Choosing the Right Criminal Defense Attorney

Choosing your criminal defense attorney is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. When you are charged with a crime, you need to make sure you have the right legal representation as soon as possible. But in addition to hiring a lawyer quickly, you need to make sure you do your due diligence and ensure you’re picking the right professional to handle your legal matters.

Finding the right attorney can be an extremely tough process. There are so many characteristics to look out for (and so many to stay far away from), but this decision is one that should be handled with the utmost care. Hiring an ill-equipped defense attorney will undoubtedly sink your case and cause you to waste valuable time and money.

Are you currently searching for a Denton County criminal defense attorney? If so, this is the article for you. Read this blog to learn more about what you need to keep in mind as you embark on your search.

Look For Relevant Experience

It is important for citizens to make sure they hire a criminal defense attorney who has experience with the crimes they have been charged with. Every lawyer has spent time in school studying the law front to back, but not every one of these lawyers may have experience handling the criminal charges you are facing. Today’s law procedures are so complex that there is a growing number of lawyers who specialize in one area, such as DWI or marijuana possession. Make sure you have a criminal defense attorney who has experience working on cases that are either the same as yours or very, very similar.

Make Sure They Have a History of Success, Too

In addition to making sure you have a defense lawyer who is familiar with your charges, you also need to make sure your potential lawyer has a history of successfully fighting charges that are similar to yours.

The whole point of hiring a private criminal defense lawyer is to try to reach the best outcome possible. With that being said, there is no point in hiring an attorney who has never won a case that is similar to yours. If you’ve been charged with a felony DWI and the lawyer you’re interviewing has no experience beating DWI cases or having them dismissed/reduced, you need to look elsewhere. When interviewing your lawyers, don’t be afraid to ask them about their history of handling charges like yours. Quality attorneys will not hesitate to educate the potential clients on their past case results and client testimonials.

Richard McConathy is a Denton County criminal defense lawyer with over 1,000 successful defenses in the state of Texas. As an experienced attorney, McConathy works tirelessly on behalf of his clients to build the strongest defense possible. He brings the same work ethic to the courthouse, where he has built a reputation for passionately defending his clients. For more information on how The Law Office of Richard C. McConathy can help you through your criminal case, do not hesitate to call us today at (940) 222-8004.

Look Locally First

When looking for Denton criminal lawyers, it is generally best to search for an experienced attorney in the area. Choosing a local lawyer makes day-to-day communication much easier than it is if your attorney lives in a different city or state, but this isn’t the only reason why you should look locally first.

Defendants need to be aware of the fact that the Texas criminal process is complicated, and it can potentially vary from one courthouse to another. Texas law may be the same throughout the Lone Star State, but not every courthouse handles procedures in the same way. For example, the district attorney of one Texas county may have a no-plea-bargaining policy for your alleged crime, but the county in a neighboring city may not have such a thing. Local lawyers typically know the nuances of the courthouses in the county they are in, which means they’ll be able to give you quality information in regards to any potential plea deals or any other information that is relevant to your criminal case.

By choosing a lawyer in your local area, you will also be giving yourself an opportunity to potentially gain more insight into what to expect when you go to court. Many experienced attorneys are already familiar with the prosecutors and police officers who may be trying to put you behind bars because they have already encountered them during previous cases. And while no lawyer can guarantee the outcome of a crime, this does mean that if you choose a lawyer who is in your area, you will receive more accurate information on the most likely outcome of your trial.

Look For the Right Personality

A good criminal defense lawyer understands how unrelenting prosecutors and law enforcement can be. Any lawyer you hire to defend your rights in a court of law needs to be unafraid to go toe-to-toe with the prosecution. Prosecutors and police officers are always ready to put someone behind bars, and you need a defense attorney who is always ready to defend your freedom. Make sure your lawyer has a no-give-up attitude and possesses the work ethic that is required to successfully defend a Denton County citizen.

While confidence is key, you need to be wary of overconfident lawyers who promise too much without making things happen. Be skeptical of a lawyer who guarantees you a specific outcome of your case. A quality lawyer will be able to explain to you the steps they are taking to build a strong defense, and they may even give you insight into some of the most likely rulings for your case. However, they will never guarantee an outcome. Make sure you steer clear of any lawyers who make a name off their guarantees instead of their actual results.