There are a few ways to make sure you get the right lawyer for your case – a skilled lawyer who will fight for your rights – so you’ll have the best chance of keeping your freedom!

And, after being a Criminal Defense Attorney in Georgia for over 16 years I think I can offer you some advice on this topic:

5 Most Important Questions to Ask before Deciding to Hire an Attorney

  1. First of all, you must ask – “How many years has he practiced criminal law?” Of course, the longer the time – the more training and experience he will have. Ten years or more gives you a good probability that he will have specific legal knowledge to use in getting you the best outcome for your case. This specific knowledge not only relates to knowing the laws but also knowing the other lawyers, judges, and how they operate,… and being able to figure out the best strategy for your case.

  2. Secondly, you must ask– “Does the attorney limit his practice to criminal law?” Do you want your attorney’s case load to include legitimizing a child, giving bankruptcy advice, handling divorces, child custody, real estate, firearm, reading wills and estates, probating estates and throw in for good measure-criminal defense. Obviously, you would rather be represented by an attorney who limits his practice to criminal defense.

  3. Third, you must ask – “How many trials has he handled?” Obviously, you would rather have someone who has tried a lot of cases, ideally 100 or more. An attorney with that level of experience is going to be better at such things as jury selection, negotiating reduced sentences, closing arguments, and a number of critical elements in a criminal case. You don’t want to get someone just out of law school!

  4. Something else you want to know is “After reviewing your case, Can he give you specific issues on defenses in your case?” For Example: The officer failed to follow procedure in the administration of the HGN and Walk and Turn Field Sobriety Tests. -Rather than- I’ll talk with the solicitor and see what we can work out!

  5. Last, but not least, you must ask, “Will he give you a flat fee price or charge an hourly rate which can go on forever?” After an attorney does a thorough job of determining what kind of work is needed for your case, if he is experienced, he should be able to quote you a net price. After all, you want to know what it will cost you – without having to worry about an attorney who purposely drags things out to run up his fee!

Ok, so you’re probably wondering what my answers would be to the above questions. I’ll lay it out for you.

  1. As I mentioned I have over 16 years of experience in criminal defense in Georgia, — or in other words, I’ve been around the block a few times. I am a former prosecutor, having worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. So, I understand how the other side thinks and acts. And let me tell you – this inside knowledge is a real edge in criminal defense.

  2. My practice is 100% criminal defense. I don’t spend my time fighting over who gets the table & chairs in a divorce, I spend my time aggressively defending clients in their criminal cases.

  3. Over the years, I have handled several hundred trials.

  4. After reviewing your case, I will tell you up front the specific defenses I believe are available to you! I’ll tell you what the officer did wrong-not just some good response like- I’ll talk to the prosecutor to see what we can do.

  5. After you share with me everything I need to know to analyze your case, you will receive a Flat Fee Guarantee from me to handle your case – so you will know how much it’s going to cost before I start. This way you will know that I’ll do a great job on your case in as short a time as possible. You see, I’ll have no reason to drag things out because my fee won’t be based on the number of hours I work on your case. What that means to you is that you can get this situation over with as soon as possible and get on with your life.

After all, isn’t that what you’re after – to improve your chances of getting the best outcome, being kept up to date, knowing what it will cost, and getting this handled so you can get on with the rest of your life!

Call McCranie Law Firm at 912-383-7581 to speak with an experienced Criminal Defense attorney.

Visit our website at mccranielawfirm.com or email George directly at georgemccranie@mccranielawfirm.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter for informational videos, blogs and answers to your questions.