Billboards, TV ads, and Newspaper headlines are three of the worst ways to choose the right lawyer for your case. If you are charged with a crime, making the right hiring decision can mean the difference between freedom or prison; it’s that important.
There are three things you can do to make sure you’re making the right decision according to Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer Gabriel L. Grasso.
First, make sure you are considering lawyers who practice exclusively in criminal law. The truth is, it’s not easy for any lawyer to only practice in one area of the law. Most lawyers get involved in various types of law in order to make ends meet. If a lawyer makes his or her living exclusively from criminal defense, that gives you a good hint that he or she is good at what they do. The best way to find this out is to ask the lawyer directly. During your consultation, you can ask “what other areas of law do you handle?” The most common area for lawyers who advertise as criminal defense lawyers to also be involved in is personal injury law. There are many excellent lawyers who do a good job in more than one area of the law, but when your life as you know it may be on the line, it’s smart to find the specialists.
Second, ask about REAL qualifications. A law degree and a nice suit don’t amount to a hill of beans in a criminal courtroom. There are lawyers out there who claim to be criminal defense lawyers who have never tried a case, or picked a jury, or even handled the kind of offense you may be charged with. In looking for the best Las Vegas criminal defense attorney, asking the right questions can make all the difference. Questions like: How many trials have you handled as lead counsel? How many of those have you won? Have you handled a case like mine in trial? These are important questions. There’s no substitute for experience, and when you’re looking for someone who can do what they say and get results, experience matters.
Third, make sure the lawyer you are considering practices in the court where the charges were filed. This may sound like an obvious point, but just because a lawyer handles state court cases doesn’t mean the same lawyer knows what to do in federal court. For example, the federal sentencing guidelines are a vast and complicated set of rules which take years of experience to understand. Someone who does not spend time in federal court will not grasp the magnitude of what a small error on calculation can mean for a client. If you are looking for a federal criminal defense lawyer, make sure to ask about a lawyer’s experience in the federal arena. Have they ever tried a federal case? Have they ever won a federal trial? These are important questions. Have the lawyer show you examples of outcomes for federal cases they have handled.
When you are looking for the best Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer, there’s no substitute for asking the right questions and knowing exactly what kind of lawyer you need.
If you would like to have a consultation with Gabriel L. Grasso and learn about his unequaled experience and winning track record, call 702-868-8866.