Many people who meet with an attorney have unrealistic expectations. They want to know exactly what will happen by the end of their case. Attorneys cannot guarantee results because every case is different.
An experienced criminal defense attorney can explore potential legal outcomes and forecast what is likely to occur in your case. They should also answer any questions you have.
1. During the Consultation
The initial consultation is a chance for an attorney to interview you and learn the facts of your case. The more open and honest you are during this meeting, the better your attorney can build a strong defense for you.
During the consultation, you will want to ask your lawyer questions regarding their experience and approach to criminal defense. Be sure to also inquire about the fee structure.
Be wary of any attorney claiming to guarantee your case’s particular outcome. Predicting how your case will turn out is impossible, and it is unethical for attorneys to make such promises. Hire qualified attorneys who can provide various possible outcomes and explain their reasoning behind these predictions.
2. Be Honest
An excellent criminal defense attorney will use your free consultation to learn as much as possible about you and your case. This will help them create a strong defense for you. During the meeting, be open and honest. You mustn’t hide anything from your criminal defense lawyer or reveal information that could hurt your case.
It is also essential that you avoid posting about your case on social media sites. Keeping your privacy when you are charged with a crime is challenging, and criminal investigators are skilled in searching social media for information about your case. The last thing you want is for that privileged information to be leaked before your criminal defense case starts.
3. Be Prepared
Facing criminal charges can be very scary and overwhelming for most people, and finding, meeting, and working with a defense attorney isn’t easy to make the most of your consultation and get a deeper understanding of your legal options moving forward, prepare yourself in advance by writing down any questions that you may have.
Also, make sure that you have all of the relevant documentation related to your case, from the citation form to any court or police documents that you might have received since the arrest. This will help the attorney to be prepared when discussing your options for fighting the charges against you. Sharing everything, even the unflattering details that could impact the case outcome, is essential during your consultation.
4. Ask Questions
Ask the criminal lawyer questions about what’s happening with your case, the outcome, and how they would handle it. An experienced criminal attorney should be able to answer these questions based on the facts presented during your consultation.
It’s also a good idea to ask about sentencing alternatives for your crime and how long it might take to complete the legal process. This will help you to get a sense of whether the attorney is right for your particular case.
Many clients want to know their outcome by the end of their case, but more is needed. Be wary of a criminal defense attorney who claims they can guarantee a specific outcome – this should send off red flags.
5. Be Open
During this meeting, you must be open and honest with your criminal defense attorney. This includes sharing information that might be unflattering to you, such as previous convictions. This is a vital step in building trust and establishing the attorney-client relationship.
Your attorney will use the information you provide to craft a solid defense. His job is to protect you and your rights, which can only be done if you are sincere.
Be wary of any attorney who claims he can “guarantee” a particular result from your case. It is unethical for an attorney to guarantee a particular outcome, as too many variables affect criminal cases. He can only give you his professional opinion of your case’s strengths and weaknesses and the likely outcome.
