Criminal law is a complex legal area, and convictions in criminal cases can result in substantial penalties, including lengthy jail times and exorbitant fines. For these reasons, it is essential to have a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney representing you throughout the justice system. Below are three tips to help you find the right legal counsel.

How to Find the Right Criminal Lawyer

1. Seek Out Someone Who Focuses on Criminal Law

A lawyer doesn't necessarily need to only offer representation in criminal cases, but it should be one of the legal areas they focus on. This ensures a certain level of knowledge and comfort with criminal subjects, and you can be confident that they will be able to help you make sense of the system. Always check a lawyer's website; if criminal law is listed as one of their focuses, and they provide information and credentials to back it up, you've found good representation.

2. Stay Local

By hiring someone in your local area, you are getting the services of a lawyer who understands how courts in your district operate. They will also likely have longstanding relationships with other attorneys and court officials that can make navigating your way through the system that much smoother. Knowing who will be hearing a case and who the opposing counsel will be can inform an attorney's criminal defense strategy.

3. Gauge Response Times

As a client, it only makes sense that you want to feel heard, validated, and supported. While there's no hard-and-fast rule about how much time an attorney should take in responding to calls and queries, they should be somewhat responsive to your needs. This means returning phone calls, replying to emails, answering questions, and letting the client talk and share concerns without talking over or interrupting them. The right attorney is one who treats you like a priority.

Moore Law is here to fight for you and advocate for your rights. With over 20 years' experience, they represent clients throughout the Nash and Edgecombe County, NC, areas. From felonies to misdemeanors, DWIs to drug charges, criminal defense is their business. Call (252) 443-2468 or visit them online to schedule a consultation.