investigation• What happened during your arrest
• What you were accused of by law enforcement officers
• A listing of every other person who may have been involved
After making sure the details of your case are clear to the attorney, the last step of the screening process is to determine who will be working on it and what rates they intend to bill you at.
If you are interested in a law firm with multiple partners, find out what percentage of work each attorney will be handling. Lastly, create a plan in case your attorney becomes sick or is otherwise unable to assist you during a court proceeding.
FREE 10-Minute Consultation
Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorney Pat Stangl has aggressively defended clients for 30 years. If you have been arrested or are being investigated for a crime, click the link below to get a FREE 10-minute consultation, at no obligation.
Stangl Law Offices, S.C.