Tips for Finding the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer

Feb 17, 2016 | Criminal Defense

If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime in Colorado Springs, you have a lot of choices to make. Do you speak with the police? What plea do you enter? Should you negotiate with the prosecutors?

Every decision is important when you are caught up in the criminal justice system. But there is one decision above all others that can make the difference between a future burdened by jail time, a criminal record, and a tarnished reputation and one in which your current ordeal is resolved in a way that allows you to move forward with your life: your choice of a criminal defense attorney.

There is no shortage of criminal defense lawyers in Colorado and the Front Range. So how do you find the Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney who is right for you? What qualities should you be looking for in a lawyer who will hold your future and your freedom in his or her hands?

Where to Start?

You’ve probably never needed a criminal defense attorney before in your life. You may have never needed or dealt with a lawyer of any kind before. But you need one now, and you need one fast.
Start by asking your friends and your personal network if they have a referral for you. Specifically, try to find someone who has been in your shoes and who had a defense attorney they had a positive experience with.
As with everything else today, do some Internet research. Look for client testimonials and reviews or endorsements from colleagues. Check out the websites of the attorneys you are considering and look at their experience and background. Try to get a sense of their approach. Membership and participation in professional and bar associations is also a good indicator that an attorney has a solid reputation as a criminal defense lawyer.

What to Look For

There are a number of qualities you should be looking for in a defense lawyer, including:

Experience

The rules and procedures involved in defending individuals against criminal charges are voluminous and complicated. The realities of the criminal justice system and the particulars of a given courthouse, judge, or prosecutor are not things that are taught in law school. There simply is no substitute for experience when it comes to criminal defense. Ideally, you want a lawyer who not only has extensive experience defending cases like yours, but also has been on the other side prosecuting cases. The insight that comes from knowing how prosecutors think and work can be invaluable in developing an effective defense strategy.

Success

Experience without success doesn’t mean much to someone facing a long prison sentence or other harsh consequences of a conviction. A lawyer may have defended thousands of clients, but if their batting average is horrible they are probably not the attorney for you. Look for a criminal defense lawyer who has a lengthy track record of obtaining successful outcomes for their clients, in cases like yours in particular.

Passion

You are not a case file, and the criminal charges you are facing aren’t an abstraction. This is your life on the line. Look for a lawyer who clearly understands what is at stake for you. Your criminal defense lawyer shouldn’t look at defending you as a job; he or she needs to be all-in, fully committed to protecting you and your rights at every turn. A passion for justice. A dedication to defending the wrongfully accused. A firmly-held believe that good people sometimes make mistakes and deserve a second chance and a fresh start. That is what you want from the person you are putting your trust in.

Also look for these more intangible but important characteristics in a defense attorney:

  • Tenacity and aggressiveness
  • Honesty
  • An ability to explain your situation and your options in plain language
  • Compassion
  • Non-judgmental
  • Accessibility and availability

Questions to Ask Criminal Defense Lawyers

When you first meet with or speak with a criminal defense lawyer you are considering hiring, ask these questions:

  • How long have you practiced criminal law in Colorado?
  • Is criminal defense the only focus of your practice?
  • How many clients have you represented in cases like mine?
  • What is your track record defending against the kind of charges I’m facing?
  • Will you be personally handling my case or will some other lawyer in your office work on it?
  • How much will it cost to defend me and do you offer any payment plans?

Please Give Me a Call. I Can Help.

If you are looking for a Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney who has the experience, track record of success, and passion to aggressively and tenaciously defend your rights, please give me a call.

After spending years as a prosecutor in Colorado Springs, I have made it my mission to protect the rights of individuals facing criminal charges. If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need a criminal defense lawyer who not only knows the law but who also is personally invested in your future.

James Newby Law, LLC: Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Attorney

As an experienced and creative defense lawyer, I will attack the prosecution’s case at every turn. But I also understand your fears and concerns and will listen to you with compassion and without judgment.

Please give me a call at the number below or fill out my online form to arrange for your free, confidential initial consultation. I look forward to assisting you.