5 Ways to Find a DC Criminal Lawyer
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When facing potential criminal charges in the District of Columbia, it is imperative you hire a reputable lawyer who has ample experience with cases similar to yours. Individuals who have never had a run-in with the law before do not always know how to find the right DC criminal lawyer to represent them. If you are a first-time offender, here are five different ways to help you find the right criminal lawyer.
Business Referrals
If you have a tax attorney or dealt with a divorce lawyer, ask them for
referrals of well-known criminal lawyers in the area. Although they may not
handle your particular type of case, many attorneys are familiar with reputable
lawyers in a wide range of practice areas. You may also seek referrals from
other law-related business professionals including law enforcement officials,
mental health professionals, insurance agents, etc.
Personal Referrals
If you know someone who was in a situation similar to yours, inquire about the
criminal attorney they used and whether or not they were satisfied with their
work. Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t solely base your decision on someone
else’s recommendation; different people will have different responses to a
lawyer’s particular style and personality.
Legal Directories
There are a handful of highly regarded legal directories, such as
Martindale-Hubbell or the West Legal Directory which are available in most
public libraries that list criminal lawyers throughout the area. A number of
voluntary bar associations also have their own directories of qualified
attorneys, including the Women’s Bar Association of D.C.
The District of
Columbia Bar
The District of Columbia Bar Association
can be valuable source in your search for the right lawyer. They offer a wide
range of free service to the public that can help you find and hire a lawyer
who has experience handling cases similar to yours. The association also has a
lawyer referral service which can refer individuals to a DC criminal
lawyer qualified to handle their case.
The
Yellow Pages
The yellow pages has attorneys listed alphabetically and groups lawyers
together by practice area. Approach the ads as you would any other
advertisement and contact only those you feel comfortable with.
Related: 10 Questions to Ask Your Divorce Lawyer
