Charged with a Crime? Hire a Tampa Criminal Lawyer Right Away!

Your Future is at Stake!

If you've been charged with a crime, retain a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Hire someone who has expertise in criminal defense because it is a highly specialized area of the law.

• Look at biographical information, including whatever you can find on Web sites for the lawyers and their law firms. Do they appear to have expertise in the area of criminal law that you need? Do they have any information on their Web sites that is helpful to you? Do they belong to any reputable associations in the area of expertise that you need? Have they done appellate work?  It is a good idea to have a criminal attorney who is also a Florida appeals attorney.
  
  
• To assist you in finding such a lawyer, the Supreme Court of Florida directed The Florida Bar to offer a "Board Certification" program for Florida Bar members. The program is designed to help the public make an informed decision when seeking and selecting a lawyer. While all lawyers are allowed to advertise, only certified attorneys are allowed to identify themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified" or as a "Specialist." Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education operates under the authority of the Supreme Court of Florida. The certification program and any supporting materials or activities are not funded by the general revenues of The Florida Bar.
  
  
• Ask other people if they have heard of the lawyers and what they think about them.
  
  
• Check Peer Review Ratings. Martindale-Hubble, owner of lawyers.com offers Peer Review Ratings. For over a century, lawyers have relied on the Martindale-Hubble Law Directory for authoritative information on the worldwide legal profession. Martindale-Hubble's Peer Review Ratings play an integral role in this service to the legal community. Buyers of legal services, as well as those making referrals, consider Peer Review Ratings invaluable when evaluating a lawyer. Whether choosing between two equally qualified candidates or looking for counsel in another jurisdiction, lawyers and consumers need to have confidence in the individual under consideration. Using Ratings, they can select counsel with superior ethics, as well as the desired level of professional experience.
  
  
• Check out the online archives of your local newspaper. Has there been any publicity about the lawyers or the cases that they have handled?
  
  
• Consider any special needs you have. For example, would you benefit from an attorney who speaks a language other than English?
  
  
• Don't eliminate a lawyer just because he or she didn't have the time to meet with you on short notice. Good lawyers are busy so they may not be able to spend as much time as they would like with prospective clients.
  
  
• Criminal defense lawyers will almost always charge by the hour, or by a flat fee that is payable up front. However, lawyers with a good reputation in this area are going to charge more. With your freedom possibly on the line, it may be worthwhile to pay more for a lawyer or a law firm with a great reputation.
  
  
• You will want to hire a lawyer with at least a several years of experience in the type of prosecution you are facing.

Criminal cases are often resolved by plea agreements with the district attorney's office. This may require that the lawyer have a good working relationship with the prosecuting attorney, or to at least have a reputation that commands respect. Thus, you will want a lawyer who appears frequently in the jurisdiction your case is in: federal or state, and, if state, in the particular county where you are charged. This is very important if you need a RICO attorney to assist you with federal charges.

Before you hire a lawyer:

• Ask for references. You want to talk to people who could comment on the lawyer's skills and trustworthiness.
• Ask for a copy of a firm brochure and promotional materials. If they are available, crosscheck these materials against other sources and references.
• Ask to be provided with a copy of the lawyer's retainer agreement and have it explained to you before decide on retaining the lawyer or the lawyer's law firm. You may end up paying a lot of money to the lawyer so make sure you understand what you are signing up for.
• Use your common sense and gut instincts to evaluate the lawyers on your list. You'll want to be comfortable with the lawyer you hire. You will also want to choose the lawyer who you think will do the best job for you.

Preparing to Meet with a Lawyer

The criminal justice system can be a very scary thing for anyone in the cross-hairs of a prosecutor. It is imperative to be represented by a good lawyer. Be prepared for your first meeting. Otherwise, it can be a big waste of time for both you and the lawyer. First impressions mean a lot, and being unprepared may result in the lawyer not wanting to represent you.

A good criminal defense lawyer will want to know:

• Who you are and how you can be contacted.
  
  
• Personal and business background.
  
  
• Your current situation. Thus, you need to write down anything that you consider be relevant background information and have it available for the lawyer.
  
  
• Bring along any documents that you have, such as any documents you received from the court showing your charges and next court appearance date; your bail papers; if your property was searched, any paperwork the police left; and any documents you think are important to the case for the lawyer to review. If you can get a copy of the police report that will really assist the attorney.
  
  
• Be prepared to describe the events which occurred and what the police are alleging that you did, before going into the events as you saw them. Criminal actions frequently involve very different events from the perspectives of the police and the defendant.
  
  
• Before you get too far into a meeting or conversation, the lawyer is going to want to know about possible conflicts of interest. You should bring a list of other employees who may be witnesses or defendants. If the lawyer or the lawyer's firm represents anyone on the other side of the fence, he or she will have a conflict and will usually not be able to represent you.
  
  
• Prepare a list of questions to take with you to your first meeting. You have to feel comfortable with your attorney. Remember that your lawyer is working for you. You want someone who is skilled, but you also have to get along with your lawyer. In theory, no question is too silly to ask. Questions you might ask a lawyer include:
  
  
• What would the lawyer like to see in order to evaluation your case?
  
  
• What might your other options be?
  
  
• How many similar cases has he or she handled?
  
  
• What percent of his or her practice is in the area of expertise that you need?
  
  
• What problems does the lawyer foresee with your case?
  
  
• How would the lawyer go about handling your situation? What is the process, including the different stages, arraignment, filing of motions, motions hearing, disposition conference, trial?
  
  
• How long will it take to bring the matter to a conclusion?
  
  
• Does the lawyer ever plea bargain? All the time? Never? Either of those answers could be a problem. Some cases should be plea bargained. Other cases should go to trial.
  
  
• How would the lawyer charge for his or her services?
  
  
• Will the lawyer accept a payment agreement for the services that extends beyond the representation?
  
  
• Would the lawyer handle the case personally or would it be passed on to some other lawyer in the firm? If other lawyers or staff may do some of the work, could you meet them?
  

Meeting with a Lawyer

• Give a lawyer the chance to get to know you. Don't feel compelled right off the bat to blurt out everything you want to tell the lawyer about your legal issues or needs. Many times, a lawyer will want to get some background information and even shoot the breeze a bit. This opportunity will provide both you and the lawyer with the chance to evaluate each other on an informal basis
  
  
• Let the lawyer do the talking initially. You'll have all sorts of information that you'll want to relate, but the lawyer will be better able to hone in on the background facts that he or she feels are relevant or important. The more prepared you are with completed questionnaires, documents, diagrams and your own questions, the easier this process will be.
  
  
• During your initial consultation, you'll want to be able to share all relevant information with the lawyer. Even if you don't end up hiring the lawyer, everything you tell him or her during your meeting is subject to the attorney-client privilege, so honesty is in your best interest. Let the lawyer decide what is or is not in your favor. It's much better for the lawyer to know the bad things up front, rather than be surprised later.
  
  
• If the lawyer is interested in representing you, you can expect that he or she will go through an educational process with you. You should take the time to make a honest assessment of your opposition and, if asked, to be able to relate the thoughts you have to the lawyer. Give your lawyer the straight scoop.
  
  
• The lawyer may give you alternatives as to what you can do, and you should discuss the possible consequences of each option. Look for practical legal advice.
  
  
• Depending up on how well prepared you are, the lawyer may even be able to give you advice on how to proceed. This could be especially important when time is of the essence. By the end of your meeting, you should leave with a clear understanding of what you've accomplished.
  
  
• If the lawyer is willing to take your case, you should be told what he or she charges for services. You may be presented with a contract that is called a retainer agreement or a legal services agreement. The lawyer should explain it to you. Read and understand the document before you think about signing it. At that time, or before services are rendered, you may also be asked to provide a retainer or deposit up front.
  
  
• Be clear on what is to happen next, and then be sure to follow through on whatever you have been asked to do by your new attorney. The attorney will insist on cooperation from your end. If it's not clearly spelled out in a retainer agreement, also be sure to ask the lawyer how he or she would prefer to communicate with you, and then keep in contact regularly with your attorney.
  
  
• You probably wouldn't be meeting with the lawyer in the first place if you weren't ready to hire somebody. While you may still change your mind at almost any point, be prepared to proceed forward by bringing a checkbook and/or a credit card to pay a retainer to the lawyer if he or she asks before moving forward. Keep in mind that lawyers cost a lot of money and you will be expected to pay for their services. From the lawyer's perspective, a client who is unwilling to pay a retainer up front for good legal advice may not be willing to pay for it down the road.

When you are ready to hire a Tampa criminal lawyer, do your due diligence and find out as much as you can about him or her.  If you already lost a criminal case and you need a Florida appeals attorney, make sure the attorney has the experience to help you.  Contact Joe Bodiford today to see if his aggressive and relentless representation can help you.