Not all attorneys are alike. Specialties in law are usually listed under the type of law the lawyer does his practice in. If you need a criminal lawyer, you should further refine your search for the type of crime with which you are being charged. For example, if you are charged with driving while intoxicated or a DUI, you should call a lawyer who specializes in that area of criminal law. If you are charged with a more serious crime, you should hire a lawyer that either practices in general criminal law or in a specialty of criminal law such as felonies.

Once you have decided on which lawyer to call depending on the crime with which you are charged, your next move is to actually call the attorney. You should be prepared to have to speak with a receptionist or with a secretary who sets up the attorney’s appointments. If you are asked why you want an appointment with the lawyer, you should be as specific as possible without going into the details of your case. If the receptionist or secretary tells you that the attorney is not available to take your case, ask her for a reference. If she does not give you a reference, don’t make an issue of the situation and call another attorney.

Usually, your best move is to call the bar association whose number is found in the yellow pages or can be accessed online. The local bar association can set you up with an attorney in the area of criminal law that you are looking for by charging you a small fee. Some bar associations will give you a list of attorneys who are qualified in the area of criminal law that you need which means that you will have to call each one until you find an attorney that will take your case.

Your most urgent need when charged with a felony, a DUI or a more serious criminal charge is to get a lawyer working on your case as soon as possible. There are procedures that your lawyer will have to follow like calling the court where your case will be handled and informing them that he will be your counsel. Your attorney will also have to have a face to face appointment with you to get your information. Your attorney may also follow procedures of getting police reports or other documentation relevant to your case.

Regardless of what method you use to find a criminal attorney, you should never decide to represent yourself in court. There are procedures that the judge might try to explain to you but your better off with a competent criminal attorney who already knows the procedures used in court.

In order to hire the right lawyer for your case, you must find an attorney you are comfortable with, you can communicate with easily and you know will fight your case and protect your future. If is essential that you do extensive research and hire a qualified criminal defense attorney.

Author Bio: Christine Dunbar enjoys writing about a variety of legal topics. If you are looking for a dwi lawyer in Houston visit http://www.billyskinnerlaw.com. The information above is not legal-advice. The author is not an attorney.

Category: Legal
Keywords: defense attorney, houston defense lawyer, criminal attorney, dwi lawyer, assault charges