How to Hire a Drug Attorney

By Abraham Avotina

If you've been arrested for a drug-related crime and you're searching for a lawyer with expertise in drug law, there are a few steps you should consider before making the decision to hire someone.

First, make the decision to hire a drug attorney and not your family's estate lawyer. Though all barred lawyers are technically presumed to be qualified for any representation, the laws concerning possession and testing are in a state of major flux and you'll want someone at your side that knows the lay of the land. Not only that, but an attorney who focuses his or her practice on drug matters will likely know the prosecutors and judges practicing on the circuit and might be able to get you a better deal.

Second, if you're thinking you'd rather save some money by going with a public defender, consider this: public defenders in Los Angeles routinely handle over 300 cases at a time. That is 200 more cases than the American Bar Association recommends a lawyer should tackle at once. Though they may be well meaning, public defenders are overworked and won't be able to devote the time and resources to your case that an experienced drug attorney will.

Third, ask your friends and family for recommendations. Referrals from people you trust will often be better than flipping through a phone book or doing a Google search. But when meeting with these attorneys, be sure to check their credentials and get a feel for how trustworthy you think they are. Make sure they are a member of their state bar association and give them bonus points for being a member of a criminal justice division or trial lawyers association. These memberships let you know that they have put in the time to make sure they are up to date on the latest developments in the law and legal techniques that could help you sway a jury in your favor. If your drug attorney has published on a topic related to your representation or if he or she has ever been a law professor or taught a CLE course, you know that they have extensively researched the areas of the law that will matter most to you.

Finally, make sure you understand how your drug attorney will bill you and what his or her rates are. Some attorneys bill at a flat fee and others charge by the hour. After discussing the facts of your case, make sure to ask whether you will be charged for related expenses such as a private investigator. Inquire about who exactly will work on your case and for how long, as many attorneys at larger firms will assign other associates to your case once you give the firm your business.

Remember, even though the process of hiring an experienced criminal attorney can be daunting, you owe it to yourself to make sure you get the best representation before handing your record over to the criminal justice system. Don't make your life any more difficult by accepting a criminal record without knowing you did everything in your power to defend against it.

Don't go to court alone. Get help from a drug attorney Tampa at: http://roothlawgroup.com.

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