Are you in need of a criminal attorney? Whether it's for a DUI charge or an assault charge, you shouldn't face these troubles alone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 7,000 active criminal justice lawyers practicing throughout the United States alone. You'll be able to find the help you need with the right effort, but it's important to know what to look for. That said, what should you keep in mind? Here are the most significant factors to consider in order to hire the criminal attorney that's right for you.

Consider Their Experience

Regardless of the reason, the most important aspect to consider when looking for legal assistance is experience. That said, many people think the number of years spent in their field is a good enough indicator of one's experience. In actuality, it's the criminal attorneys who have taken cases relevant to your legal situation that you want to work with the most. If you hire a criminal attorney who works with general cases, you may not get someone with niche experience to help you with your own. Keep this in mind whenever you browse through your criminal attorney options. Be sure to ask any potential hires about their prior experience.

Follow Your Gut

As you may have already considered, you'll have to provide a criminal attorney with personal information pertaining to your case. As such, you need someone you can trust. Before hiring your criminal justice lawyer, make sure to meet one on one however you can manage. You should also be diligent in checking for reviews from past clients. This can be a good way to get insight into how they operate from the client's perspective. Once you've identified candidates with a significant amount of experience in relevant cases and positive client reviews, you can trust that you're making an informed choice.

No matter what, you should make sure the criminal attorney you're hiring is board certified and that their license hasn't been suspended. At the end of the day, the right lawyer to have is one that's certifiably competent. Don't simply settle for the first criminal attorney you see! If you're in need of reliable representation in the Roanoke, VA area, give Dirk Padgett Law PLLC a call today. We'd be happy to help.