Hiring the right federal criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles is a crucial part of ensuring that you’re going to get the best available defense in your case. Your freedom or sentencing will depend on your attorney’s ability to fight your case, so it’s imperative that you’re working with someone you trust. At Mishra X Trial Lawyers, we know it can be difficult finding the right attorney, so we have three things you should consider when hiring your criminal defense lawyer.

Has experience in your crime

Not every federal crime is the same. Someone who’s been accused of murder isn’t likely to look for representation from an attorney who specializes in white-collar crimes like money laundering. The opposite is true as well. It would be best if you verified that your attorney has experience defending crimes like the one you’ve been accused of.

Experience in specific fields of a federal crime can go a long way to ensuring that you’re getting the best defense possible. While they might not have worked with clients in the past who were in your exact situation, experienced attorneys will understand how to tie your case into previous decisions made by courts that set precedents. They’ll also have an eye for what makes your situation unique and how to address that. Putting together a strong defense is a complicated process, and an experienced criminal defense attorney knows what it takes to get it done.

Open lines of communication

You should be able to have ongoing communication with your attorney throughout your case. Your case can change in an instant with the presentation of new evidence or witnesses coming forward. It’s important that you speak with your attorney about any of these matters to ensure that you both understand where this new information is coming from and the part it will play in your case.

Not only does your attorney need to be available to speak to, but they should also be easy to communicate with. You can share your side of the story and present all the details available, but you’re going to have a problem if your attorney cannot fully comprehend what you’ve told them. It’s also important that your attorney verifies information with you regarding your case rather than drawing their own conclusions about what happened. Making assumptions about what happened can be harmful as they might end up presenting false information, which could put your entire defense in jeopardy.

Client reviews

Get to know what it’s like working with an attorney before you ever meet them by reading reviews previous clients have left. You can learn a lot about communication styles, general approaches, and even billing from clients who have worked with specific attorneys before you. While Google is often one of the most common places many people will go for client reviews, check out sites specifically dedicated to attorney reviews. Sites like Avvo, Lawyers.com, and Martindale-Hubbell consolidate lawyer reviews so you can easily search by name, city, school, or practice. The more you know about an attorney before you go into your first meeting, the better off you’ll be in the end.

Schedule a free consultation to get started

If you’d like to learn more about our team at Mishra X Trial Lawyers, get in touch today to schedule a free consultation. We’re an experienced team of federal criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles that can help fight your case. Give us a call at 949-867-6139 or send a message through our online contact form. We’ll fight for your rights in every case.