Hiring an Attorney

If you or a family member is accused of a crime, this is one of the most important decisions you can make. But if you’ve never been charged with a crime before, you may have no idea who you should hire or what you should look for in an attorney.

When you meet for the first time with an attorney you are considering, I recommend that you ask them about their experience, not just with criminal cases generally but with cases like yours. Also, no attorney should be offended that you are meeting with two or three or even four attorneys before you decide who you want to represent you. Beware of any attorney who discourages you from shopping around. It’s very important that you are comfortable with your decision, and you should not be rushed. (The most significant exception to this advice is when evidence will be lost if not acted upon immediately; see the section on Manslaughter on this website.  Another exception is when the defendant wants to testify at the Grand Jury.)