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Factors to Consider When Selecting a Criminal Defense Solicitor

Hiring a competent criminal defense lawyer is vital when charged with a criminal offence. Here is how to hire the best criminal lawyers ontario has to offer.

 

Experience is a key consideration when you want to hire an attorney to represent you in your criminal case. It may be wise to inquire hw many years they have dealt with similar cases in order to determine their level of experience. It is very crucial for your lawyer to have experience handling criminal cases similar to yours and you can establish this by inquiring how many similar cases they have handled before. For instance, if you are facing a DUI case, you want someone who has practical experience in this type of case more than one who focuses on homicide cases.

 

Ask the criminal defense attorney to provide you with references and use their experience to make an informed hiring decision. You can also ask those around you to refer you to criminal defense attorneys that gave them quality representation if they had a similar case.

 

Location of the attorney is an important factor to help narrow down your list. Choose a lawyer who has been licensed to practice in the area where you will be attending court. Similarly, attorneys with the local knowledge are most likely to know the judges and prosecutors of the area and their ways of handling certain cases and therefore choose a courtroom that will be favorable for you.

 

Run a background check on the criminal lawyer in order to ensure that you get quality representation for your criminal case. Make sure that they have the right certificates and received their training from a highly recognised law school. In some cases, documentation may not be enough, they should also belong to a bar association and any other professional organisations. In addition, research their reputation and see if there are any disciplinary actions against them.

 

When you have narrowed your list of potential criminal defense attorneys, the next step is to set up an initial appointment with them. It is important to know who else will be working on your case so that you can verify if they are qualified. A great lawyer will help you understand the charges, the possible consequences and the and give you an idea of the likely outcome. You should however avoid layers who promises you a specific result since it cannot be guaranteed.

 

It is during the consultation that you will get an understanding of the cost of service of the attorney. The legal fees vary among lawyers depending on the complexity of the case, level of experience, and nature of charges. You may want to work with lawyers that use the flat-fee basis or the hourly basis but not the contingency arrangement. Get started at londoncriminallaw.com

To learn more about legal services, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aid.
 

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