Where to Find a Defense Attorney and What to Ask at the Initial Consultation
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If an accused has been arrested or is awaiting a trial on criminal charges he may wish to hire a defense attorney. There are numerous defense attorneys that an accused may have to chose from. There are various places to find a defense attorney. Some of the places that an accused may find a defense attorney include:
- The court. The court may have a list of potential defense attorneys.
- Recommendation from family and friends.
- The local phone book.
- Contact the State Bar Association.
- Consult the Martindale-Hubbell publication for your state. This publication lists various attorneys in your state and area in which you reside.
If the accused is indigent, he may request the appointment of a public defender to represent him.
What to Ask the Defense Attorney
Once the accused has found the name of an attorney, he should meet with the attorney. There are numerous questions that the accused should ask the attorney. Examples of some questions include:
- What type of law does the attorney primarily practice?
- How long has the attorney been in practice?
- How much criminal experience does the attorney possess?
- How much does the attorney charge?
- How long does the attorney anticipate that the proceedings will take?
- What are the potential consequences involved with the offense charged?
Once the Attorney is Retained
Once the accused has retained an attorney to represent him in his criminal proceedings, the attorney will file an appearance with the court. From that point on, any communications should be through the accused's attorney. The prosecution should not directly contact the accused for questioning or to present a plea bargain. Any communications between the attorney and the accused are considered confidential and cannot be used against the accused. Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. |