If you’ve been charged with a crime in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you may feel overwhelmed with choices when it comes to hiring a criminal defense lawyer. When it comes to criminal defense, not every Texas lawyer is equally skilled. Your freedom may be on the line, and you need the right lawyer by your side to provide you with the best defense possible. We will discuss some tips for choosing a criminal defense lawyer.
Choose Someone With Experience Defending Against Similar Charges
Many criminal defense lawyers focus their legal practice on defending clients against certain types of charges. For example, some lawyers deal almost exclusively with DUI, DWI, and drug possession and distribution cases. Other lawyers focus on white-collar crimes. When you interview a potential lawyer, ensure that you ask about their experience defending people who have been charged with the crime of which you are accused. Do your homework and ensure that your potential lawyer has a deep understanding of the charges you are facing. You need a lawyer with a proven track record of success.
Research Candidates and Get Referrals
One of the best ways to narrow down your search is to ask your friends and family members if they know any skilled criminal defense lawyers. If you know someone who is in a similar situation, ask if they had a good experience. You can also research a potential attorney online. When you meet with a potential lawyer, ask yourself whether you are comfortable talking openly to him or her and whether your lawyer can explain what is happening in a way you can understand.
Working With a Board Certified Criminal Defense Lawyer
Attorney Christopher Abel is a board-certified criminal defense lawyer. One of the easiest ways to be confident that you are working with an attorney who is an expert in his or her area of practice is to find an attorney who has board certification. Very few lawyers meet the requirements to become board-certified in criminal defense. For example, of 90,000 attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas, only 7,200 have earned certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
As a result, only 8% of licensed attorneys in Texas are board-certified. Becoming board-certified requires proving extensive experience in criminal law, meeting educational requirements, and providing 10 qualified references related to the lawyer’s experience and character. Once the lawyer qualifies, he or she will need to sit for a full day of examinations and pass the exams. Lawyers who are board-certified in criminal defense go through an expensive and time-consuming process to show that they provide clients with the best legal representation possible.
Contact a Dallas/Fort Worth Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Have you been charged with a crime in Texas? If so, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Attorney Christopher Abel of Abel Law Firm has a proven track record of successfully defending clients in various criminal matters. He will provide you with an aggressive and experienced criminal defense. Contact him today to schedule your initial consultation.
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