Are you in need of hiring a Surrey Criminal Lawyer in the state of California? Do you know what questions you should ask a potential criminal lawyer before you hire him/her? Where do you find the best lawyer to defend you? These are all very good and important questions you need to be asking if you are facing criminal charges in the state of California.
The first thing you will want to do when you are in need of a lawyer is remember your US Constitutional Rights. Under the US Constitution, the Fifth Amendment states “nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”. What this means is that you have the right to remain silent. You should only talk to law enforcement agents after you have spoken to a qualified criminal lawyer. By remaining silent until you speak with a qualified lawyer, you will help ensure that your criminal lawyer will be able to effectively protect your rights as well as possibly being able to help in reducing your sentence or fine.
The second thing to consider when hiring a lawyer is where to find the best one for you. You may want to start by visiting the courthouse and watching some of the criminal lawyers in action. If any case is similar to yours, pay close attention to the results and determine if that outcome is suitable for you. You may also check with law associations and find out who are members of that association and practice criminal law in the jurisdiction your criminal charges are pending.
The third thing to consider when hiring a lawyer is meeting with several of them prior to hiring one. Finding a good criminal lawyer can be difficult, but by visiting a few lawyers and asking them questions, you will be able to make a much better decision on whom to hire to represent you in court. There are several things you need to take into consideration when hiring a lawyer, such as their experience in cases similar to yours, does this lawyer belong to any law associations, and does the lawyer practice in the jurisdiction where you charges are pending? Also, make sure to find out if the criminal lawyer offers free initial consultation.
Criminal lawyers generally work for people who are accused of felonies such as murder, assault, family violence, embezzlement, etc. The service of a criminal lawyer is essential to make sure that your legal rights are sheltered throughout the judicial process. Since criminal consequences may include fines, imprisonment, mandatory treatment, and probations, it is always advisable to hire a criminal lawyer with adequate expertness and experience in the field. Various resources are available to find a competent and experienced criminal lawyer. Referrals are always considered to be the most important source; the name of a competent criminal lawyer may come from any circle such as friends, colleagues, family, etc. The public defender’s office in your county will also be able to suggest a competent criminal lawyer for you.
Another way of finding an expert criminal lawyer is observing public sessions when criminal cases are being held in the court. If you find a particular lawyer competent enough to handle your case, you can certainly approach him/her. Professional legal organizations are also an excellent source of finding a criminal lawyer. Offices of organizations such as National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) in your region will be able to provide lists of competent lawyers in your area. Some organizations offer referral services even through Internet. Additionally, the service of local bar associations can be utilized to gather information on a perspective criminal lawyer such as how much experience a particular criminal lawyer has in this field. Other sources to find proficient lawyers are telephone directories, yellow pages, and newspapers.
The Internet is undoubtedly the most valuable tool to search for a reputed criminal lawyer. Some of the online directories available are CriminalLawyerSource.com, Lawyers.com, FreeAdvice.com, and FindLaw.com, etc. These directories provide easy access to legal information and other related sources.
About the Author
