7 Questions to Ask Before You Hire Criminal Assault Lawyer

In 2017 alone, over 10 million arrests were made by law enforcement. Many of these arrests resulted in the individual in question being charged with a crime. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to navigate the legal system for those who are unfamiliar with doing so. Regardless of the circumstances, you’ll need to hire a Fort Bend assault lawyer to help protect you in court. However, there are some questions you need to ask them first.

Not sure how to find a reputable Fort Bend assault lawyer? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Below are the common questions you should ask.

1. What Area of Law Do You Specialize in?

One of the most important questions you should ask your prospective attorney is what area of law they specialize in. This will give you insight into how reliable they will be when working on your case.

For example, you wouldn’t want to hire an attorney specializing in personal injury but only handles cases like yours on the side. Instead, find someone who has a significant amount of experience working on cases highly similar or identical to yours, such as a Domestic Violence Attorney.

2. Who Will Handle My Case?

Unfortunately, the assault attorney you originally speak with won’t always be the sole individual who works on your case. At some firms, you may even have multiple lawyers who contribute to your legal defense.

While this sounds like a beneficial scenario, it can easily lead to a miscommunication between you, your primary attorney, and the assistant attorneys.

It’s best to employ an assault attorney who will work on your case personally so that they are always able to convey crucial information accurately.

3. What Are Your Rates?

Before you get too involved with your potential legal professional, you will need to inquire about the rates. Even if they are an experienced lawyer who can provide stellar results, it won’t mean much if you cannot afford their services.

So, ask about their rates early on in the process. You should also ask about their payment options if you happen to need financial assistance.

4. Are There Any Fees I Need to Know About?

In addition to asking how much your attorney will charge, you should also ask if there are any fees that you need to be aware of.

For example, some attorneys are willing to communicate outside of their office hours but charge a fee. Some lawyers may charge a billable hour for a phone conversation that lasts 10 minutes if it occurs late in the evening.

If you didn’t read the fine print and were unaware of these charges, you can easily sum up hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra fees.

5. How Am I Able to Contact You?

It’s probably not realistic to expect your attorney to be accessible 24/7. But, it’s important to look for one who is willing to communicate with you whenever you have a question about your case.

In general, many attorneys will allow you to contact them through email when necessary. Some may even give you the number to their personal or business cell phone. The more accessible your criminal defense attorney is, the easier it will be for you to work with them.

6. How Can I Learn More About Your Past Work?

You wouldn’t hire an inexperienced contractor to renovate your home. So, it doesn’t make any sense to hire a lawyer who has a poor track record regarding their success in the courtroom.

A reputable criminal defense attorney will be more than willing to showcase their past accomplishments. You may even be able to find this information on their firm’s website.

A common red flag that arises when looking for a lawyer is dealing with one who isn’t willing to inform you about their past work. As previously mentioned, there’s no reason why an attorney wouldn’t be eager to show you what they’ve achieved.

You can assume that this type of individual is either inexperienced or has had numerous unsuccessful cases.

7. How Often Do You Appear in Court?

It’s not uncommon for many attorneys to negotiate a case settlement through a plea bargain. When this occurs, the attorney does not have to appear in court to present their case.

Unfortunately, not every case can be settled in this manner. Presenting a case and defending a client in court is often a complicated, stressful process requiring a high amount of experience to conduct efficiently.

For example, if your criminal defense lawyer in Sugar Land, Texas, rarely appears in court and the circumstances around your case are rather complicated, you may want to continue searching. Additionally, a defense lawyer who frequently appears in court will have a strong understanding of how the local prosecution operates and will know what to expect from them.

Finding the Right Fort Bend Assault Lawyer Can Seem Difficult

However, it doesn’t have to be. With the above information about how to hire a Fort Bend assault lawyer in mind, you’ll be on the road in making the decision that’s best for you.

Want to learn more about how we can help? Get in touch with us today to see what we can do.

7 Questions to Ask Before You Hire Criminal Attorney | David Hunter Law Firm — Sugar Land, Texas