Have you been accused of committing a crime in North Carolina? If so, an experienced North Carolina criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Whether you’ve been charged with a DWI, a drug crime, a traffic ticket, or any other number of misdemeanor or felony crimes in North Carolina, a criminal defense attorney can guide you through the process.
Here are a few questions to help you find the right attorney for you and your specific case.
How experienced is the attorney?
Before you even consult with a potential criminal defense attorney, you should research his or her experience level. Consider factors such as how long the attorney has been practicing, his or her trial experience, the types of cases he or she has tried, and where he or she routinely practices.
When you meet with the attorney for an initial consultation, ask for more details about cases like yours that he or she has defended. It would be a good sign, for example, if you have a traffic citation and the attorney regularly represent defendants in traffic court with great success.
Is the attorney transparent and upfront with you?
A good criminal defense attorney will passionately represent his or her client no matter what the charges or circumstances. However, no attorney should over-promise results. When you meet with potential attorneys, they should be straightforward about both the positive factors of your case as well as the potentially negative or damaging ones.
In addition to being straightforward, your attorney should be clear and informative about the nature of the charges and the plan for your defense. You should leave the consultation feeling more in control and informed, not confused and discouraged.
Do you feel comfortable entrusting your case to the attorney?
Aside from the more tangible aspects mentioned above, there is a third factor to consider when choosing a criminal defense attorney: How does the attorney make you feel? When you meet, does he or she listen to your side of the story and understand your position, or do you feel disregarded, unable to share important details about your case? When you leave the consultation, if you felt heard, important and valuable, you might just have found the right criminal defense attorney for you.
Cotten Law is a passionate, low-cost criminal defense firm. We provide aggressive representation for clients charged with a variety of crimes, from DWIs to traffic tickets, criminal misdemeanors, failures to appear, suspended drivers’ licenses, and more. We’ve represented more than 20,000 satisfied clients throughout Wake, Johnston, Harnett, Orange, Sampson, Lee, and Chatham Counties and are here to help. Give us a call or chat live with a legal assistant 24 hours a day.
