| Read Time: 3 minutes

Hiring the best criminal defense attorney in San Diego County should mean finding the attorney that is best for you. 

Selecting the right lawyer for your case is crucial, and making this choice can be difficult and daunting.

The article below provides a guideline for choosing the best criminal defense attorney in San Diego County for your case. 

Relevant Experience

If you were charged with a crime in San Diego County, you should look for an attorney with experience in the same area and the same field of law.

The types of legal professional experience vary widely, and expertise in other areas of law does not necessarily translate to experience in criminal law.

For example, an attorney who specializes in civil corporate law very well may not have the skills and experience necessary to effectively represent a client in a criminal matter.

When choosing your attorney, make sure they have experience working with clients with similar criminal charges. If you were charged with DUI in San Diego, you should look for attorneys with experience defending clients with DUI in the same or a nearby region.

Professional Reputation

A criminal defense attorney’s professional reputation can provide important insights into their legal practice.

When searching for an attorney, look for those that have received recognition from legal professional organizations.

A lawyer who earns this type of recognition demonstrates their success as a lawyer and also earns the respect of their professional peers.

Some examples of professional legal designations include:

  • Recognition as a Super Lawyer,
  • Awards from the local or state bar association, and
  • Accolades from local news or media outlets.

In addition, testimonials from previous clients can provide important information about an attorney’s practice.

Client testimonials provide specific examples of how a lawyer works with clients and what you can expect from the client-lawyer relationship.

This information will help ensure you find an attorney who is the right fit for your case. 

Trust and Communication

Attorneys must be able to communicate with their clients effectively. 

The best criminal defense attorneys strive to develop a personal relationship with their clients and establish a high level of trust.

When thinking about your attorney’s ability to communicate with you, consider the following:

  • Can I easily communicate with my attorney by phone, email, or in-person?
  • How quickly does my attorney respond to my questions?
  • Does my attorney explain legal concepts in a way I can understand?
  • Does my attorney listen to my questions and concerns and provide useful feedback and information?

You should feel comfortable speaking and sharing information with your attorney. Open communication and dialogue will ensure you receive high-quality representation. 

History of Success

Age and experience can provide useful indicators of a lawyer’s ability. But those factors alone do not always guarantee successful outcomes for their clients.

When searching for a criminal defense attorney in San Diego County, you should focus your search on lawyers and law firms with a proven history of success.

Many law firms will list the results of their cases on their websites.

When performing your research, consider the following:

  • How many clients have they represented with charges similar to yours?
  • Is this type of criminal charge a regular part of their practice? 
  • How frequently were they able to get their clients acquitted or get their charges reduced?
  • How many jury trials have they done?  

Although lawyers can never guarantee an outcome, hiring an attorney with a history of success will ensure you receive high-quality, reliable legal representation. 

Fair Fees and Pricing Structures

The best criminal defense attorneys provide strong and reliable legal representation at a fair price.

Before accepting legal services, you should speak with your prospective attorney about their fee structure.

Consider some of the following questions:

  • How much do you charge for legal services?
  • How are your fees calculated?
  • What are the fees if my case goes to trial?
  • Do you offer payment plans?

Figuring out how to pay for legal fees can be stressful and frustrating. But the best criminal defense attorneys in San Diego County will put your interests first and figure out a payment option that works best for you.

Contact an Experienced San Diego County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

The Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC, have extensive experience with the San Diego County criminal justice system.

Our skilled attorneys have tried more than 100 cases in court to the jury and have a proven history of success.

We care deeply about our clients and put their interests first. We offer hands-on, personalized legal services, and our dedicated staff will support you every step of the way.

For a free consultation, call our offices at 619-900-6902 or fill out an online form today.

Author Photo

Kerry L. Armstrong

 

Attorney Kerry Armstrong opened up his law firm in June 2007. Mr. Armstrong attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, California, and received his B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University. Kerry L. Armstrong became certified by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization for criminal law in August 2020, making him one of the few criminal defense attorneys with a criminal law legal specialization certificate in San Diego County.  Between 2014 – 2019, Mr. Armstrong was selected for inclusion in the California Super Lawyers list, an honor only awarded to 5% of the nation’s attorneys.

Rate this Post

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Loading...