The Importance of Hiring Only the Best Juvenile Criminal Lawyer Near You

Do you know someone who has been charged with a juvenile crime? Unfortunately, the Texas juvenile justice system can be very difficult to navigate.

If you or someone you know has been charged as a juvenile, hiring an experienced juvenile criminal lawyer could make all the difference in their lives. Under United States law, every person, including a minor, has the right to legal representation but there is no guarantee of the quality of that representation. The skill and training of your lawyer will determine the fate of a juvenile facing charges.

A skilled juvenile lawyer will work to get the best possible outcome, protect the rights of the accused, and secure a promising future for their client.

As such, having a good lawyer is crucial. You need to know how to find and hire the best one in your area. Below, we’ll get into everything you need to know about hiring the best legal representation available. Keep reading to learn more and improve your chances of winning your case!

Look for the Lawyer with the Most Experience

If you’re looking for a juvenile criminal lawyer, don’t hire someone who has just graduated from law school. Talented lawyers enter the field every year, but experience hones their ability to practice law.

So, you need to look for someone who has been representing cases like yours for as long as possible. Sometimes, you might even find someone who has decades of experience. Before you hire them, meet with them and ask whether they’ve worked with cases like yours. If they have, they might have an easier time getting you the results you want.

Look for an Attorney with Prosecution Experience

Technically, you’re going to want an attorney who is a criminal defense attorney, not prosecution. Yet, some lawyers have experience on both sides of the court. These people have a very intimate knowledge of the ins and outs of criminal law.

As such, they’ll know how to best find good evidence and present it to the court.

They will also have the capability to anticipate what the prosecution might. This comes in handy when preparing witnesses for cross-examination. Your attorney will meet with each person who is testifying and question them as if they were the prosecutor. Then, the lawyer will provide feedback on how to best present the information.

Make Sure the Attorney Has a Good Reputation

Often, people hire lawyers because they’ve heard about them through commercials or advertising. Yet, this isn’t always the best way to go about it. Law firms often paint themselves as the best even if a much better lawyer works in another part of town.

So, it’s important to do your research. Look at reviews from past clients. Figure out whether the attorney has ever won cases like yours. If you have any questions, contact the firm directly and ask about the reviews and any cases similar to yours.

Check to See If the Lawyer Will Actually Handle Your Case

It’s fairly common in the legal field, particularly in larger firms, for one lawyer to act like they’ll represent your case only to hand it off to another attorney. Most of the time, they do this to spread out the workload and maximize profits.

This can cause problems for you down the road. Sometimes, the new attorney is less experienced than the one you thought you’d hired. They may not know enough about the way these types of cases work to present your best case.

So, you should obtain a guarantee from the law firm (in writing, if possible) that the attorney you hired will represent your case. If the law firm can’t give you this guarantee, look for another lawyer.

Make Sure the Lawyer Specializes in Juvenile Law

Juvenile law differs from adult law in several key ways. First, it’s often more lenient on the defendants. Juvenile law exists to recognize that minors who commit crimes are children. They might have a degree of impressionability and come to regret their actions later in life.

As such, it often comes with lighter sentences and different practices.

An attorney who most often represents adult criminals might not have the necessary experience for a juvenile case. They may lack the compassion needed to communicate with a young person in a way they understand and relieve the family of the stresses involved with juvenile cases. As such, you should always look for a lawyer who specializes in juvenile law.

Compare Prices

Juvenile defense attorneys usually charge a flat-fee. This is a one-time cost that will cover all of the anticipated expenses of the case from start to finish. While this price may seem high, sometimes $10,000 or more depending on the charges and history, it actually works in your favor as a client. A flat-fee structure incentivizes your lawyer to get the best possible outcome as quickly as possible and without excess work or resource expenses.

Like most things in life, experience and expertise don’t come cheap. With your child’s future on the line, this is no time to start pinching pennies on legal representation. Most reputable juvenile criminal lawyers can estimate the costs involved once they’ve evaluated a case and give you a middle-ground price. Compare a few lawyers in the area and try to settle for one who’s priced in the middle- not too high, not too low. There are great juvenile criminal lawyers who know how to price themselves competitively in the market and do a great job for your child.

Make Sure You Like the Juvenile Criminal Lawyer

It’s a fine line to walk when you talk with a juvenile criminal lawyer. You want someone who will shoot straight with you while also having compassion towards you and your family. Juvenile criminal cases can last for months or years, depending on the nature of the case. Due to this, you’ll work with your juvenile criminal lawyer for a long time.

Having a genuine liking and trust for your lawyer can help you get through the case. So, you should meet with each potential attorney before you hire them and see if you get along.

Over confidence, over promising, or being too nice/too cold can all be warning signs. Get a feel for the lawyer’s sensibilities and make sure they are being realistic and transparent with the potential outcomes.

Ready to Hire a Juvenile Criminal Lawyer?

If you need a juvenile criminal lawyer in the Montgomery County area of Texas, you’ve come to the right place.

Attorney Andrea M. Kolski has over 20 years of experience working in the Texas court system. She has an exceptional track record of victories and works tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for every client. She’s especially compassionate towards young people facing the juvenile court system and their families. She believes that every child deserves a fair chance in the courtroom and works hard to make sure her clients have the best defense possible.

Contact us today to discuss your situation and see how we can help.