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Checking Reviews of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Queens, NYC

March 21, 2024 Uncategorized

Finding the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer in Queens, New York

If you or a loved one have been arrested and charged with a crime in Queens, New York, having the right criminal defense lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. With so many options to choose from, how do you find the best attorney for your specific situation? One of the best ways is to check online reviews.

Online reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Avvo can give great insight into a lawyer’s experience, track record with similar cases, communication style, availability, and overall client satisfaction. While no lawyer wins 100% of their cases, reviews highlighting their commitment to clients, understanding of the law, and trial experience can give you confidence they will build the strongest defense for your charges.

Specific Things to Look For in Reviews

Here are some key things to look for in criminal defense lawyer reviews in Queens:

  • Track Record Handling Similar Cases – Look for reviews showing experience with your specific charges like drug offenses, assault, theft, etc. Their success rate and depth of knowledge can vary greatly across different areas of criminal law.
  • Communication and Availability – Many reviews focus on how well the lawyer communicates case details, strategy and next steps. Look for responsiveness and clarity which are crucial given the high stakes.
  • Trial Experience – While most cases end in plea bargains, you want a lawyer capable of taking your case to trial if needed. Reviews highlighting strong courtroom performance help identify this.
  • Reasonable Fees – Cost often comes up in reviews. Balance is needed between skill and affordability so look for “good value” assessments.
  • Former Prosecutors – Reviews showing experience as a prosecutor can indicate very useful perspective and relationships for strong defense.
  • Local Knowledge – Lawyers familiar with Queens courts, judges and processes often garner praise in reviews for effectively navigating the local landscape.

Doing Your Own Research on Candidates

While reviews provide crucial guidance, they should not be your only input. Research credentials like years in practice, education background, associations with legal groups like the New York State Bar Association or Queens County Bar Association, and other honors/awards.

Most lawyer websites also list specific practice areas, typical case results and fees so comparing this data can further narrow your options. And of course, meet with a short list of lawyers to confirm your comfort level and alignment with their approach. Thorough prep work plus insights from client reviews will lead you to a criminal lawyer with the right skills and experience for your needs.

Be Careful of Fake Reviews

In researching reviews, you also need to watch for fake reviews – both overly-positive ones posted by the lawyers themselves and extremely negative ones posted by competitors looking to unfairly tarnish reputations. Tactics like these do happen, so look for authenticity markers in the reviews:

  • Details on Specific Cases – Fake positive reviews tend to be generic versus citing actual case details and outcomes.
  • Mix of Ratings – Authentic review profiles generally show a mix of 5, 4 and 3 star ratings over time versus all 5 stars.
  • Multiple Cases Over Time – Real clients generally post reviews after 1 case but fake posts often cite handling “multiple cases” over many years for them.
  • Language and Tone – Fake negative reviews often have an overly angry tone and use similar extreme language like “incompetent”, “unethical”, etc.

While fakes exist, they are generally the minority if you look across a lawyer’s full profile. The overall pattern and themes give a clear picture of client satisfaction over many years. Leveraging reviews is well worth the effort to find the best criminal defense representation in Queens for your needs. The stakes are high so do your homework to get it right the first time.

Building Your Defense Strategy in Queens

Once you have selected your lawyer, they will start building a customized defense to fight the charges, leveraging their experience with similar cases. Common initial steps include:

  • Thorough Case Review – Analyzing police reports, evidence discovery and conducting independent investigation to identify weaknesses.
  • Client Interview – Learning all case details and background from you to uncover additional defense opportunities not in official records.
  • Identify Technicalities – Finding technical errors by police or prosecutors violating your legal rights to nullify charges.
  • Challenge Evidence – Mounting motions to suppress questionable evidence or statements illegally obtained.
  • Negotiate Lesser Charges – Based on case flaws, negotiate reduced charges ahead of trial since risks are high.

This lays the groundwork for plea bargain or trial strategies. From there your lawyer will explain options, associated risks, and likely outcomes so you understand tradeoffs in fighting charges versus a plea deal.

Key New York Laws Impacting Queens Cases

There are also some key New York state laws that skilled criminal lawyers use to defend Queens clients:

  • Speedy Trial Act – Cases dismissed if not brought to trial fast enough – strict deadlines.
  • Discovery Reform – Earlier access to prosecution evidence helps defense.
  • Bail Reform – Reduced cash bail helps low income defendants pre-trial.

Leveraging these provisions and identifying technical defects create opportunities to overcome charges. It takes an experienced NYC criminal lawyer to navigate these complexities.

The Bottom Line

Checking online reviews is a smart first step in finding the best criminal defense lawyer for your case in Queens. But you need to put reviews in context – understanding typical legal processes, credentials evaluation and direct discussions with lawyer candidates tell a more complete story.

With charges looming over your head, investing time to research lawyers can pay huge dividends in the long run. The right legal guidance maximizes chances of an outcome that avoids jail time and clears your record so you can move forward with your life. So don’t wait – get started today researching lawyers online and through family/friend referrals. The sooner you start working with someone, the better

 

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Todd Spodek

Founding Partner

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RALPH P. FRANCHO, JR

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JEREMY FEIGENBAUM

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ELIZABETH GARVEY

Associate

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CLAIRE BANKS

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RAJESH BARUA

Of-Counsel

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CHAD LEWIN

Of-Counsel

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