Being accused of a crime is a terrible experience. Hopefully, you will never have to go through this. However, it is important to know what to do if a situation arises where you are going to need legal representation. The choice that you make in terms of the lawyer who is going to defend you in criminal court is the most important decision you will ever make. Choosing the wrong lawyer will mean that you get convicted of a crime and face prison time. At the very least, you will have a criminal record which will haunt you for the rest of your life. Here are some questions to ask a St Petersburg criminal defense attorney.
1. How many people have you defended in your career?
This question will help you to get some insight regarding the lawyer’s level of experience. Needless to say, you do not want someone defending you if he has not had much experience. You should try to find a lawyer who has dealt with many cases that are similar to yours. You should also do a little research on your own to find out the lawyer’s success rate in his past cases. How many of his or her clients were acquitted and how many were convicted? This is a very important number that you need to know before you make your final decision.
2. How much time will you be able to devote to my defense?
Some criminal defense lawyers are very busy. They have many cases they are handling at the same time. This can be a problem because some of the lawyer’s cases will inevitably get put on the back burner. These cases will not receive as much attention as they should. Ideally, you should hire a lawyer who is able to devote a substantial amount of time to your case.
3. What are the specifics regarding your fees?
You will need to pay a retainer to the lawyer. This is money that will officially hire the lawyer. You need to find out how much that will be. Also find out how much he will charge per hour.