Being selective when it comes to hiring a lawyer to defend you in a criminal case is very important. Your future is hanging in the balance and you have to know the representation you have is the best. Do your own research early on so you can be in very good hands. As soon as you know there may be criminal charges against you, get things in motion.
Find out who is available in the Perth area that handles the type of case you are up against. You can conduct research online. You can make phone calls to various offices and ask for specific information. You can also ask other people you know for referrals. Make a list of all you gather that could be a good possibility.
Reputation Is Important
Take your list and find out what the reputation happens to be for each of the possible lawyers on your list. Any that do not have a strong reputation should be removed from your list. If you are facing criminal charges, you already have enough problems on your plate. Do not add troubles with your lawyer to the list!
Once you have your list narrowed down, it is time to schedule free consultations. This is when you get to talk to the lawyers. You can tell them what you need, they can ask questions, and you can ask questions as well. Typically, a consultation is for a limited period of time such as 30 minutes or 1 hour. Being prepared with your questions will help you to get the most out of that time limit. Based on those consultations, you can hire best criminal defence lawyer in Perth to help you with your legal case.
Communicate Openly
If a lawyer is going to be able to successfully represent you, it is important you communicate openly. Be honest about the situation and do not leave out any details. They need to know the events that led to the criminal charges from you. Ideally, they should not find out about them from the prosecution. Ask them how many cases they currently have. Find out how many cases like yours they have handled and what the outcome was. While each case is different, that can give you a good idea of what may happen in your particular case.
Find out what their experience has been with jury trials. Do they have a good record of winning? That can be encouraging if you decide to go to the jury with your particular case. You also need to find out exactly who will be working on your case. Will you always have the same lawyer at all legal proceedings? Sometimes, it can change depending on who is available from a given firm on that date. Ask what will be done to ensure you are kept informed about the case and your options. The more information you gather, the easier it will be for you to hire a lawyer you are content to have on your side of the courtroom.