Hiring a Criminal Attorney
For anyone who is facing criminal charges there is a right to a court appointed Tampa criminal attorney. However you may wish to hire a private attorney to represent you instead. Hiring a criminal attorney to give you legal counsel is an important part of presenting a successful defense of your case and the benefits of having a lawyer are numerous.
If you are thinking about hiring a Tampa criminal attorney then you should consider the benefits they can bring to your case which may not immediately be obvious. These benefits include some of the following:
Dealing with and communicating with court officials who may otherwise refuse to deal with defendants who want to represent themselves
Present the possibility of pre-trial programs
Give advice and support about the nature of the charges against the defendant and the potential outcome of a guilty verdict
Compiling a defense based on aspects of the law and other legal precedents, which have been interpreted and understood as being applicable to the particular case
Present an expert defense argument in court including finding witnesses for the defense, contradicting the prosecution’s evidence and interviewing key witnesses
Whilst hiring a Tampa criminal attorney is an option for those who can afford it, others may wish to self-represent themselves in court. By and large this route is often unsuccessful and often ends with a judge ruling that the defendant is not legally competent enough to present an adequate defense. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney, then your best option is to request a court appointed lawyer through the court. It is worth noting that private lawyers have only a marginally higher success rate than their court appointed counterparts.
When looking for a criminal attorney you should remember that is best to hire a lawyer who practices within the state in which the crime was committed and ultimately your trial will be held. Many attorneys will take on any type of criminal case, but you may wish to seek a lawyer who specializes in cases relevant to yours. It is common to find attorneys who work as sole practitioners or within a larger firm or group of partners.
Choosing the right Tampa criminal attorney to represent you is a matter of personal choice and circumstances. You need to feel comfortable working with them and confident in their abilities to achieve the result you are looking for. Other factors will undoubtedly include cost, the method in which they wish to paid – many lawyers will want at least a portion of their fees upfront; and their accessibility, a common complaint is that lawyers are too difficult to contact in person.
Meet with several lawyers in your local area before deciding on whom to hire. If you have previously been to court then you may wish to hire the same attorney, or otherwise follow up on recommendations from friends and family.
