The first person that many people will ask to refer a good attorney is the bail bondsman who helped them get out of jail. Unfortunately, the law prohibits bail bondsmen from recommending an attorney to clients. California has a number of excellent criminal defense attorneys, which makes it hard to know how to choose the one that is right for you.

You can consult our list of Top California Attorneys Online. If you want to recommend an attorney for the list, please submit a nomination to Top50CA@888bailbond.com. Please include: Attorney Name, Firm, Twitter and Website.

How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney

In order to find the best attorney for your case, you need to gather enough information so that you can make an informed decision.

You can ask friends and family members for any recommendations they have about a good criminal defense attorney. Those who are closest to you will have your best interest at heart and will help you to find the right attorney.

Not all lawyers are the same. Some may specialize in DUI whereas others may be stronger in robbery cases. You want to find a lawyer that has had plenty of experience in cases similar to yours.

When you begin to search for a criminal lawyer, you need to look into each attorney’s:

• Experience
• Practice specialties
• Years in practice
• Results from cases
• Track record
• Educational background
• Testimonials from clients

Speak with a few different attorneys when you begin your search. A reputable attorney will offer you a complimentary phone interview at a minimum. You don’t have to settle for the first lawyer you speak with. You want someone who makes you feel at ease and makes you feel confident in his or her abilities. An attorney is someone you want to have complete faith in, especially when your case could end with jail time.

Find out which bar associations each lawyer is a member of, what areas of California they serve and their areas of expertise. When you speak with each attorney, you can gauge his or her attitude. One may be more aggressive while another focuses on investigation. One may be ready to strike a deal while others want to fight it out in court. It’s important to find a lawyer that you trust. You want them to treat you with respect and keep you in the loop with everything that concerns your case.

Attorney’s fees can be expensive, so find one who can work around your financial situation. You might be more comfortable with an attorney with a private practice or prefer to have your case handled by a large firm. The choice is yours to make. Remember, it isn’t the size of the firm that matters; it’s the experience of your attorney and the way you feel about them that matters.

Finding the right criminal defense attorney for your unique situation is an important step in facing the charges laid against you. It is not a decision to be made lightly by randomly selecting a name from the phone book. Look at testimonials from past clients. Do research online. There are a large number of directories available to help you find the places to start in your search. Make sure you are getting the lawyer who is going to give you their absolute best.