Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Do I need to hire an attorney if I have been falsely accused?”
If you are considering hiring a criminal defense attorney, you are likely in a stressful and trying time in your life. Criminal charges can be confusing and likely carry drastic, life-altering consequences if the defendant is found guilty. As such, it is imperative to hire a criminal defense attorney with the experience and knowledge to provide the best defense possible given the circumstances of the particular case. When hiring an attorney to represent you, you need to use careful consideration to choose the best attorney for your situation. Therefore, there are things that should always be considered in hiring a criminal defense attorney.
First and foremost, hiring an attorney who is familiar with the rules and local court system can benefit your case. Familiarity is one of the best advantages. The attorney will often know the prosecutor or judge and know the proper strategy to use for the case.
Experience
With experience comes confidence within the courtroom. You do not want an attorney who is overly cocky, but having an attorney with experience in the courtroom can be helpful. Similar to being familiar with the local rules, an attorney with courtroom experience will know the most effective defenses that could apply to the situation and the potential ways charges can be reduced to eliminated altogether. Of course, there are never any guarantees in the court of law. If an attorney makes a promise as to the outcome of the case, that is a red flag. Even with years of experience, there is no way to guarantee the outcome of any particular case.
Track Record and Reputation
When meeting with prospective attorneys, you should feel comfortable asking about their wins and losses. While it is not expected that an attorney has a perfect record of winning cases, but only having losing cases could be a sign of inexperience. Additionally, the reputation of attorneys in the community is important. If you know others who have dealt with an attorney, you can also ask what their experience was.
Area of Law
Just because attorneys label themselves criminal defense attorneys does not mean that they can handle every type of criminal case. Most attorneys end up taking on cases in the same, or similar, areas of the law. No one can know everything about every crime. As such, you should ask about types of cases that the attorney has taken on in the past. An attorney who has only handled assault and battery cases might not be the best help possible in a driving under the influence case. Inquire about the types of law that the attorney practices.
If you are seeking a criminal defense attorney who will provide the best possible defense given the circumstances, contact the attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC. We know that when one is facing a criminal charge, it can be difficult or even scary. As such, we want to make this as easy a process as possible. We will take the time to sit down with you and answer your questions and make you feel confident in your decision to hire an attorney. Contact us today for a consultation. If you find yourself facing criminal charges and need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney in or around Charlotte, Lake Norman, or our new office in Monroe (by appointment only until 2019), please contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today at (704) 370-2828 or find additional resources here.
The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC make it their mission to zealously defend their clients on a wide range of criminal matters at both the state and federal levels. These matters may include any charge from traffic offenses; DWI/DUI; drug charges (from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute and trafficking); gun permit denials; weapons offenses; and property crimes (larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, white collar offenses); to sexually related offenses (indecent exposure; sexual assault, crimes against nature, removal from sex offender registry); and violent crimes (domestic violence; assault; manslaughter; homicide, murder). Other legal issues that Arnold & Smith, PLLC criminal clients may be facing include restraining orders, restraining order and probation violations, expungements; appeals; and immigration issues related to criminal charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are passionate about ensuring that individuals empower themselves by being informed about their constitutional rights, and stand at the ready to fight in the defense of those facing criminal charges.
Source:
https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/mecklenburg-county/mecklenburg-county-local-rules-and-forms
https://www.pressherald.com/2013/01/30/no-substitute-for-courtroom-experience_2013-01-30/
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/law-education-series-3-1467430
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