If you’ve been accused of committing a crime, whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony, your top priority is to prepare for your next scheduled court date. The best way to do this is by immediately seeking the help of a qualified lawyer with extensive experience in the field of criminal defense law. One of the most important criteria when selecting an attorney for your case is “trust.” But how do you know who to trust?

Follow these legal tips to ensure you choose a good criminal defense lawyer who can aggressively defend your legal rights, negotiate with prosecutors to reduce your charges or minimize your penalties, and ensure your interests are fully protected:

DO pick an attorney that practices criminal law

Whether or not your particular case will be settled through a plea bargain or headed for trial, it is vital to choose an attorney who is knowledgeable in criminal law and is able to try your case in front of a jury. Lawyers who have no experience defending criminal cases won’t have a comprehensive understanding of the rules of evidence, will have difficulty identifying the weaknesses and strengths of your case, and will have little credibility to negotiate a good deal for you.

DO steer clear of lawyers that guarantee a result

If you consult with a lawyer who promises you certain results—particularly before he’s even evaluated your case—immediately cross him/her off your list. Criminal law is complicated and every case is unique. There are no guarantees or simple answers. Any attorney who makes promises to obtain certain results in a criminal law case is not worth your trust.

DO choose a lawyer that can clearly explain your situation and your legal rights

Your lawyer should be able to simply and clearly explain the criminal charges against you, what they entail, your legal rights, what prosecution has to prove, and how evidence can be used against you in court. Your criminal law lawyer should also explain the possible consequences you may face for your charges. And remember, a lawyer should always be direct, honest, and to the point, rather than promising that you will “win your case.”

DON’T bargain shop for a criminal lawyer

While an affordable attorney is a legitimate concern, it should never be the main priority. There are too many things at stake and you need the best attorney who can ensure your rights and interests are fully protected every step of the way. Attitude, compassion, and experience are very important when it comes to choosing a criminal law lawyer.

Many lawyers will quote a flat fee, but this fee is not just for the hours they may work on your case. You are also paying for their skills, experience, and qualifications. Fees are often based on the difficulty of the case and the amount of time the lawyer and staff spend researching and preparing. Expect a larger fee if your case is expected to go to trial.

DON’T be scared to discuss lawyer fees
You have a right to know how much a criminal law lawyer will charge you before deciding to hire him or her. The lawyer should be able to tell you during the initial consultation how much the services will cost you.

Baton Rouge criminal defense lawyers of The Spano Law Firm focus provides exceptional legal representation to clients throughout the Baton Rouge, Louisiana metropolitan area in criminal defense, including DUIs and DWIs, and personal injury matters. Firm principal Rhett P. Spano possesses more than ten years of experience as a trial attorney. Prior to dedicating his career to criminal defense, Mr. Spano spent three years as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans. In this capacity, Mr. Spano tried more than 50 jury trials involving a wide range of crimes. This experience gives him a unique insight into how prosecutors secure convictions- information he now uses to his clients’ advantage.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime or needs assistance with a personal injury or appeals matter, they can help. For their clients’ convenience, they maintain a flexible schedule and have a 24-hour hotline available. To schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case with them, contact The Spano Law Firm today or use their online contact form.

Environmental Law is perceived as one of the most important tools of environmental management. Until very recently, it was a part of various civil and criminal laws specifying rights of individuals, groups of people and the state over the nature (land, water, air, plants, wild life, etc.).

If you are a lawyer and you are thinking about how you can get more involved in an eco-friendly lifestyle, you will want to consider exactly how environmental law is going to come into play. You should have a basic grasp of environmental law no matter what your particular specialty is, although you may want to think about brushing up more so that you can be considered more of an expert. As the world starts to take steps which will help everyone become more self-reliant and sufficient, laws will need to be enacted which are going to help ensure that these new procedures take effect.

There are lawyers for nearly every outlet you can think of, although environmental law is a field which is only expanding. This means that the need for lawyers who can practice this type of law will become important. In the end, you will figure out that having more environmental lawyers on hand is going to help environmental law makers craft the laws which are not only going to ensure that everyone starts following more eco-friendly procedure, but that the laws will be easy to understand as well.

Environmental law itself is only helping to expand the basis of eco-friendly practices all over the world. Therefore, you will want to think about how you can get involved in this promotion of a healthier way of living, especially if you have legal talents. Expanding your law practice to help cover environmental law aspects will give you a better chance of making a positive difference in the world.

At Smith Stag, LLC, located in New Orleans, Environmental Lawyers focus on oil and gas production related personal injury, environmental, toxic tort and mineral royalties law. Their firm’s founding partners are pioneers in the field of oilfield waste litigation, namely “naturally occurring radioactive materials” (NORM) and “technologically enhanced radioactive materials” (TERM), which are harmful to humans. Clients look to their firm to tackle tough problems and pursue justice when serious injury arises due to oil and gas industry negligence.

Since its inception in 2002, Smith Stag has built a notable track record of successful property damage and personal injury cases. Their attorneys have recovered awards of more than $100 million in settlements and in excess of $1 billion in jury verdicts for clients. The legal services they offer individuals, businesses and communities extend to products liability, maritime law, mineral royalties and general litigation throughout Louisiana. When you need legal help to hold parties responsible for damage they caused, call their office to learn their know-how and legal skills can benefit you.