If you have been charged with a serious crime, it is important to take action promptly. While you can legally represent yourself in court for a criminal charge, doing so is almost always the worst thing that you can do. Having a serious conviction on your record can negatively affect your life in numerous ways-- you may be sent to prison, and even after you are released, you could find it difficult to pass employment background checks, rent property, or obtain fingerprint clearance cards necessary for many careers. Thus, after being charged with a serious criminal offense, one of the best things you can do is hire an attorney. Consider the following things when hiring a criminal defense attorney to represent you in court:

Your Budget

The services of a good criminal defense attorney most likely won't be cheap, but they are well worth the cost. However, it is important to keep your financial situation and your budget in mind when selecting a criminal defense attorney. Hiring a well-known attorney won't do you any good if you run out of funds to pay for fees before your case even goes to trial. The prices charged by criminal defense attorneys can vary greatly, so make sure that you have a clear understanding of the fees and ensure that you can afford the fees before you hire an attorney.

Area of Expertise

While some criminal defense attorneys may defend people who have been charged with a variety of criminal offenses, others decide to specialize in one area of criminal law. If you have been charged with a very serious criminal offense, it is in your best interest to look for an attorney who primarily handles cases like yours. A criminal defense lawyer who specializes in defending just one or two types of criminal offenses will most likely have a proven method of gathering important evidence and building a strong defense for a specific type of case.

Experience

If the offense that you have been charged with carries time in prison, you want to make sure that you have the best attorney possible on your side representing you. Thus, when looking for a criminal defense attorney, it is always a good idea to keep experience in mind. A highly experienced attorney who has spent a lot of time in the courtroom and has represented many clients over the course of years may be a better option than an attorney who is new to criminal law cases.