How To Hire A Defense Attorney
- By Francis Horowitz
- Published 01/21/2012
- Legal
- Unrated
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, this is not the time to choose a public defendant lawyer or have one court appointed. When you navigate the criminal justice system, you want the best defense attorney Tampa can provide.
You may ask yourself, why should I hire a lawyer when the court will appoint me one for free? Well, all lawyers are not created equal and free lawyers aren't free! When the court appoints a public defender you are still responsible for attorney fees. There is the $40 application fee, and depending upon the outcome of the case, you may still be charged for the defender's rental space, utilities, parking, commuting costs and any other fees the judge deems allowable. Also while being represented by a public defender, you may not have the same lawyer for all parts of the legal process. You might have one lawyer arrange your bail and do the initial interview, but another represent you in court, and yet another represent you during the hearing or the sentencing. In the case of attorneys, you do get what you pay for.
When you hire an experienced defense attorney Tampa, you get some of the best legal minds available. You get
the wisdom of many years of trials and charges and one who is not "practicing" on you for their first court room experience. What you want when you choose a lawyer is one that has tried your type of charge previously, that knows the judge and the parameters of the case, and that knows what your possible sentencing could be and how to best defend you.
During your first meeting with your lawyer you will want to truthfully discuss your personal situation. You will introduce your side of the story, with all the significant details. This is not a time to hide pertinent information; this is the time to find a friend who cannot betray your confidence. Whatever you tell a lawyer cannot be told in a way that would bring you harm.
Bring to your visit a copy of your charges, your identification, any papers the police may have given you, your bail papers, and a list of anyone else involved in the activities for which you were charged. All persons who might be considered witnesses, accomplices, victims or perpetrators must be listed as the attorney has to check for conflict of interest. If the attorney or their firm is or has been representing anyone on your list, they might by law be required to refuse your case. You need to know this before the process begins.
You may ask yourself, why should I hire a lawyer when the court will appoint me one for free? Well, all lawyers are not created equal and free lawyers aren't free! When the court appoints a public defender you are still responsible for attorney fees. There is the $40 application fee, and depending upon the outcome of the case, you may still be charged for the defender's rental space, utilities, parking, commuting costs and any other fees the judge deems allowable. Also while being represented by a public defender, you may not have the same lawyer for all parts of the legal process. You might have one lawyer arrange your bail and do the initial interview, but another represent you in court, and yet another represent you during the hearing or the sentencing. In the case of attorneys, you do get what you pay for.
When you hire an experienced defense attorney Tampa, you get some of the best legal minds available. You get
During your first meeting with your lawyer you will want to truthfully discuss your personal situation. You will introduce your side of the story, with all the significant details. This is not a time to hide pertinent information; this is the time to find a friend who cannot betray your confidence. Whatever you tell a lawyer cannot be told in a way that would bring you harm.
Bring to your visit a copy of your charges, your identification, any papers the police may have given you, your bail papers, and a list of anyone else involved in the activities for which you were charged. All persons who might be considered witnesses, accomplices, victims or perpetrators must be listed as the attorney has to check for conflict of interest. If the attorney or their firm is or has been representing anyone on your list, they might by law be required to refuse your case. You need to know this before the process begins.
Francis Horowitz
Francis is the senior partner and chief marketing officer of a law office in Tampa and has expert knowledge of Defense Attorney Tampa practices and Criminal Lawyer Tampa services as well as marketing for small business.
View all articles by Francis Horowitz