The 3 Most Important Questions to Ask When Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

If need to hire a Cincinnati criminal lawyer, you probably need to find one soon. But you should be certain to take steps to find a lawyer who is a good fit for you and your individual case. This article will help you understand the basic questions you should ask potential attorneys.

Here are the 3 questions to ask when hiring a Cincinnati criminal defense attorney:

1. Do you focus your practice on criminal defense or do you handle other areas of legal practice as well?

You should seek to hire a Cincinnati attorney who focuses his or her practice on criminal defense. Too many attorneys claim to handle criminal defense while spending the bulk of their time handling other matters such as personal injury cases or domestic relations matters. No attorney can keep up on the constant evolution of multiple areas of practice.

If you are facing criminal charges, your money, freedom, family, and livelihood may all be at stake. You need someone who focuses his practice on criminal defense.

2. How long have your been focusing your practice on criminal defense?

The preferred answer is “10 to 15 years” or more. Why? With so much at stake, it’s not wise to work with a new lawyer who lacks experience practicing criminal law, dealing with the criminal court system, and advising clients.

3. Have you handled cases like mine? If so, what was the outcome?

The attorney you’re interviewing may not be a good fit if that attorney lacks experience in similar cases or focuses his or her practice on another area of criminal law.

For example, if you’re facing drug charges, it’s wise to choose an attorney who has previously – and successfully – handled drug cases. If you’re facing white collar financial charges, you need an attorney experienced in handling white collar cases.

These questions may all seem obvious. However, most people don’t think to ask or aren’t comfortable asking. It’s totally appropriate to ask all the questions you have to when you hire any professional, including a criminal defense attorney. Go ahead and ask. If they don’t want to answer, or you don’t like their answers, they may not be the attorney for you.