When dealing with criminal charges, your future and freedoms remain in jeopardy. You need legal expertise to either reduce your penalties or justify your innocence. It's easy to find any attorney, but finding the absolute best criminal defense lawyers is a harder job. There are various factors to think about before deciding on which St Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney to hire.
Analyze Local Law Firms
Conduct a quick google search for a law firm in your area and then assess their options. Law Firms tend only to hire lawyers that have unparalleled knowledge, and they're far more reliable than solo lawyers. You'll avoid unreliable time wasters and find experts who pursue results.
Any legitimate lawyer will have a well-made website with a number of information on their attorneys and services.
Law Office Size
Ensure that the law firm has decades worth of experience in St Petersburg and is respected by the local law community. You need a criminal defense lawyer that has strong relationships with the appropriate people and the resources to prepare your defense thoroughly. Don't make the mistake of choosing an unreliable law office that cuts corners.
Areas of Expertise
The very best chance of a successful defense will originate from a criminal defense attorney who specializes in the crime you've been charged with. Explore their website and see if they cover your crime, and if needed ask them about their previous experience. As an example, if you've been charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI), then they'll often have a whole web page dedicated to it.
Honors and Rankings
How is the lawyer that you're considering ranked? Have they been named a "Super Lawyer" or given a 10 rating on Avvo.com? Any elite Criminal Defense Attorney will be highly respected in the community. You shouldn't agree to less.
Expertise in Your County
If you would like to find the absolute best attorney for your case, then you need someone who recognizes with the judges and laws of your state and county. Each state's laws vary with every crime, so you need someone who knows every tiny detail of the law.
Check Reviews and Archives
It doesn't take 5 minutes to make a quick seek for reviews about the attorney you're considering. You can also learn a lot from searching their name in the news section; you might find they dealt with a high profile case with great success, or you may see negative news that can warn you about their flaws.
Ask Them Necessary Questions
- How familiar are you with my crime?
- How long have you been doing work in criminal law?
- How frequently do you appear in the courthouse where my case will be handled?
- What is your success rate?
- Are you a member with any bar associations or other organizations?
- What are my chances of a successful defense?
Ask Yourself Questions
If you're still unsure after shortlisting various attorneys, then ask yourself the following:
- Which attorney has the most background in my crime's area?
- Which one seemed most on my side?
- Which attorney's legal fees seemed reasonable?
- Which Law Firm seems most experienced?
St Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney Sean McQuaid
5858 Central Ave
suite c
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
(727) 381-2300
www.727defense.com