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Thread: Choosing a lawyer?

  1. #1
    Featured Member sierra.'s Avatar
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    Question Choosing a lawyer?

    I was arrested last week, and now I need to get a lawyer.

    I've been calling around getting free consultations, but I need to make a decision today or tomorrow.

    I've never been arrested before or anything, so I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to make my decision.
    Are there certain questions I should be asking, or things I should look for?
    Or do I just sort of pick one, and hope for the best?

    Any advice would be helpful, thank you!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    It depends on what you were arrested for. Since you can afford one, look in the yellow pages and find one that specifies in the type of case in which you are involved. If you've lived in your town for awhile, ask around; a friend of yours who has been in trouble before and knows a little about the system, coffeeshop right next to the courthouse chat up a worker (seriously, sounds weird, but lawyers drink a lot of coffee IME) ... sometimes its almost like a local secret, kinda, who the most badass lawyer around is. If I ever got in trouble (not that I would now), I would know exactly who to call just because I've been in this town for forever.
    Most of all, if you chat with a lawyer, go with your impression of how well you'd match up as a client and what you want to happen in your court case, and make sure they're willing to help you get the best outcome, not just run you through the system. Think about the judge too, and how your case will appear in court.
    Good luck.

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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    PornLaw might be able to help you on how to pick a lawyer. I've never been arrested, but I know plenty of people who have, & depending on the case I have a good idea of who I might use.

    You can also look on sites like CitySearch for reviews. Another thing, most states have a state "bar association" i.e. "Colorado Bar Association". The people on the board of directors tend to be well connected & respected, so I would take a look at them first.
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  6. #4
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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    It really depends what you got arrested for and what you want to do (i.e., do you want to get the best plea deal or do you want to "fight" and take the case to trial).

    PLEA DEAL - Any lawyer can negotiate a plea deal. But, the best lawyer for this is probably someone who recently left the same DA's office that is prosecuting you and still has close friends working in the DA's office. He/She knows them well and knows how low they're willing to go on plea bargains. I'm not sure how you find out whose left the DA's office recently - maybe google "criminal defense attorney former prosecutor [enter your county] district attorney's office". If there is anyone friendly in court (court clerk, bailiff, secretary, etc.), you can ask them for the name of a former prosecutor who recently went off on his/her own to start a practice. The best negotiators (to cut a plea deal) are like salespeople or pickup artists: they are charming, tell jokes, bullshit, tell stories, and then, close the deal.

    TRIAL - If you want a trial lawyer who will actually try your case in front of a jury - the sky's the limit as far as skill and cost. You want to hire an F. Lee Bailey or a Johnny Cochran? You probably don't need to spend that kind of money, unless you are charged with capital murder. Ask a court clerk about upcoming jury trials and visit the criminal courts while CRIMINAL jury trials (NOT CIVIL TRIALS) are in session. Watch the attorneys in front in the jury and pay close attention to the rapport they develop with the jury. Pick a trial attorney that makes the jury respond to him/her - i.e., they laugh at his jokes, listen attentively, etc. Rapport with jury and comfort in the courtroom are the most important skill a trial lawyer can have. These skills are only acquired through experience and talent. Something else you can do is ask each attorney you interview how many cases like yours he or she is tried before a jury. However, if the attorney is very good and knows how to develop rapport with the jury, it shouldn't matter too much that he's never tried the same type of case before.

    Some local magazines publish the top lawyers for [enter city's name]. You could read this list and get a few names, but don't rely on it too much, because they are just popularity contests. Any mediocre lawyer with a lot of friends can get himself placed on the "top lawyer" list if he begs enough people to vote for him.
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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    Jack's words are wisdom.

    It really depends on your particular case. In general, I'd do everything Jack says.

    If it's something complex, I'd be checking court files to see how he has performed before in similar cases.

    Asking lawyers who are NOT criminal lawyers for references can be a good idea, though watch the tendency to refer you to a friend of theirs because s/he's a friend, rather than the best lawyer for the task. A lawyer who isn't involved in anything other than civil cases won't necessarily have any good criminal law contacts, either: you'd want to ask someone who likely has peripheral contact with the criminal law world, like a family law lawyer - not a lawyer who does municipal zoning cases. A criminal lawyer who specialises in cases OTHER than what your problem is might also be a good source of referrals: some lawyers specialise in, say, ONLY DUIs, but they're likely to know the system.

    Don't be afraid to interview several before you choose one. There's too much at stake.

    As Jack said, some lawyers are especially good at getting charges dismissed or plea bargained - and some are good at trial work. Say you're trying a plea bargain and it doesn't work, you don't have to stay with the same one for trial.

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  10. #6
    God/dess Bunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    ask around! I wish you were in Tampa, I could definitely recommend some.

  11. #7
    Veteran Member Kat w's Avatar
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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    I have never been arrested, but a close friend of mine was and I did my best tohelp him through the process. I'm sorry you're going through this.

    If you feel that the attorney might not be experienced enough ask for a personal reference, if possible, from a former client in a similar situation.

    As far as rates and fees, ask his specific policy. Some lawyers will ask for a flat fee up front, while others will work on an hourly basis.

    Also when you meet with him try and present him with as much information as possible.

    Bring any documentation from this and any prior arrests :
    Warrants or police documentation of items seized
    Charging documents
    Bail papers
    Dates and times of future appearances
    A police report, if you can get one
    Your driver’s license or ID
    Any records of prior arrests or convictions

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    Default Re: Choosing a lawyer?

    If you lived here, I could definitely recommend you a good criminal lawyer. She gets ace results and works in my building (I do civil law, she does criminal - we witness each other's affidavits and the like and she's known for her drive and skill). As it is, you're best off asking either lawyers or their clients for recommendations. Word of mouth tells you a lot more than ads ever could.

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