How to Find a Criminal Attorney

A criminal attorney can help you when you face criminal charges. There are many ways that can be done in finding the best lawyer in town, from a friend’s recommendation to a referral from a local bar association.

How to Find a Criminal Attorney

If you are facing criminal charges then you need to find the services of a criminal attorney as soon as possible. For most people, this means finding a private lawyer to represent them. If you have previously faced criminal charges then you may wish to use the same lawyer, providing you were happy with the service they provided. If you need to find a lawyer from scratch then there are several options open to you.


Recommendations from friends and family are one of the best ways to find a suitable lawyer to take on your case. Remember you need to hire a lawyer who practices within the state in which the crime was committed and where the case will be heard. For cases within the area, you need to find a criminal attorney as they will have the experience and legal knowledge of local law to best represent you.


When asking friends and family for recommendations it is best to ask a few discrete questions as many people may not want to share the full details of their experience with you. Likewise, you may not wish to disclose the full nature of the charges against you. Simply obtaining the contact details of a criminal attorney will give you the basis on which to investigate them further yourself.

Musca Law Naples
2650 Airport Pulling Rd S
Suite G
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 793-5297

The internet has revolutionized the way in which we search for service providers, including lawyers, and there are many legal websites that carry details about lawyers from across the country. By entering your zip code and the nature of your case you will be returned with a list of lawyers in your area who specialize in the area of law applicable to your case. Some sites will only give you brief details and contact information, whilst others will include more detailed profiles of attorneys.


Locally you will find criminal attorney’s advertising in directories and publications, including newspapers and magazines. You may also find a list of attorney’s in the area at your local courthouse, town hall or police station. Typically these types of advertisements will not give much detailed information and you may wish to conduct some further research before contacting them. Visiting court whilst a case in progress, may throw up an attorney matching your needs.

Finally, you can request a referral from your local bar association. They will take some details from you and put you in touch with a lawyer who meets your needs. You are under no obligation to hire them but you should be aware that the bar association may charge you a referral fee if you do go on to instruct them in your case.

Criminal Lawyer: Securing Your Future

A criminal lawyer can help those accused of a criminal offense have the legal representation that will protect their career, freedom, and rights. Through a thorough investigation and evaluation, the criminal lawyer attempts to secure a successful conclusion to the case. Being accused or charged with a criminal offense can be one of the most devastating times in your life. Your result could be that your innocence will not be proven in a court of law. To avoid this, hire an experienced criminal lawyer to represent your case who has an extensive knowledge of handling criminal law case with a high percentage of success rates. The following are the benefits of hiring a lawyer that specializes in the area of criminal law cases:

You get a thorough investigation of your case: They can unfold evidence a police officer may have missed during the investigation by conducting their own investigation of your case. Dui Attorney Tampa FL This evidence could prove that you are innocent of the crime that you have been accused of. Your lawyer may use various resources to put together evidence that will help defend you.

Reduction in jail time or punishment: Your best option is to hire a criminal lawyer as soon as you have been accused of a crime. Your lawyer will build a strong case for you by arranging evidence, in hopes of lessening your punishment if are found guilty. A reputable attorney is familiar with some of the prosecutors and court officials in your jurisdiction and has a good reputation in court.  Your lawyers’ good standing will help him/her negotiate deals on your behalf.

Relieves your Stress: Even though you may be knowledgeable of some aspects of the law, if you have been charged with a crime, it is important to hire a lawyer instead of representing yourself. Hiring a lawyer that is experienced and reputable will be a vital component in defending your rights. You can have the peace of mind knowing you have hired the best person to represent you during one of the toughest times of your life.

It is always best to hire a lawyer during the early stage of your legal problems. Your criminal lawyer will work with you during pre-trial to try to help you avoid being arrested or even having charges filed against you. This is a critical phase in your legal issues and securing the help of a lawyer will help to maximize your options.

Use a Criminal Attorney and Prevent Compromising Your Criminal Record

There are many reasons to retain a criminal attorney, even when facing minor charges. The legal system is very complicated, and many have found that going it alone has more consequences than the actual criminal charges. This is especially true for a law-abiding citizen facing a criminal charge for the first time. From time to time, even a law-abiding citizen will face the need to retain a criminal attorney. Although the laws in the United States state that one is innocent until proven guilty, having the proper legal representation in court can mean the difference between going home free and without a criminal record, or facing jail time that could lead to a number of other negative consequences. While legal representation is indeed a right, sometimes the court-appointed attorneys cannot dedicate the same amount of time and effort that a paid criminal attorney can.

There are a number of services beyond trial representation that a criminal attorney can provide for their clients. Criminal laws can be complex, and will vary by city, county, or state. Therefore, certain criminal offenses do not carry the same weight as others. As a result, the lawyer can help their client understand the charges they are facing, the evidence against them, and the legal consequences. Many times, this can help the accused decide how they would like to approach the case. This is especially helpful because many times law enforcement does a poor job of explaining to the accused why they are in jail. In fact, the lawyer can also help their clients understand their rights and even advocate for their client if law enforcement is not following the proper procedures in their jurisdiction.

Many times, criminal cases are dismissed due to law enforcement not following the proper procedures. For instance, probable cause is a legal term used to describe the grounds on which can officer can make an arrest or conduct a property or personal search. Although probable cause can include any type of suspicious behavior, the smell of drugs or alcohol is usually the biggest indicator of criminal activity that allows the officer to conduct a search. While it is legal for the officer to arrest the accused if they find an illegal item after conducting the search, the criminal charges must be dropped if the officer cannot prove probable cause. Many times it is the attorney’s job to review the police report and interview the arresting officer to determine if there was an illegal search that led to their client’s arrest.

Even for those with mounting evidence against them, a criminal attorney can still do a lot for their client. For instance, a plea bargain is an agreement between the prosecutor and the defense that allows the accused to plead guilty to the criminal charges in exchange for a lesser sentence. This is when the negotiation skills of an attorney will be the most helpful. In fact, many plea bargains allow for a lesser charge, which can be helpful if the client is facing a felony that has been downgraded to a misdemeanor.

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Your Right to Criminal Lawyer

Under the United States Constitution, every citizen who is facing criminal charges has the right to be represented by a competent and an experienced criminal lawyer. If in any case that he or she can not afford to hire one, he or she is entitled to have a court appointed criminal lawyer. Within the United States Constitution, every citizen is afforded the right to be represented in a courtroom by a criminal lawyer. You are also afforded the right to competent and experienced legal representation for your defense. This does not just mean hiring a lawyer to advise you, but also to argue your case for you in court and defend you throughout the trial.

This Constitutional right also means that should you not be able to afford to hire a private criminal lawyer, you have the right to a court appointed lawyer instead. This right is read to you via the Miranda rights when you are arrested. 

  • You have been charged with a Class A misdemeanor or felony
  • You have violated your probation order
  • You are under arrest and are therefore entitled to legal representation
  • You are entitled to a mental condition hearing
  • You are a material witness currently in custody
  • You are entitled to a Tampa criminal attorney under the 6th amendment
  • You are facing loss of liberty
  • You are entitled to have a lawyer appointed to you

It should be noted that if you are appointed a lawyer by the courts then the cost of that legal representation will be met by the state and the cost will be made known to the public by the judge at each stage of the trial and that the state is meeting this cost.

If you have a court appointed lawyer then you cannot change them part way through your trial unless you can present sufficient evidence to the judge that a change is necessary. You may feel that they are not acting within your best interests or have evidence of serious malpractice against them. Even then the judge may still decline your request to change counsel. As an alternative you can request your lawyer to apply to be removed from the case themselves, in which case a new lawyer will be appointed to you.

It is your right to be represented by an adequate and competent criminal lawyer, but your case could be dismissed in court if it is proven that your lawyer was not giving adequate representation to you. You could be re-tried at a later date or have all charges dropped because of their incompetence. If you are entitled to a court appointed lawyer and are not provided with one, then you can bring case of incompetence against the state in which you are being tried.