One of the most challenging aspects of going to court is the choice of an attorney. It is a challenging task since it means placing trust and confidence into the hands of another individual with the hope that they defend one effectively. This is particularly true when it comes to criminal cases. This is because choosing an inexperienced lawyer will mean that the individual may have to go to jail or pay hefty fines. The following are the steps to take when choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Rochester MN.
Determine the Legal Needs
No matter how trivial the criminal charge, it is recommended that the individual at least has a consultation with a criminal attorney from Rolsch Law Offices to understand the crimes they have been charged with. During the consultation, the lawyer should enlighten the defendant on the severity of the charges and describe the options available.
Decide on the type of Defense Attorney
State Cases
The defendant will have to decide whether they need the services of a federal or state attorney. If they are charged with criminal charges that have violated state law, it is best to engage the services of a lawyer that majors in state law. Cases involving state law include broken contracts, traffic violations, family disputes, robberies, etc.
Federal Cases
Federal cases deal mainly with situations in which the US constitution has been violated. The United States is a party in these cases, and these usually involves copyright cases, bankruptcy cases, patent cases, etc. If someone is charged with violating federal law, it is recommended that they engage a defense attorney with lots of experience and who should also be able to devote a large amount of energy and time to the case.
Specialty
Look for defense lawyers who specialize in the kind of violations that one has been charged with. Though a lot of criminal defense lawyers handle all kinds of criminal cases, it is recommended that the defendant chooses one that is experienced in handling some particular cases. For instance, some attorneys specialize in financial crimes, while others work exclusively on rape defense cases, violent crimes, etc.
