When you have a legal issue, especially when it’s as serious as a criminal charge, one of your top priorities should be securing the best lawyer possible. For a lot of criminal defendants who have never been charged with a crime before, there is confusion and uncertainty about their options for legal representation and how to go about hiring an attorney. 

Choose an attorney with experience in your type of case

Just because an attorney advertises that they practice criminal law doesn’t mean he or she is equipped to handle your specific case. Traffic charges are very different from murder cases. Misdemeanor larceny is not the same thing as complicated white collar fraud. Violent crimes involve different issues and defenses than computer crimes. 

A law firm’s website should give you a good idea about whether the firm and the individual attorneys have experience defending the type of charge you may be facing. Spend some time reading about the firm’s particular practice areas to see if they have experience with your type of case. Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard is a full service criminal defense firm with multiple attorneys experienced in all types of criminal charges. Whether you are charged in federal or state court, our attorneys regularly handle all types of matters ranging from high-stakes antitrust and murder cases to the complex and sensitive defense of cyber crimes and sexual assault allegations to misdemeanor and traffic cases.  

Call the office or schedule a consultation

A lawyer’s website should explain what kinds of cases he or she handles, but there’s no substitute for actually speaking to the attorney about your case and how they can help. The attorneys at Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard are available to speak to you about your case. We take the time to learn about your charges and the facts of your case so we can identify potential defenses and discuss how we can help as you are making a hiring decision. 

Your attorney should be available and responsive

Your case is likely the most important thing going on in your life. Our attorneys understand that and appreciate how important it is to get the best possible result. Part of that process is being available to answer questions and being responsive in giving case updates. Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard prides itself on being available at all times to field calls from our clients and immediately provide information when there is news to report. When you are considering which firm to hire, you should ask how responsive the firm will be and whether you will be able to communicate directly with the attorney. 

Hire an attorney with the right personality

Practicing criminal defense law is very much a relational occupation. Dealing with police officers, negotiating with prosecutors, and making arguments to judges and juries requires a very specific interpersonal skill set. Additionally, you should be personally comfortable working with your attorney. There are a variety of approaches to practicing law and you should feel confident in the attitude, temperament, and zealousness of your lawyer. Meeting in-person with an attorney for a consultation is the best way to decide if it will be a good match, although hiring the attorney who you believe will get the best result for you should be the priority. At Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard, our firm has seven attorneys to provide a variety of perspectives and approaches to best suit your needs. Our team of lawyers ensures that we’re working with our clients in the most efficient and productive way possible while also providing a wealth of collective experience to our clients. 

Don’t make decisions based solely on price

There’s no denying it: attorneys can be expensive. Especially if you qualify for a public defender, the decision to hire an attorney can be financially difficult. Despite this, there are significant advantages in retaining private counsel of your choosing that you believe is qualified to handle your defense, has the time to commit to the case, and has your best interest at heart. 

Depending on their experience and existing case loads, the fees different attorneys may quote can differ greatly. While not always true, there is some wisdom in the idea that “you get what you pay for” and criminal defendants and their families should not just hire the cheapest lawyer available. Because your life and liberty are at stake when charged criminally, it should be a priority to secure the best attorney you can afford.

By contacting Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard, our attorneys can provide a quote for our services that are tailored to your case and the necessary defense that will be required. Even if you feel like you cannot hire our firm, call anyway! The attorneys at Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard are always glad to discuss your case. Because we care deeply about our clients, we try to be as flexible as possible with our pricing model and can usually work out some sort of payment plan that may allow you to hire our attorneys even if you thought it would be unaffordable. 

We are pleased to announce that DYSART WILLIS is joining MAYNARD NEXSEN. As we combine firms, we are expanding our capabilities & reach to 24 offices across the country. Read our announcement here & learn more about Maynard Nexsen at MAYNARDNEXSEN.COM

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