Peter Howe, Michigan Attorney, Offers Advice On How To Choose Criminal Law Attorneys
When you need the services of a criminal law attorney the situation is quite dire. You simply cannot choose a regular attorney and expect to get the best representation. Unfortunately, people tend to think that all lawyers are created equal. That is completely incorrect. According to Peter Howe, Michigan experienced attorney, most people choose the very first attorney that they find, thus making an incorrect choice. This is why he talks about the following three really important facts you should think about as you choose who to represent you.
Don’t Choose The Attorney Based On Office Location
One of the common mistakes made when choosing an attorney in Michigan is going to the one that has offices close to one’s home. This is not a good approach since we are talking about criminal defense attorneys, which have to be as experienced as possible. Those that live close to your home are most likely not the best you could hire.
The best thing you can do is to widen your research area. Make a list of the best criminal defense attorneys that can service you and that you can contact. In many cases, the fact that you travel a long distance will actually help you to get the best proper representation in front of the authorities.
Be Careful With Hourly Rates
The fee arrangements in which you pay an hourly rate for the services of the criminal defense attorney can quickly become overwhelming, according to Peter Howe. The big problem, in this case, is that you cannot actually know if the attorney worked on your case for the number of mentioned hours or not. Many top criminal attorneys have their clients pay the initial fee. Then, there is a detailed fee that covers what goes beyond it.
Although it is not ethical, there are many criminal law attorneys that simply prolong their services when they are paid per hour. Unfortunately, when referring to a criminal case, much work has to be done so the hourly rate ends up costing you so much more than what you initially anticipated.
Don’t Choose Criminal Defense Attorneys Under Pressure
You are surely aware of the fact that you should never talk to authorities without an attorney present but this does not mean any attorney can be considered. You are going to be offered the services of a specific public office attorney if you want it. At the same time, if you are charged, you are going to be contacted by different criminal defense attorneys that tell you they can represent you. Be extremely wary of being pressured into signing a deal with an attorney. Those lawyers that put pressure on you in Michigan or anywhere else are most likely not really interested in the outcome of your case. The best criminal defense attorney you can hire in Michigan is the one you hire, not the one that finds you. Numerous dishonest attorneys pressure clients into agreeing to their terms. This is something you have to avoid at all costs.
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