Qualities of a Great Defense Attorney

With the loss or retention of freedom hinged on the outcome of a criminal case, having a capable defense attorney to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial is immensely important. Not all attorneys are alike, however, so defendants should always be on the lookout for signs of a great defense attorney before hiring one.

Local Experience

Laws, procedures, and policies can vary from state to state and county to county. To account for this, a great defense lawyer for a particular case needs to have sufficient experience working in a particular location. Experience in dealing with local judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel is also important in anticipating different factors that may influence the outcome of the case.

Past Experience Working on Similar Cases

While any criminal attorney could, theoretically, represent any defendant for any crime, with so many possible criminal offenses, no one lawyer has the skills and experience needed to best serve his clients for all possible crimes. With modern criminal law’s immense complexity, an attorney who is familiar with the language and intricacies that apply to specific criminal laws will, expectedly, perform better in court than lawyers with much less experience in these laws.

Ability to Relate to Clients on a Personal Level

Clients and lawyers have to work together in the decision-making process to ensure success in the courtroom. To achieve a working relationship that fosters this ideal component, criminal attorneys should be able to make their clients feel at ease around them.