FINDING THE RIGHT CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Tips & Tricks to Finding A Great Criminal Defense Lawyer

1. Your Lawyer Should Primarily Practice Criminal Defense

Hiring a criminal defense lawyer is like taking your car to a mechanic for repair. You wouldn’t take your car to be serviced by a boat mechanic. While a boat mechanic may understand the basics of an internal combustion engine, they likely aren’t familiar with all the intricacies of the modern-day automobile. You’ll probably want to hire a mechanic with experience repairing cars (preferably, cars of the same make and model as yours) before entrusting them with your vehicle. Just like you wouldn’t hire a random mechanic, you shouldn’t hire a random lawyer.

Experience is important when choosing a criminal defense lawyer. Criminal law is a highly specialized and technical area of the law that requires the skills of an experienced defense lawyer. Most lawyers rarely, if ever, appear in court before a judge. They usually spend their time in depositions or other administrative proceedings. Criminal lawyers, on the other hand, spend about half their time in court filing motions, conducting hearings, and trying cases. Thus, when searching for an attorney to represent you in your criminal case, you’ll want to make sure that the majority of the lawyer's practice, if not their entire practice, is dedicated to practicing criminal defense. This will ensure that you’re hiring an attorney that has experience appearing in court and negotiating criminal cases.

2. Your Lawyer Should Have Experience with the Charges You’re Facing

Once you’ve found a lawyer that practices criminal defense, you’ll want to make sure that the lawyer has experience with the particular criminal charge(s) you are facing. As stated above, criminal law can be a very technical area of law. As a general rule, the more severe the charges, the more technical and complex the legal issues.

For example, the legal issues related to a misdemeanor charge for driving without a valid license in violation of Vehicle Code §12500 are fairly straightforward. Did the officer have authority to stop the vehicle, were you driving on public streets, and did you or did you not have a license are the main areas of concern in such a case. Comparatively, a felony case that alleges sentencing enhancements and other aggravating factors is much more intricate. Such a case requires the knowledge and expertise of a lawyer that has handled similar cases.

When searching for a lawyer, you should always ask what experience the lawyer has with cases like yours. If the lawyer doesn’t have experience with those charges or cannot answer your questions, then you should consider contacting another lawyer for help.

3. Your Lawyer Should Be Communicative & Responsive

Whether you are facing charges for a minor driving offense or charged with the commission of a serious felony, your lawyer should keep you informed and updated throughout the process. Your lawyer is responsible for handling the day-to-day decisions and crafting a strategy to defend you, but YOU are responsible for making the final decisions on the case. The only possible way you can make informed decisions is if you are kept in the loop from beginning to end.

A good criminal defense lawyer will maintain contact with you during your case and ensure that your questions are answered in a timely manner. Moreover, your lawyer should guide you through the process by providing their recommendations on how to move forward with your case. It is not uncommon for someone to hire a lawyer to handle their case only to later find that the attorney does not respond or answer their communications. This may be an indication that the lawyer is representing too many clients and does not have time to handle all of them. If you are in such a case, it may be beneficial to discuss your case with another lawyer.

Is JPLaw, P.C. the Right Firm for You?

JPLaw, P.C. is an award winning full-service criminal defense firm located in Orange County, CA. Whether you’re looking for an attorney to represent you in the late stages of a criminal prosecution or someone to appear with you at your initial hearing, JPLaw, P.C. does it all. Attorney John-Patrick Mullen-Lujan has extensive experience handling criminal matters at all stages of a criminal prosecution. He has argued cases and appeared in court on hundreds of cases throughout Southern California and is familiar with court rules in various counties, including Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Diego County, and San Bernardino County.

Moreover, Attorney Mullen-Lujan has experience defending a wide variety of criminal charges ranging from minor misdemeanor offenses, like shoplifting, to more serious offenses, like aggravated battery. Below you will find a list of just a few of the crimes with which Attorney Mullen-Lujan is familiar. Don't see the crime(s) you are charged with? Call JPLaw, P.C. at the number above to schedule your FREE consultation and discuss the important legal issues in your case. At JPLaw, P.C. you will communicate directly with Attorney Mullen-Lujan. Together you will evaluate the pros and cons of your case and craft a legal defense specifically tailored for you.