Choosing the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer for Your Case

Finding the best defense attorney for your Utah criminal case is important. The page below is intended to provide information to consider as you select an attorney to protect your rights.

As a criminal defense attorney based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Stephen Howard has successfully protected his clients rights in thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases ranging from aggravated murder to DUI. His defense victories have included not guilty verdicts at trial, outright dismissals, and reversals on appeal.

Contact us today to arrange for an initial consultation with Mr. Howard. Or visit our profile page to learn more about Mr. Howard.

Factors to Consider in Choosing a Defense Lawyer for Your Case

Selecting the best criminal defense lawyer to handle your case is a critical decision. There are a lot of lawyers in Utah. And there is probably no single "best" attorney for your case. There is no simple formula for finding the best attorney for your particular case. But here are some points to consider.

Trust. You must trust your attorney, and you should feel comfortable talking with the attorney. If you have doubts about whether you can trust the attorney, then that is probably the wrong attorney for your case.

Experience. How experienced is the defense attorney? How long has the attorney been practicing criminal law? What kind of cases has the lawyer handled previously? What kind of track record does the lawyer have? While an attorney's past successes do not guarantee a win in your case, it is still informative to learn what kind of results the attorney may have achieved in other cases.

Professionalism. Knowing the prosecutor is not a substitute for professional skill, knowledge, and experience. There may sometimes be an advantage to having an attorney who has a good relationship with the prosecutor on the case. But good prosecutors do not give preferential treatment to a defendant just because they like his/her attorney. Similarly, a good defense attorney will not go easy on a prosecutor based on a personal relationship. Communication lines are sometimes better between two attorneys who know each other and have a level of mutual respect for each other. A positive relationship between the prosecutor and the defense attorney can help in facilitating communications. But just knowing a prosecutor does not guarantee that a defense attorney will get a better result. If a defense attorney and a prosecutor have developed an antagonistic relationship, that relationship can be an impediment to the defense case. The best results will come when the defense attorney takes each case seriously and handles legal matters professionally, without regard to personal relationships with other attorneys.

No Pressure. Fear is generally a bad basis for choosing an attorney, and high pressure sales tactics have no place in the attorney selection process. There are occasions when time is of the essence, and an attorney needs to act quickly to preserve evidence or identify potential witnesses. But in many cases, once police have done their investigation and if there is no other pressing reason to act immediately, there is generally no harm that will be suffered by taking the time necessary to to weigh your options before deciding who to hire. Be careful if the attorney you talk to pressures you or insists that you have to hire him/her immediately.

Choice. If you have spoken to an attorney, but are not confident or are feeling confused about who you should hire, go ahead and talk to another attorney - or a couple of other attorneys. There are plenty of lawyers out there. You have to have confidence in and be comfortable with the attorney you hire. Talking to more attorneys may help you clarify the decision for you, or you may end up finding an attorney that seems like a better match for you than anyone you have spoken to yet.

Contact a Utah Criminal Lawyer in Salt Lake City

As a Utah criminal defense lawyer based in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard has a record of success in defending a wide variety of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. His track record includes not guilty verdicts, dismissals, and appellate reversals in cases include aggravated robbery, burglary, child kidnapping, drug distribution, forgery, DUI, theft, white collar crimes, and more.

If you have been charged with a crime in Utah, contact us today to arrange for an initial consultation.

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