Questions to Ask When Hiring a Dallas Sex Crime Attorney

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Dallas Sex Crime Attorney

Finding the right attorney to handle your sex crime case in Dallas can feel overwhelming. But asking the right questions during an initial consultation will help you understand each lawyer’s experience, skills, and whether they are the best fit to handle your specific case.

This article will walk you through the key questions to ask any potential Dallas sex crime defense attorney before hiring them.

Background and Experience

First, get a sense of their overall background and level of experience:

• How long have you been practicing criminal law?
• What percentage of your caseload focuses specifically on sex crime defense?
• How many sex crime cases have you handled in Dallas? What were the charges – rape, sexual assault, solicitation, child pornography, etc.?
• How many sex crime trials have you taken to verdict in Dallas? What was the outcome?
• Are you a former prosecutor? If yes, did you prosecute sex crimes and for how long?
• Do you have experience handling cases similar to mine? Can you share examples?
• What is your overall win/loss rate in sex crime cases?

Their answers will help you understand not just total years of experience, but specifically their experience defending sex crime cases like yours in Dallas courts. The more practice they have under their belt, the better.

Legal Expertise

You’ll also want to assess their expertise and grasp of Texas sex crime laws. Ask them:

• What specific training have you had in defending sex crime charges?
• How familiar are you with Texas sex crime statutes like sexual assault, statutory rape, solicitation of a minor, child pornography, failure to register as a sex offender, etc?
• How up-to-date are you on the latest changes and developments in Texas sex crime laws? How do you stay current?
• Do you focus solely on sex crime defense, or do you also handle other types of cases?
• How familiar are you with the prosecutors and judges that handle sex crime cases in Dallas?
• In your experience, what have you found to be the most effective arguments and defenses for different sex crime charges?
• For my specific charges, what weaknesses do you see in the prosecution’s case against me?

Listen for their expertise and grasp of current Texas sex crime statutes and defenses. Their insights into potential weaknesses in your particular case are also good signs.

Case Strategy and Preparation

Ask how they’ll approach defending your specific sex crime case if hired:

• How would you prepare for my case if retained? Walk me through your process.
• Will you fully investigate my case and not just rely on what the police reports say? How so?
• How will you leverage your relationships with Dallas prosecutors and judges to build the strongest case for dismissal or acquittal?
• Would you consider pushing for a plea bargain, or do you think we should take this to trial? Why?
• If we go to trial, how will you approach jury selection for a sex crime case?
• How will you craft arguments to combat societal biases against sex crime defendants?

Their case preparation process and trial strategy insights will help you understand how they can build the strongest defense case for you.

Communication Style

Ask how they prefer to communicate with clients:

• How do you prefer we communicate – phone, email, text?
• How quickly do you respond to client calls or messages?
• How often will you provide case updates and what’s your preferred method?
• Can I contact you evenings/weekends in case of emergency?

Their communication policies will impact how smoothly your case goes, so understand their processes.

Fees & Costs

Without a doubt, one of the most important questions is:

• What is your fee structure and what can I expect to pay if I hire you? Get specifics.
• Do you offer payment plans if I can’t afford fee up front?
• What out of pocket costs should I expect for expert witnesses, investigators, etc?
• Is your fee a flat rate or hourly? How much per hour?
• When is payment for fees/costs due – upfront, installment, at end?

Their fee structure and billing practices will impact the cost of your defense, so understand these details upfront before signing any agreements.

Former Client Reviews

• Can you share contact info for 2-3 past sex crime clients that I could speak to about their experience working with you?

Speaking to former clients can provide valuable insights about their skills, bedside manner, and results. If they hesitate to provide references, that’s a red flag.

Their Confidence Level

• Based on what you know so far, how confident are you that you can get my charges reduced or dismissed?
• Realistically, what’s the worst case scenario if we go to trial and lose?

Get their honest take on potential case outcomes – any guarantees should be taken with skepticism.

Next Steps if Hired

• If I hire you today, what are the immediate next steps? What info or documents will you need from me?

Leave the initial consultation clear on what happens next if you decide to hire them to take your case.

Trust Your Gut

Remember – in addition to their experience and expertise, make sure your personality meshes well together. You’ll be working closely for months or years, so hire someone you feel comfortable with.

Don’t rush this important decision. Interview 2-3 candidates before deciding. For the right attorney, the initial consultation fee is money well spent.

Common Sex Crime Charges in Dallas

Here are some of the most common sex crime charges a Dallas defense attorney may handle:

• Sexual Assault: This charge covers rape, date rape, marital rape, sexual abuse, and other nonconsensual sexual acts. Penalties range from 2-20 years in prison.
• Solicitation of a Minor: It’s a felony in Texas for an adult to solicit sex from a minor under 17, either online or in person. Punishable by 2-10 years in prison.
• Possession of Child Pornography: Receiving or possessing child pornography carries penalties up to 10 years in prison per image/video.
• Failure to Register as a Sex Offender: Failure to comply with sex offender registration laws due to moving without notification, missing deadlines, etc. is punishable by 2-10 years in prison.
• Sexual Performance of a Child: Inducing a child under 18 to engage in sexual conduct on film or video carries penalties from 2 years up to life in prison.
• Indecency with a Child: Engaging in sexual contact with a child under age 17 carries penalties ranging from 2-10 years. There is no Romeo and Juliet exemption in Texas.
• Online Solicitation of a Minor: Using electronic communications to solicit a minor under 14 (or believing them to be under 14) carries penalties of 2-10 years in prison.

Conclusion

Finding the right sex crime attorney is crucial to build the strongest defense to dismiss or beat your charges. Asking key questions during your initial consultation will help you understand if a lawyer is the right fit to handle your specific case.

Don’t settle for the first attorney you meet – take time to thoroughly vet 2-3 candidates before deciding who to entrust with your defense. With an experienced lawyer on your side, you can overcome the challenges ahead. Best of luck!