Local law enforcement personnel are very aggressive. Ramsey County has one of the highest arrest rates in the state. Most of these people were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, area families will need a criminal defense attorney in St. Paul at one time or another. Should these individuals go with a public defender or hire their own lawyers?

The image of the overworked and underpaid public defender is misleading. These things may be true, but many attorneys are in the same boat. Additionally, many public defenders are very passionate about criminal defense, and they are highly-experienced lawyers.

The big drawback to going with the public defender is that defendants cannot choose their own criminal defense attorneys in St. Paul, MN. Additionally, such representation is not always available. Many judges will not appoint attorneys for defendants who are out on bond. These judges reason that if a defendant can afford bail, a defendant can afford a lawyer.

How to Choose a Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Paul, MN

If you Google this phrase, about a million results will pop up. In many ways, most lawyers are the same. They all passed the bar examination and they all have successful practices, at least to an extent. But in some other, more important ways, there are some significant differences.

Location

When people choose doctors or dentists, location does not matter very much. Generally, most people only go to the dentist or doctor a few times a year.

But when choosing a criminal defense attorney in St. Paul, MN, location is very important. The best attorney/client relationships are basically partnerships. Your lawyer needs to know everything about your case. It’s much easier to have these meetings face to face. Electronic or telephone communication is okay, but it’s not the same. Additionally, such discussions might not be confidential under Minnesota law.

Traveling across town to meet with your criminal defense attorney in St. Paul, MN might be okay for a month or so. But the drive gets old quickly. That’s especially true if the defendant has a restricted drivers’ license, perhaps due to ALR DWI suspension.

Experience

Your criminal matter is no time for on-the-job training. But criminal law experience, in and of itself, is not enough. An attorney should have substantial trial experience. Other lawyers may be unable to properly evaluate the facts and the law.

The late Grant Cooper, who represented RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan, is a good example. Cooper had some background in criminal law. But he had essentially no trial experience. So, at least according to some, Cooper failed to take advantage of some flaws in the state’s case. These flaws might not have been enough to change the outcome of the case. But we will never know.

The bottom line is that your criminal defense attorney in St. Paul, MN must thoroughly evaluate the state’s evidence and then aggressively fight for you. That’s the best way to help ensure a successful outcome.

Dedication

Criminal law is unlike other kinds of litigation. Effective criminal lawyers do what they do to protect individual rights against government overreach. Attorneys who handle a few cases here and there, largely for family and friends, do not have that same passion.

At the same time, there is normally strength in diversity. If a criminal defense attorney in St. Paul, MN has a few other areas of practice, that’s usually a good thing. These lawyers are often able to see the bigger picture.

As a rule of thumb, if your attorney practices less than 50 percent criminal law, that’s probably a bad sign. You deserve someone who is more dedicated to individual rights.

Cost

The legal fee is a factor. Yet working with an attorney is a lot different than buying a coffee maker or laptop computer. For these purchases, cost might be the primary or only consideration. But with regard to a criminal defense attorney in St. Paul, MN, the other factors are probably more important.

If the attorney’s fee is substantially higher than other fees, that’s a bad sign. Generally, no one is worth that much of a premium. If the attorney’s fee is substantially lower, that’s probably a bad sign too. Inexperienced lawyers often discount their fees to attract clients.

Bedside Manner

In the old days, doctors usually made house calls, especially in some cases. They knew there was little they could do for people with heart disease and other serious illnesses. So, they concentrated on making the patient feel better. Today, bedside manner is not nearly as important as medical competence.

The law has not advanced as much as medicine. So, bedside manner is still important among criminal defense attorneys in St. Paul, MN. Your lawyer should not only be fluent in Legalese. Your lawyers should also be fluent in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or whatever your first language happens to be.

Reach Out to an Experienced Lawyer

Choosing the right lawyer might be the biggest choice of your life. For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in St. Paul, MN, contact Capitol City Law Group, LLC. Go online now, call us at (651) 998-7634, or stop by 287 6th St E, Suite 20, St Paul, MN 55101.