How do I choose an attorney?

Many people shop for attorneys like they would for used cars. Unfortunately, like used cars, you usually get what you pay for. Many less than honest attorneys undercharge their clients and then pass the work off to a law clerk or a less qualified attorney. While cost is certainly an important consideration, it should not be the most important factor in your decision. You certainly would not want the lowest paid doctor in the community to handle your heart surgery. The same rule holds true with attorneys.

The following are the factors that you should consider in hiring your attorney:

• Where did your attorney go to law school and how well did he or she do? Most people don´t know that California and several other states have unaccredited law schools that allow individuals to practice law who are not admitted to the American Bar Association.
• How long has the attorney been in practice? You do not want a brand new attorney to learn by mistakes in your case.
• Is the attorney a state criminal law certified specialist? Many attorneys call themselves specialists when in fact this is illegal and unethical. The State Bar of California has a program of certification of a very select few of the finest of criminal defense attorneys who have practiced law for many years, received recommendations from their peers, and passed an additional criminal law examination. Make sure and ask if the attorney is a State Certified Criminal Law Specialist, and if you have any doubts, ask to see a copy of the certification.
• Has the attorney handled your type of case before? Some attorneys build their entire practice around one kind of case, for example Drunk Driving cases, and know little or nothing about drug cases. You want to trust your freedom and future with someone who has familiarity with the type of case of which you have been charged.
• How do you feel about your attorney? This is a very important factor. Is the attorney someone who truly listens to you and appears to care about your case? Will the attorney work on the case himself? Does the attorney return telephone calls? Your gut feeling about the attorney and your degree of comfort are also important considerations.
• What is the track record of the attorney? You should not expect the attorney to quote you figures like batting averages because every case is different. But you do want an attorney who knows when it is best to go to trial and best to plead guilty and who has a demonstrated record of success with his or her “cases”.