There’s an old saying in the tattoo industry. “Good tattoos ain’t cheap and cheap tattoos ain’t good.” The same could be said about attorneys. The biggest mistake a person can make when selecting a defense attorney is to base that decision on price alone. There’s nothing worse than looking back on that decision, whether from a jail cell or maybe after being passed over for a new job because of the criminal record that now follows you. But even though inexpensive or “cheap lawyers” typically don’t provide the same results as those charging more, fee pricing isn’t always determinative of what one will get for their money. Legal defense fees can be fairly arbitrary. Factors that influence pricing include the lawyer’s ability to take on another case. Maybe they’re swamped. Will they have the time to give you the attention you need? Alternatively the lawyer’s own financial need to take on your case can at times result in a lower quote. Just make sure that their discount price doesn’t mean your case will receive discount work. New and inexperienced lawyers may offer favorable fee quotes far below the others. Having no experience they can only guess as to what representation will entail. If you decide to hire a new or inexperienced lawyer because you like the price, it might be difficult to obtain the results you are looking for. Will they ascertain what has to be done, learn how to do it and step up and do the work to win the case? Will they do the research and learn what motions to file to win your case? When it comes to legal pricing, just remember that cost is not always commensurate with value and what benefit will be provided to you for the expenditure.
Probably the two most important things to look for when hiring a criminal lawyer is a willingness to listen, answer questions, return phone calls and emails, not just initially, but for the duration of the attorney-client relationship. Some of the best and busiest lawyers in this state have some of the worst manners just like some of the best surgeons in the state have some of the worst bedside manners. Whether or not this is tolerable to you the client should guide your decision on who to hire. But keep in mind not all grumpy lawyers are good ones. There’s no shortage of criminal defense attorneys lacking both skill and patience. And even the best, nicest trial attorney has his or her days, when they are short with a client or impatiently demanding while not listening.
Like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, there’s no wrong way to find a lawyer. Approach it with an open mind. You probably wouldn’t go to a random restaurant without having heard something good about it. Now consider that choice if the consequence of a bad meal or indigestion was a jail or prison sentence. Speak with several lawyers. Don’t make countless random calls and do your research. You can learn a lot about a lawyer online. When you find a couple of lawyers that you feel comfortable with, ask one about the other’s abilities. You might be surprised by what you hear. A competent lawyer, confident in his or her abilities won’t hesitate to tell you that another lawyer is both good and hard working.
The market in and around Boston is flooded with defense attorneys. A person could wear themself out contacting lawyers, telling and retelling their story and obtaining numerous fee quotes. Likely this exercise would confirm that pricing can be arbitrary and that both good and bad lawyers can fail when it comes to attorney client communication. If you feel hopeless, that you’ll never find the right lawyer, or maybe already picked the wrong lawyer, just remember; You can always change lawyers. You don’t have to stick with the wrong lawyer. If you bought a bad stock and it tanked, would you ride it to the bottom until it was worth nothing? If you bought a car that turned out to be a lemon, would you throw money at it, or would you look for something else?
Criminal attorneys should not, cannot guarantee outcomes any more than they can charge you more for a win, less for a loss. It’s against the law. But a lot of lawyers will tell prospective clients what they want to hear to increase the likelihood of being retained. Don’t fall into that trap. Have you talked to a few lawyers? Their opinions, at least those of the competent ones, should have some similarities. If one stands out, maybe they’ve said different things, made you feel much more confident about the evidence, proceed with caution. Maybe you found that needle in the haystack or maybe they are just trying to be hired.