During an arrest, bail bonds and the process of your release might be a difficult and stressful process. But as much of a relief it is when you are finally freed from jail and have made arrangements to compensate the bail bonds company for posting your bail, there are still your bigger-picture legal issues to handle.
The next step in the process is to examine the details of your trial and seek legal counsel in order to minimize your potential penalties with the State.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when selecting an attorney and the answers you should seek to find.
1. Is an Attorney Necessary?
There are actually quite a few arrest situations where an attorney will not be necessary. Say you were arrested for driving with a suspended license due to prior traffic violations. Chances are, once you post bail and are released, you will merely need to pay your past fines in court in order to restore your license. An attorney wont be necessary in this instance.
Other crimes, however will require an actual trial to prove your guilt or innocence. Even if you are pleading guilty, it is advisable to hire an attorney to minimize the consequences of your arraignment.
Lawyers have education and experience that regular people dont have, so even if a case seems simple, an attorney could help. They also have legal connections that could help reduce a sentence.
2. Where Should I look for a Lawyer?
If you have already dealt with a
bail bonds company to help you with your
bail bonds cost and release, you may want to ask them if they have any recommendations for legal counsel based on your charge. A bail bondsman deals with many lawyers and will sometimes even have relationships with law firms.
You can also find attorney reviews online, or find specialty firms related to your charge by searching online based on your location. Public defenders will be appointed to you in court if you cannot afford an attorney for any reason.
3. What Qualities Should I Look for When Choosing an Attorney?
The best thing to when
selecting an attorney is find one with experience in your type of charge you were arrested for. Attorneys who advertise a specialty in DUI law, for example, have dealt with just about every type of offender and will be able to advise you properly on your best course of action related to your case.
