Hiring a criminal defense attorney

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by Jurisprudence Clames

Hiring a criminal defense attorney is no easy feat. It takes hours of research, telephone calls, consultations and above all it is embarrassing. In Florida, your attorney is your ticket to a reduced sentence and the possibility of dropped charges. Otherwise, you will be handed assigned counsel and be given an attorney that has a huge caseload and will give you the minimum amount of dedication required of them by law.

Online research is important when looking for a <a target='_blank' href="http://www.notguiltyfl.com">Tampa criminal defense attorney</a>. There are so many firms that you might get lost in the plethora of attorneys that may accept your case. Your research should include information who is experienced with handling cases like yours. You want to steer clear from general practice attorneys who don't handle criminal matters often. You want an attorney with a reputation of success. You want to find out the rates of the attorney to be sure you can afford to hire that one prior to scheduling a consultation. You also want to be sure that the attorney doesn't have a large case load preventing them from devoting the time to your case that you deserve.

Don't feel embarrassed if at all possible. This clouts the ability to get the facts on the table and see if your prospective attorneys are able and willing to take your case. You must be honest about everything. Any heresay, any exaggeration, any misunderstanding of facts could put you into a very difficult position. Before meeting with any criminal defense attorney have your facts outlined. Collect every single document that revolves around your case. Know what crimes you are being charged with in detail. This will also take away from your nervousness because you will be ready to get down to the facts immediately.

It is important that you hire a criminal defense attorney in the area that you were convicted of the crime. Those that were convicted in Tampa, Florida and Hillsborough, Florida areas need to hire an experienced attorney familiar with the Florida laws and familiar with the courts and their procedures. Keep in mind that you will need to come up with a significant retainer but it's certainly a valuable investment.

If you have found yourself in a serious legal dilemma and facing criminal charges you need to consider hiring a criminal defense attorney. It is an expensive action but you will be better protected against harsh sentences along with having a better possibility of getting your charges reduced or even dropped. If you feel that you financially cannot afford to hire an attorney, consider the following possible options. It is important you take each option serious because if you opt to proceed without an attorney or with a public defender, your case will suffer greatly.

In Florida, there are a number of attorneys in Tampa and Hillsborough that are starting to accept credit card for payment. Your retainer agreement will list the price of their services along with stipulations for hourly rates and the deposit amount for which you have to pay prior to receiving any services. This amount could be thousands of dollars. If you have credit cards that have limits that permit you to pay this retainer amount, you need to use them. That is why you have credit cards. This is an emergency.

About the Author:
Joe Demayoson is a professional author who specializes in Tampa criminal defense and criminal defense attorney