People charged with a criminal offense have many options to choose from when it comes to defending themselves against the charges. The first thing you should do when facing a criminal charge is to find a competent and experienced criminal defense attorney. When choosing a criminal defense attorney, here are the things to keep in mind:

First, you should research the attorney’s experience. When you are facing criminal charges, what you need is to get an attorney who is well versed in criminal defense and who knows what he is doing. Check if the lawyer has won several cases similar to yours. Get one who has very specific experience in terms of handling criminal defense cases or cases related to yours.

Second, consider the education obtained by the attorney. What you need is a lawyer who has passed all the necessary exams to be a lawyer. He should have passed the bar exam in order to practice criminal defense law. Always check the attorney’s credentials. You can check this with your local bar association. Ask if the attorney graduated from an accredited law school and passed the bar.

Third, looking at other people’s testimonials about the lawyer is a good way to check if he is competent or not. To do this, visit websites other than the website of the law firm you work for. Browse the web and look for reviews from past customers. Don’t be surprised when you see unfavorable reviews of a particular criminal defense attorney.

Fourth, discuss the attorney’s flexibility. The attorney of your choice should meet your needs. We know for a fact that lawyers are busy. However, a criminal defense attorney should be able to spend time and work with you. What you need is an attorney who can chat or meet with you beyond regular business hours. Get one that can meet you somewhere other than your office.

Fifth, when choosing an attorney, find one who has the patience to understand your fear and problem. This is especially important for beginners. When you have been in trouble with the law, you may feel scared and nervous. In this regard, you need a patient attorney who can help ease the burden of the charges you face.

Consider these things and you won’t have a hard day in court today!