Law is one of the most in-demand professions in the United States. The surging demand for lawyers is driven by a slew of factors, such as increasing population and soaring crime rates.
According to the American Bar Association (ABA), there were over 1.3 million licensed attorneys in the United States as of January 1, 2024. These statistics encompass lawyers specializing in varied fields, including personal injury, corporate, immigration, and criminal lawyers.
Criminal lawyers are the most sought-after legal practitioners. True to their title, these professionals are trained to represent the interest of both the petitioners and respondents in criminal proceedings.
However, like the cases they litigate, no two criminal attorneys are identical. So, it’s important to proceed cautiously while searching for the right lawyer.
Here are the top qualities that every crime attorney should possess.
1. Relevant Training and Accreditation
This is undoubtedly the biggest consideration while looking for a crime attorney, as it helps confirm that you’re dealing with a qualified legal practitioner.
Ask for proof of academic transcripts and verify that the lawyer graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Establish that the individual passed the national and state bar exams and completed the mandatory internship.
More importantly, whether you’re looking for a professional Houston sex crimes attorney or a homicide lawyer, seek out someone licensed by the state bar association in their jurisdiction of practice.
2. Experience and Reputation
When facing felony charges, you’d be wary of hiring a crime attorney who just graduated from law school. Instead, consider a highly reputed law firm with extensive industry experience.
Sample user testimonials on credible review platforms like Google and Yelp for insights into expected services. The reviews can help you uncover key details, such as an attorney’s track record of winning cases, customer support responsiveness, average fees, etc.
You may also establish a criminal lawyer’s reputation by checking if they’re peer-reviewed through the Martindale-Hubbell rating.
3. Industry Specialization
As already hinted, the legal profession is quite diverse. Since you’re seeking representation in a criminal proceeding, choosing an attorney specializing in criminal law makes perfect sense.
Inquire directly about the lawyer’s focus areas and insist on those specializing in criminal law. But that’s not all.
Even in the domain of criminal law, cases can vary significantly. Seek out a crime attorney with experience handling cases similar to yours.
4. Excellent Communication Skills
Communication skills impact virtually every aspect of criminal litigations. It enables a lawyer to clearly demystify complex legal concepts to their clients, carefully listen to submissions by the opposing counsel, and deliver persuasive arguments during court proceedings.
Besides, proper communication skills help foster empathy, another essential quality that crime attorneys should possess.
You can test a lawyer’s communication skills right from the initial stages of your interactions. Examine how the attorney breaks down the facts of the case, paying close attention to their verbal and non-verbal language.
5. Affiliation with Professional Bodies
In the United States, all licensed lawyers are members of the American Bar Association by default. Shun any law firm with no verifiable ABA membership.
Affiliation with other professional organizations, such as the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), is highly recommended.
Remember to also check for affiliation with organizations in the lawyer’s jurisdiction of practice.
6. Integrity and Confidentiality
Lawyer-client confidentiality is paramount.
The last thing you want is a crimes attorney who intimates sensitive facts about your case to your social circles or, worse yet, the opposing counsel. It’s only worse if you’re a public figure, where the slightest hints of criminal wrongdoing might irreparably damage your reputation.
The good news is that you don’t need to hire a crime attorney to assess their integrity and confidentiality. During your initial engagements with the lawyer, pay attention to how they rumble about their previous cases. Any mentions of intimate details are your cue to look elsewhere.
7. High Analytical Skills
Crimes attorneys should approach every case critically and objectively, which requires high analytical skills.
Proper analytical skills enable criminal lawyers to evaluate complex legal situations from multiple perspectives before making an informed decision. Instead of having a court rely exclusively on circumstantial evidence, the attorney may also call into question the presence of any forensic data and relevant precedents.
Besides, crimes attorneys can deploy their analytical skills to identify and explore legal technicalities to diminish their clients’ criminal culpability.
8. Unmatched Negotiation Skills
Negotiation skills can impact criminal proceedings significantly.
An astute negotiator will actively listen to the opposing counsel’s motivations and use their arguments to build a solid case. This can be particularly important in criminal lawsuits where the plaintiff is inclined to or openly seeking financial settlements.
Using their negotiation skills, your crimes attorney will endeavor to reach a compromise that’s agreeable to the other party without jeopardizing your interests.
9. Transparency with Fees
Criminal attorney fees start from a few thousand dollars for misdemeanors to around $10,000 – $15,000 for felonies. Expectedly, the actual fees will depend on the nature of the crime.
Strive to familiarize yourself with attorney fees and pick the best payment model. While nearly every crimes lawyer will demand a retainer fee upfront, some charge hourly rates. There may also be flat fees for specific services, such as initial consultation and evidence gathering.
Most importantly, ask the lawyer to be transparent about their fees to avoid unpleasant surprises.
10. Responsive Support and Ongoing Feedback
How long does an attorney take to answer your calls or simple queries? If you have to wait hours just to get through to customer support, you might want to focus your search elsewhere.
On the one hand, waiting longer in the queue might suggest the law firm caters to a larger clientele, lending credence to its reputation. But on the other hand, it points to a highly unresponsive practice with a deplorable sense of time and urgency.
In the same vein, select an attorney that offers ongoing feedback. Is the lawyer willing to provide regular summaries of your case, or will they simply vanish at the end of each court proceeding?
The Bottom Line
While the United States has no shortage of criminal attorneys, it’s imperative to perform extensive due diligence while picking the best law firm for your needs.
Insist on a professionally trained and ABA-registered crimes attorney. The lawyer must also have racked up positive reviews as a testament to their experience in the legal practice.
Other critical considerations when selecting a crime attorney include excellent communication and analytical skills, fee transparency, and highly responsive support.
Also Read: Essential Questions to Ask Potential Criminal Defence Lawyers
