How to Check Reviews and Choose the Best Criminal Lawyer in NYC

How to Check Reviews and Choose the Best Criminal Lawyer in NYC

Getting arrested can be one of the most stressful experiences in someone’s life. Even if you’re innocent, the legal process can be confusing and intimidating. Having the right criminal defense lawyer by your side makes all the difference.

But finding the best criminal lawyer in a huge city like New York isn’t easy. There are so many options, and you want to make sure you choose someone truly skilled in criminal law, not just the first attorney you find. Checking online reviews is crucial to making the right choice.

Ask Friends and Family for Recommendations

Start your search by asking people you trust if they have any recommendations. Have any of your friends, family members, or co-workers been in a similar situation before? Did they have a good experience with their lawyer? Get the names of any criminal defense attorneys they were happy with.

You can also contact local bar associations and other lawyer referral services. They may be able to connect you with attorneys who specialize in criminal defense and have strong reputations.

Search Online Directories

There are many online legal directories you can browse through to find criminal lawyers in NYC. Two big ones are Avvo and Lawyers.com. You can search by location and area of practice.

Spend some time browsing through the listings of criminal defense attorneys. Make a list of ones who seem to have significant experience in this field based on their profiles. Their websites will also provide useful information.

Read Online Reviews

At this point your list may still be pretty long. Online reviews from past clients can help narrow it down. Here are some sites to check for reviews:

• Avvo – Attorneys are rated from 1-10, and clients can leave reviews.
• Lawyers.com – Includes peer reviews and client ratings.
• Martindale – Peer reviews from other attorneys.
• Google – Search “[attorney name] reviews” to find ratings.

Read through the reviews carefully, not just the star ratings. Look for patterns in what clients say about things like responsiveness, legal knowledge, communication skills and more. This will help you get a sense of attorneys’ reputations.

Research Disciplinary Records

It’s also important to make sure any lawyer you consider doesn’t have a history of disciplinary issues. Check their records with:

• The New York State Bar Association
• Attorney Grievance Committees
• Your state or local bar associations

Look up the attorneys by name to see if they have ever been suspended or disbarred, or have any serious complaints against them. This could indicate problems down the road if you hire them.

Schedule Consultations

Narrow down your list to 3-5 of the most promising criminal defense lawyers based on your research. Many will offer free initial consultations, so take advantage of these.

Come prepared with questions to ask about their experience, track record with cases similar to yours, legal fees and more. Pay attention to how comfortable you feel talking to them. A good lawyer-client relationship is critical.

After the consultations, reflect on which lawyers seemed the most knowledgeable, trustworthy and made you feel most at ease. Use your gut instinct combined with the background research to choose the best attorney for your needs.

Compare Legal Fees

The lawyers’ legal fees are another factor to weigh when making your decision. Their hourly rates, retainer fees, and what’s included can vary significantly.

Some questions to ask them include:

• What are your hourly rates and retainer fees?
• What expenses are covered in that rate?
• What additional costs may come up?
• Can you offer flexible payment plans?

Find out what you can realistically afford. Get fee agreements in writing before officially hiring them.

Check Their Disciplinary Records

It’s also important to make sure any lawyer you’re considering doesn’t have a history of disciplinary issues. Check their records with:

• The New York State Bar Association
• Attorney Grievance Committees
• Your state or local bar associations

Look up the attorneys by name to see if they have ever been suspended, disbarred, or have any serious complaints against them. This could indicate problems if you hire them.