It doesn’t matter what kind of charges you're facing, it can be frustrating trying to find a Tampa criminal lawyer to take your case. What’s more, if you’ve never had to hire a lawyer before, you might not know what to expect. This can make the process even more difficult as you’re not sure if the conversations you’re having are appropriate or too pressing. With help from our team at Candela Law Firm, P.A., we want to outline some of the processes so you know what you’re walking into before your first consultation.
Go over the details of your case
When you’re speaking with someone who could potentially represent you or a family member as a criminal lawyer, you must share the details of your case. This will give the attorney a good idea of what they’re going up against in the courtroom before they ever get started. It allows them to be brutally honest with you on the kind of battle that you have ahead. Keep in mind that there are times when your criminal attorney won’t be able to do anything for you besides negotiating a more lenient sentence.
What led to the actions involved
There are two sides to every story. Your criminal lawyer is going to want to hear your side of the story to get a good idea of what happened in the incident that occurred. Beyond your side of the story, it’s best to describe events leading up to the event as well as how the other party involved might have perceived the incident. This provides your attorney with a good amount of information about your case to begin an investigation and trying to find out more about how they can go about putting together a strong defense on your behalf.
Talk through how to proceed
Once you’ve gone through everything about the incident involved with the charges that have been filed against you or your loved one, it’s time to talk about how the lawyer will proceed with the case. This includes an approach to either reaching a plea agreement with the prosecution or how they will defend your case in court. It’s crucial to understand that not every case can be defended in court and there are times that the best thing you can do is reach an agreement outside of court. Listen carefully to the attorney about how they’re going to approach the case.
Questions and answers
Now is the time to ask the criminal lawyer questions about the charges, what you’re looking at with potential jail time, and what it means to go to court. Come prepared with questions that you have beforehand and be ready to ask follow-up questions. While the attorney might not give you the answer you want to hear to every question you ask, consider how you feel when speaking with them.
Discuss fees and payment schedule
Not all lawyers charge the same or collect on the same payment schedule. Before hiring a criminal attorney, you should know what to expect on the financial side of representation. Fees should never come as a surprise. This includes whether you’re paying as you go throughout the case or in a single lump sum at the end. Knowing how much your attorney is charging will also let you know if you can afford them or not. The last thing you’re going to want is to go bankrupt while trying to fight your case.
Get in touch to start
If you or a loved one is looking to hire a Tampa criminal lawyer, reach out to us at Candela Law Firm, P.A. You can send us a message using our online contact form and we’ll be sure to get back to you quickly to set up a consultation.
