How to find a good criminal defense lawyer
I'm a criminal defense lawyer. My paycheck comes from the state no matter what, so I don't have any interest in whether folks sign up for these prepaid legal things or not.
However, I would not recommend that anyone I cared about sign up for such a plan thinking that he would necessarily get a decent criminal defense lawyer out of it. The plans I have seen vet the attorneys who agree to participate (for a reduced fee) mainly by their willingness to participate and their reported areas of practice. As you might think, just because someone has graduated from law school and passed the bar doesn't mean he's a good lawyer. And just because someone is willing to accept criminal defense cases doesn't mean he has the proper specialized experience to know what he's doing to solve your problem.
Martindale-Hubble is of limited use, since it's mostly a firm-related thing, and I would say that at least half of the really good criminal defense lawyers are not rated in it.
To find a good criminal defense lawyer, take three steps. First, watch the papers. Get the names of criminal defense lawyers that you see over and over in high-profile cases.
Second step, the best way to find a good lawyer in a given specialty is to ask a couple of good lawyers that you know who have different specialties than what you're after. Folks in the legal community know the reps of other folks, regardless of their specialization. (You ask someone with a different specialty so that you know you're not getting an answer that's tainted.) And ask them, "
If you had a family member in trouble for shooting an intruder in self-defense, who would you want representing that family member? Give me three names." Believe me, they will be
happy to be of assistance and to make sure that you get steered in the right direction. (I know that not everybody knows a couple of good lawyers. So talk to a couple of cops and ask them the same question. Don't know any cops? Carefully park your car up on the sidewalk in front of the police station, and wait a few minutes.
)
Third step: You're going to find that some of the referred names are the same as those you've been seeing in the news. Maybe start with those - but if a guy is routinely doing high-profile big-money cases, he may be out of your price range (as in, $200,000.00 to take a case - it happens). But in any event, take the names you get (you'll have at least three, and at most six . . . but probably four), and give the lawyers a call. Tell them what you want - a lawyer to call in case something comes down and you have to retain a lawyer. Ask if you can swing by and chat for 10 minutes. They're not going to charge you (unless they're idiots - because if they can get you in the door and charm you, you might consider them for referrals and other business), and they'll probably be happy to see you (for the reason I just said, and because
many of these folks are going to be gun people themselves). See how you feel about them, and eventually you'll have the name of someone that you feel will be able to help you if - God forbid - you find yourself in a situation where you're forced to shoot someone to defend yourself.
Gee, I was just looking for legal advice and the next thing you know I get the inside of an interview room at the cop shoppe.