Finding the Right Fort Lauderale Criminal Attorney

When playing golf here in Fort Lauderdale with clients or colleagues, whose name is mentioned when talk turns to hiring a criminal attorney? Chances are, the professionals in your foursome haven't yet been faced with that necessity.

If that distant possibility becomes reality, however, you'll need a trustworthy referral, fast. Here's how to quickly judge which Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer will best represent you.

You may already be putting on the brakes, denying the possibility of future prosecution. With today's complex laws governing medicine, banking and other professions, though, it's possible to find yourself under investigation without deliberately committing a crime.

And so, just as you build your referral network for other services, it's a good idea to have someone qualified in mind to call should you find yourself in need of a criminal lawyer. If you're like most professionals, you may be assuming you can call on those golfing buddies for an acceptable referral.

The first thing to remember is that, unless your colleagues have actually worked with a criminal lawyer, they may be basing their referral on secondhand knowledge. If you've been charged with a crime, you need to know the person representing you has specific experience defending against similar charges.

For example, a Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney who specializes in domestic violence or drug cases may have never defended a client accused of white collar crime. Even more importantly, professionals accused of bank fraud, insider trading or crimes likely to trigger a grand jury investigation require the services of an experienced Federal criminal defense attorney.

Once you've received a referral, research that criminal attorney by asking the following questions:

1. How much experience do they have working with defendants in cases like yours?

2. How successful has that specific history as a Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer been?

3. What resources do they have available to ensure a strong defense in your case?

4. Into what courts are they admitted to practice (US Supreme Court, Federal Courts, or US Tax Court, for example)?

5. How have they been ranked by their peers? Their Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register ranking is a good measure of their professional standing among other attorneys.

The answers to these questions will enable you to discern whether or not a Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney to whom you've been referred is actually appropriate to defend you. By taking the time to learn more about a potential defense attorney, you can be assured of the proper defense before the need ever occurs.