How NOT to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer.

If you need a criminal defense attorney, of course, the lawyers from Stradley Chernoff & Alford would like for you to contact us.

Most people do not have experience hiring criminal defense lawyers, so we are offering these tips of how NOT to hire a criminal attorney, whether you hire us or not.

Bargain Shopping is Not a Bargain.

We get enough calls to know that some people's idea of getting a lawyer is to call a bunch of them, see who quotes the lowest price, and then hire them. We believe that just as you wouldn't want bargain basement eye surgery, you shouldn't get bargain basement criminal defense.

Sometimes we can pick up the pieces after an inexperienced attorney handled a case poorly from the beginning but some things are not fixable.

We believe our fees are a good value given our experience and personal service. But there are reasons why some lawyer's quoted fees seem lower.

Experience. Anyone who has gone through law school and passes the bar can put out a shingle and practice criminal law. That doesn't mean that they know what they are doing. There may be learning on the job.

Service. Some lawyers make their money based on volume of cases and may not give your case the custom attention it needs. We believe that every case is important…even "small" convictions can stay on your record forever.

Do NOT Hire a Lawyer Over the Phone.

We strongly recommend that you meet a lawyer in person before you hire them, including us. Once in a while due to unfortunate circumstances that isn't possible, but in- person hiring is best.

Your lawyer is your representative, your face to prosecutors and juries. They are your voice. You need to feel comfortable that the lawyer you hire is professional, experienced and can be the person you need to fight for your rights.

Be Careful of Lawyer Advertising.

After someone is accused of DWI, it isn't uncommon for them to receive a bunch of letters from lawyers promoting their services. And they may promote various things about their abilities. With so much advertising, it can be hard to figure out who is actually good at what they do.

Board Certification is Better Than Marketing

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization was established in 1974 to serve the public interest by advancing the standards of the legal profession. As the Texas Board of Legal Specialization notes, "Within the Texas legal community, Board Certification means an attorney has substantial, relevant experience in a select field of law as well as demonstrated, and tested, special competence in that area of law."

It makes sense to pay attention to Texas Board Certification versus just advertising because anyone with a law degree can advertise.

The partners of Stradley Chernoff & Alford have been featured in various "Super Lawyer" publications. Those publications often ask you whether you want to pay for an advertisement to be featured in those magazines. We choose not to spend our money that way because we don't have to.

Take Hiring a Lawyer Seriously

Choosing the right lawyer for your case is important. It may not be fair or just or right, but sometimes justice ends up being which side had the better advocate. We know how difficult the process can be trying to figure out which lawyers are actually good at what they do. We hope this information helps, whether you hire us or not.

For more information: Read Firm Bios, Testimonials: What Our Clients Say, What Does Board Certification Mean?, 7 Things to Consider in Hiring Texas Criminal Defense Attorney.