There is nothing fun about getting arrested. In what seems like the blink of an eye, you entire world has been turned upside down. Now instead of the wide open future you have always enjoyed, you find that your immediate future consists of judges, cops and the potential loss of your freedom. On top of all that you need to go through the added hassle and stress of finding and hiring a San Francisco criminal attorney.
It is not unusual for a person to decide that they are going to plead guilty, they did the crime, there is no point in wasting the courts time by pleading innocent when everyone knows they are not. Knowing you are going to plead guilty might make you think that you do not need an attorney; this is not a good idea. The attorney will help guide you through the nuances of the justice system and make sure you are treated fairly.
The extraordinary fees lawyers charge means that most people forgo the process of finding their own lawyer, instead opting for a court appointed attorney. There are some good points and some bad points to this particular plan. The good news is that you don't have to wonder if the attorney has all the correct credentials, the court will have taken care of that. The down side is that in San Francisco the average court appointed attorney is young and doesn't have a great deal of experience or resources.
People who have money usually decide that they are better off hiring the services of a private criminal attorney who has more experience than the one the court would assign them. Now they just have to find one. Looking for advertisements in the phone book and paper is a good place to start hunting for a lawyer. Getting the recommendations of friends and family member can further streamline the process.
Before formally hiring a lawyer you need to met with them to see if they are the right person to handle your case. The lawyer you hire should be self confident, knowledgeable, and honest. Be very suspicious if they promise you will win, something an honest lawyer will never promise.
You want to make sure that you are hiring a lawyer who has tried cases similar to yours. Find out how successful they have been when the similar cases went before a judge. This would also be a good time for you and your lawyer to discuss if what the chances are of you being successful. Again, if the lawyer promises a win, get out of their office and look somewhere else.
You and your new lawyer are going to have to spend some time discussing how much the lawyer is going to charge you for the case. Be realistic about your finances. If you can't afford the private lawyer, you will be better off with a public defender.
When you are calm and relaxed you stand a better chance of finding a San Francisco criminal lawyer that is perfectly suited to try your case. You just need to use a little common sense. Select your attorney with great care since your future relies on their services.
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