What To Look For In An Appeals Attorney
What To Look For In An Appeals Attorney
This article also originally appears on www.halt.org
What To Look For In An Appeals Attorney
If you have been convicted of a crime, it does not mean that your case has to end. You still have some options available to you and one of those options to appeal your conviction. If your appeal is successful, you could very well avoid the sentence that was imposed and all of its consequences.
Before you appeal your case, it is crucial that you research appellate attorneys and find some that you think will be able to handle the complex matter that is before you. Appeals are not at all easy, so you need to know what to look for when hiring an appeals lawyer.
Keeping that in mind, here are some very important things to keep in mind when you are searching for an appeals lawyer.
Check what an appeals attorney should have
Experience is key
When it comes to criminal appeals, there is simply no substitute for experience. The appeals process is highly complex and you need to hire an attorney who has a history or working in appeals.
Here at Brownstone Law, we pride ourselves on combined decades of experience to help you get the result you want out of your appeals.
Make sure the attorney knows the local courts
You’re not only hiring a lawyer for their expertise, you are also hiring them for their relationships and their knowledge of the court in which your charge was filed. Finding an attorney who has dealt with the specific court where your appeal is being heard is highly important.
Each district and division have different justices, staff and clerks and each has their own opinions and ideas. You need an attorney who understands your local appellate court and how that court functions.
Look for a team of lawyers who can help you
When it comes to deciding who you should work with when it comes to your appeal, look for a team of attorneys who can handle the major workload and pressures of filing an appeal. If you can, look for a firm that is home to multiple attorneys who will be willing and able to work on your case.
Remember there are no guarantees
One thing that you absolutely have to keep in mind is that no matter who you hire, there are no guarantees that your appeal will be granted. Therefore, you should never expect that a lawyer to guarantee that the or she will be able to win your appeal. If you do meet with a lawyer who does guarantee that your appeal will be granted, you should get up and walk out. Not only is it impossible to predict the outcome, it is also against the law to guarantee clients an outcome.
Make sure you know what you will be paying
If you or a loved one is appealing a criminal charge, make sure that you know what kind of pricing you will face. The best way to do this is to obtain a written agreement from your lawyer that explicitly spells out the services and fees you will be expected to pay.