Have you recently been arrested on suspicion of possessing or selling illegal narcotics and you need an effective Oklahoma drug attorney? If you have ever employed a criminal attorney in the past, you have to perhaps not hire them again– you need a lawyer who specializes in drug crimes.
Identifying a Good Oklahoma Drug Attorney
You could find a drug crime attorney just as you would a regular lawyer, by consulting your loved ones, colleagues, co-workers, and others you count on for suggestions. However, don’t gather a long list of names. Rather, you should ask probing questions about what it’s like dealing with their recommended attorney– such as whether they are on time for appointments and reasonably available to resolve inquiries.
If you already have a lawyer but need to have one with a focused know-how on drug crimes, ask for a referral. You could check the American Bar Association website for state-specific information, including a lawyer finder service or license verification. You can also visit independent legal referral websites, which can help you find a lawyer based on your location and legal issues. For instance, if you were arrested on marijuana charges, the website NORML.org offers a lawyer directory, based on state. It also offers other extremely beneficial background and credential information, such as education, licenses, associations, reviews, and contact information.
Meeting Your Oklahoma Drug Attorney
Before your very first meeting, you should take the time to look into what qualities you would want in a drug crime lawyer. You probably want one who has:
- Usually, it’s not important to get a professional in a particular field, but for this particular scenario, in which expertise matters and the stakes are high, it is crucial to look for a lawyer who concentrates in drug crimes.
- Be sure the attorney is eager to learn about your particular circumstance. It will greatly help in the long run because he or she can modify the defense to meet your needs.
- Ability to communicate. If the lawyer speaks in “legalese” and doesn’t bother to clarify the terms he or she uses, you need to look for someone else.
- Will the attorney be readily available for meetings at your convenience, not his or hers? How quickly can you anticipate emergency phone calls to be returned?
- Is this someone with whom you can get along? Good chemistry will ensure a better relationship and more positive consequences for your case.
- Don’t be discouraged to ask for referrals. Ask what sorts of cases the attorney has worked with in the past. Get a list of customers or other attorneys you can get in touch with to go over proficiency, service and fees.
- Reasonable fees. Attorneys charge anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more per hour. Make sure the fees coincide with the location, size and prestige of the firm, as well as the lawyer’s reputation and expertise.
To make the most of your first session, you should bring several documents with you, including:
- Any records you have from the court describing the charges against you and your next court appearance.
- Your bail records.
- The police report, or any other paperwork the police gave you.
- Some criminal defense lawyers may ask you to fill out a list of questions before your first meeting. If you are asked to complete one, send it to the lawyer ahead of your encounter.
- The lawyer will find it beneficial if you compile a list of everyone associated to the case; include witnesses, victims, and other defendants. In order to reduce the chances of a conflict of interest, the lawyer will need to establish that neither anyone from the law firm nor the lawyer has ever presented anyone involved with your case.
Your lawyer will have a lot of inquiries about the drug charges against you, so just let them lead the cross-examining. You, however, should be straightforward with your attorney, and keep in mind that confidentiality laws hinder them from revealing anything discussed in the first meeting.
When it’s your turn to examine them, you’ll want to know exactly how much practical experience they have representing patrons with drug charges, in addition to personally knowing the prosecuting attorney and the judge. You will want to find out this information because it will be extremely useful to your case if your attorney has a good reputation with the people who work in the courthouse. And, of course, you’re going to want to know about the legal fees and other expenses.
If you have any special requests, make them known during your first meeting. For example, maybe you need weekend appointments or communication in another language. Ask whether the lawyer can accommodate your needs.
Hiring an Oklahoma Drug Attorney
After you have met with all the criminal defense attorneys on your list, it’s time to choose one. When determining the best one for you, think back to the list of traits you have defined as most important to you. Which one of the lawyers met your standards?
If you only met with one attorney and were pleased with him or her, then you have found the attorney for you. If, however, you interviewed several and one did not rise to the top, think about contacting some of their former clients. Find out what it was like working with their attorney and whether the clients would hire them again. First-hand feedback can be invaluable.
Soon after you have narrowed the field to your one best choice, you are prepared to hire a drug crimes lawyer.
