Retaining an Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer should be your first step if you have been arrested in the Indy area on assault charges, and of course you want an experienced and helpful person who can help you through this potentially stressful time. A good lawyer will have your best interests at heart and may be able to ensure you do not serve any jail time.
Where to Look
Although there are plenty of law firms in the area who can potentially help you, it can be surprisingly difficult finding the right attorney or law firm, and it is not as easy as simply choosing someone from the phone book. Most law firms have informative and well-designed websites, making the Internet the obvious place to start looking, and the firm’s site will give you a better idea of who they are and how they operate.
What Should You Look For In a Good Defense Attorney?
Experience
Of course, experience is essential in an attorney and you really need to choose someone to represent you who has had plenty of relevant experience. Being represented by someone who has had experience in that particular area of the law specifically is important, and many law firms assign these types of cases to their best and most experienced attorneys, which may give you a clue.
Acquittal Rate
Trials are a matter of public record, making it easy to find the acquittal rate for a particular attorney, and finding that information out will give you an idea how effective he or she is and what the chances are of you being acquitted. Of course, this is not a guarantee, but it will give you a feel for the person and whether they are able to help you.
Retainer Fees
It is your right to ask how much the retainer fee is, and you should get an accurate answer, and this information will go a long way in helping you make a decision on which attorney to choose.