Before Choosing an Edwardsville Criminal Attorney

Being accused of a crime is a serious matter. If convicted, you could face punishments such as fines, probation, jail or prison time, as well as a permanent blemish on your record. Therefore, hiring a qualified, experienced Edwardsville defense attorney who will stand up for your rights is extremely important.

What to look for in a lawyer

When evaluating prospective criminal attorneys, you should look for the following qualifications:

Experience:

• Experienced attorneys have an edge in criminal defense cases. But experience cannot always be measured in years alone. Make sure that the lawyer you choose has handled cases similar to yours. For example, if you face drug trafficking charges, an attorney who has 30 years of experience, but none defending drug crimes, is probably not a good choice.

Communication:

• It doesn’t matter how qualified lawyers are if they do not listen to you and provide straightforward answers. A lawyer should speak to you in plain language and make sure you understand the case. And consider the fact that if a criminal defense attorney cannot effectively communicate with you, he or she will not be able to communicate with a judge or jury either.

Case volume:

• As a client, you deserve individualized attention. If the law firm you hire has a high volume of cases, your case either will not receive proper care, or else it will be delegated to an associate firm member. A law firm that does this is often out to make a quick buck. Ask about a lawyer’s caseload. If they are working on more than 20-25 cases at once, they may not devote adequate time to you.

Trust:

• A simple yet telling way to evaluate a law firm is by how much you trust them. Does the lawyer listen to you? Does he or she appear straightforward and show a personal interest in you and your case? With a criminal conviction looming, you cannot afford to hire an attorney you do not trust. 

Providing criminal defense to Edwardsville for over 14 years

Lyndon P. Evanko has served the people of Edwardsville and throughout St. Clair, Madison and Monroe Counties for nearly a decade and a half. In that time he has earned a solid reputation through professional integrity and devotion to his clients. He makes a point to return all phone calls personally and regularly meets with clients on evenings and weekends. For experienced and dedicated legal defense, contact Lyndon P. Evanko, P.C., today.