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There were 1,654,282 drug law violation arrests in 2018 alone. Meanwhile, 1,429,299 of these arrests were for possession.
If you’ve received drug charges in Louisiana, you’re going to want to find the best lawyer to take your case. Otherwise, you could end up looking at years behind bars.
Don’t leave your case up to chance!
Instead, here are six tips you need to find the best drug charge lawyer in Baton Rouge. With these tips, you can find someone qualified to take your case.
Keep reading to find the best drug possession attorney around for your unique case.
1. Research the Public Defender
First, it’s important not to shrug off your public defender right away, if you are indigent and cannot afford a private attorney. Some public defenders are among the youngest, least-trained lawyers around. However, some are adequate.
They might have dealt with drug charges before, so they may understand your situation. That prior experience could give you the advantage you need to win your case. These lawyers are also driven by mission, rather than money, so they care when trying to win your case.
If you can’t afford to hire a private attorney, research the public defender you’re assigned instead.
Then, you can save the money you would use on a high-priced attorney for your bail.
Before you decide to trust your public defender, however, do your due diligence. Check online for reviews. Then, ask if you can speak to their past clients.
Learn as much about your public defender as you can. If you don’t like what you hear, then it’s time to look for a private Baton Rouge drug charge lawyer.
2. Start Searching with Word of Mouth
If you decide against the public defender, ask if they can suggest any private attorneys.
You can also ask friends and family members if they’ve worked with other lawyers in the past. Even if they’re not a criminal defense lawyer, they might point you in the direction of a good law firm. Then, you can explore that law firm knowing a friend or family member had a good experience with them before.
If you have a lawyer who specializes in another field, ask if they can make a recommendation.
Feel free to ask about the attorney’s:
- Ethics
- Demeanor
- Courtroom experience
- Practice habits
- Competence
Make sure to ask for a drug charge lawyer. After all, you want to find someone uniquely qualified to win your case.
3. Check Online
Once you’ve started developing a list of possible drug possession attorneys, head online.
First, check for online reviews. One or two bad reviews don’t speak to their entire reputation. If you see a ton of negative reviews, however, keep looking.
If you don’t find any reviews online, ask the criminal defense lawyer if you can speak to some of their previous clients.
You can also check the Better Business Bureau if you’re researching a law firm.
While you’re online, make sure to check with the local bar association. Are they a member? Make sure they have a positive standing as well.
Then, double-check their specialty. You want to find a drug charge lawyer who has experience with your type of case. Determine how long they’ve specialized as a drug possession attorney.
Choosing a lawyer with specialized experience will provide you with peace of mine.
Their specialization will also indicate that they’re up-to-date with the latest laws and procedures. If they don’t specialize as a drug charge lawyer, they might lack the relevant knowledge necessary to win your case.
Then, check if they’re a member of any other law associations. If they have any leadership roles, other attorneys in Baton Rouge likely respect them.
4. Study Their Success Rate
Before you hire a drug charge lawyer, you want to make sure they win cases within their specialty.
Ask about their track record. Have they won a lot of drug possession cases? Were those wins recent or have they moved on to another specialty?
Again, it’s important to make sure their experience is relevant to current laws.
Do they prefer to settle? A criminal lawyer who prefers to settle cases is sometimes more concerned about their track record than helping you.
Understanding a criminal lawyer’s wins and losses will give you a better picture of their capabilities.
5. Hire Someone Who Knows the Local Justice System
One-fifth of the incarcerated population (456,000 people) is serving time for a drug charge. However, each case differs based on the local justice system. When hiring a drug charge lawyer, you want to find someone experienced with Louisiana’s possession laws.
Their local knowledge and relationships in the area can help your case.
Ask if they have courtroom experience as well. If the case goes to trial, you want to make sure you have an attorney at your side who is prepared.
Otherwise, you could end up with a lawyer who feels uncertain about going to court.
6. Interview Them
Once you have a list of potential attorneys, meet with them in person. Make sure to have a list of questions ready beforehand. Remember, you’re hiring them.
Approach this meeting as if it’s a job interview. You can ask the attorney about their:
- Experience
- Success rate
- Delivery time
- Pricing
- References
- Availability
For example, you want to make sure the attorney has time for your case. Do they currently have a heavy workload? If so, will they end up pawning you off to another attorney?
Make sure to review the contract thoroughly before you sign anything. Some attorneys have a flat fee. Others will only have you pay if they win your case.
Ask what they expect your case to cost and how payments will work before you sign anything.
After this interview, review your notes. Who did you feel the most comfortable with? Who listened to your situation and made the time to fully evaluate your case?
When choosing an attorney for your case, it comes down to trusting your gut.
Deny the Charge: 6 Tips for Choosing a Drug Charge Lawyer in Baton Rouge
Don’t try taking on a drug charge with an inexperienced lawyer at your side. Instead, use these six tips to find a Louisiana drug charge lawyer who can benefit your case. Carl Barkemeyer, Criminal Defense Attorney has written the book on How to Defend Drug Charges in Louisiana. He is the best drug crime defense attorney in Louisiana.
Need someone on your case? Contact us today for the help you deserve.
