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1. How many years of experience does the criminal defense law firm have in helping people accused of the type of crime you are accused of?
It is very important that the criminal defense law firm be familiar with the type of criminal charges that you are facing. Asking the law firm how many cases of your type they have handled is totally appropriate, and advisable.

2. How easy was it for you to speak to a lawyer at the law firm when you first called to discuss your case?
Did you have to leave messages or were you able to receive answers to your questions when you first contacted the law firm? A very good indication of the "communication" between you and your lawyer will be how easy or difficult it was to speak to the lawyer or their legal assistant when you first contacted their offices.

3. Does the law firm utilize the ability to communicate with you via email?
In this day and age the most effective way to reach a lawyer is via email. An efficient criminal defense law firm will provide you with the email address of the lawyers who will be working on your case. You should be able to contact the law firm after hours and on weekends when an emergency arises.

4. Does the criminal defense law firm want to know about your version of events, your background and the witnesses you have to support your position?
This is a critical part of any evaluation of who you should retain to assist you in your case. If the law firm you are considering hiring does not require you to complete a statement of case, social history and provide them with your witnesses, then you should not hire that law firm. A criminal defense law firm must know your case facts extremely well and also must know your background in detail so they can properly present your case to the court and the prosecution. If the law firm doesn't require that you be actively involved in your own defense by providing this information then do not hire that law firm.

5. You should never have a law firm represent you that makes guarantees as to what will be the outcome in your criminal matter.
It is important to understand that when people are making a decision on which criminal defense law firm to hire they are often very frightened. They are likely facing the real possibility of going to jail. This could result in the loss of their employment, as well as, many other serious consequences. Unfortunately some law firms will attempt to take advantage of this vulnerability by "guaranteeing you a result" over the telephone. Please understand that if any criminal defense lawyer tells you that they can "guarantee you" no jail time or a dismissal of your case they are lying to you and you should never hire that law firm. It is against State Bar Rules to guarantee a particular result in any case. More importantly no law firm can guarantee you any result because the actual outcome of your case will depend upon many factors that will unfold as your case progresses through the system. The bottom line is do not be fooled by false promises.

6. How much will the criminal defense law firm charge me for their legal services?
It is critical that you receive and sign a written contract (retainer agreement) before entering into a professional relationship with a criminal defense law firm.. The retainer agreement should clearly spell out the terms of the contractual relationship. Do not hire a criminal defense lawyer who does not give you a copy of a signed retainer agreement. This document needs to be signed by both you and your lawyer.

Many lawyers will charge extremely high fees while others may charge very low fees. If a law firm is quoting a very low fee, you will want to investigate the experience of that law firm. On the other hand just because a law firm is the "most expensive" does not mean that they are the most qualified to defend your case.

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