Criminal Cases
The Seven Most Important Things You Should Know When Looking For a Lawyer:
First, and let’s face facts, price is an issue. I list my Fees here and at other places on this site. At my level, one does not engage in Fee competition on a "low bidder" basis. My prices are fair, and are based upon over 20 years of experience and what I know it will take to properly and completely handle a case.
Second, you have to like the lawyer you are going to hire. Your lawyer is your spokesperson when dealing with the Prosecutor and the Judge. If you have reservations about the lawyer you hire, or just don’t feel “good” about him or her, it is highly unlikely that as the case moves forward and more money is paid, your feelings will change. You can get a very good idea about what I'm like by reading some the articles I have published that deal with the subject of your interest.
Third, you have to trust your lawyer. I believe very strongly in being honest with my clients, right from the start of a case. That means never “sugar-coating” the truth, and sometimes it even means being the bearer of bad news. As the saying goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” I hate unpleasant surprises, as I’m sure you do, as well. You won’t get any with me.
Fourth, you have to know that your lawyer is experienced in your kind of case. I won’t ever waste your time or mine even talking about a case that doesn’t fit within my realm of experience. While it would be impossible to list all of the cases I do handle and those I don’t, I have included a section entitled “Types of Cases That I Handle” which you can use a guide. Whatever your charge, I promise you that if I take on your case, you’ll be paying my fee for my experience, not my tuition.
Fifth, I think it’s vitally important that your lawyer know the Court where your case is being heard. The ability to give honest answers to your questions and to give an accurate picture of what’s likely to happen in your case comes directly from prior experience with the Judge and Prosecutor who will be handling it. The same charge can have two very different outcomes in different cities. Knowing those differences beforehand is the result of experience. That’s why I limit my criminal cases to Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties.
Sixth, I think it’s not only fair, but necessary to ask “What can you do for me?” Whether your case is going to cost $1800, $3000, or $10,000, you better be sure that you’re going to get that much benefit from what you are about to spend. It’s an honest question that deserves an equally honest answer.
Seventh, and perhaps most important, all this usually ends up in one, single, very important question: "Am I going to go to jail?" It is, of course, my entire mission to avoid that for my clients. My ultimate goal for my client is damage control; it's my job is to minimize the consequences of a criminal charge. In the vast majority of the kind of cases that I handle, that means no jail. However, I will never simply tell a client what they want to hear. Instead, I will tell the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
Facing a criminal charge, or charges, is stressful. You are no doubt already familiar with hose emotions. Now you have to find the right lawyer. It seems that opinions, prices and personalities are all over the board. The more you look, the more confusing it seems to get.
It doesn’t have to be that way. My approach is different. I like to think I’m different (but in a good way).