A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in the defense of individuals and companies who have been charged with criminal activity.
A good criminal lawyer assesses a case thoroughly, analyzes situations carefully, collects evidence, prepares documents, represents clients, protects client’s interest, negotiates pleas and updates clients about the progress of cases.
However, it takes a good criminal defense lawyer to handle all of this successfully and win even the most challenging case for their client.
For this reason, finding a good criminal attorney in Northern Virginia, just like elsewhere, is often a herculean task but knowing the following qualities of a good criminal defense lawyer will ultimately help you make an informed decision when looking for a criminal lawyer in your area.
Experience
A good criminal defense lawyer is one who knows their onions. They are not only knowledgeable about law and the nitty-gritty of the prosecutor’s argument but how to deflate such an argument and win even the most challenging case for their client when all hopes seem to have been lost. Without mincing words, a good criminal lawyer is well-experienced and highly competent.
Good Communication Skills
A good criminal defense attorney is someone who has the gift of the gab. They can talk fluently and with eloquence. This makes it easy for them to present their case well and represent their client satisfactorily without jeopardizing their client’s chances of winning a case, no matter how slim such chances may be. Apart from oral advocacy skills, a good criminal lawyer should be a good listener to be able to understand a client’s pain and know where the shoe pinches them and how to help. A good criminal attorney should also be a good writer to be able to choose words correctly and express themselves freely. They should also be able to read and understand without which research would be pretty much difficult, thus dimming a client’s chances of succeeding in a case. So, a good criminal lawyer should have a mix of good listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to be able to defend a client well without putting them at risk of even losing a good case or incurring huge financial losses.
Confidentiality
A good criminal attorney maintains utmost confidentiality in their relationship with clients. They keep any communications with their clients a topmost secret and do not divulge them to anybody, even their colleagues. Anything to the contrary will likely jeopardize a client’s chances of winning a case.
Good Negotiation Skills
A good criminal lawyer is also a good negotiator. They know how to negotiate an out-of-court settlement in a criminal case with the prosecution or how to persuade the court to enter into a negotiation. In any case, the lawyer wants to achieve the best possible outcome for their client. This may lead to the payment of reparation, admission of guilt in exchange for dropping of some more serious charges or a lesser sentence.
Positive Ratings and Reviews
A good criminal attorney has positive ratings and reviews from past clients. This tells much about their skills and experience. You can find such ratings and reviews on Google, Yelp or Facebook. Sometimes, they can be found on the client’s website which often contains a portfolio of previous cases. This often includes such things as the types and number of criminal cases handled, number of such cases won and number of cases for which their sentences were reduced often due to the attorney’s good negotiation skills.
Criminal case is a delicate matter and that is why the search for a good criminal defense lawyer should not be taken for granted. Otherwise, a client’s chances of success are ruined from day one.
Lewis Law has good criminal defense lawyers ready to help, whether you are involved in criminal cases like arson, assault and battery, drug possession and distribution, fraud and forgery, malicious wounding, marijuana possession, petit and grand larceny, possession/concealment of firearms and other dangerous weapons, probation violations, prostitution or robbery.
Lewis Law has won over 94% of cases in more than 1,000 court appearances and succeeded in securing the reduction of the sentences of over 340 of those cases. They are an experienced and innovative criminal defense and injury law firm in Northern Virginia.
Get your free consultation today. For more information or inquiries, call Lewis Law’s toll-free number (703) 591-4507 or visit their office at 3925 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 202 Fairfax, VA 22030.
