CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS
JOHNSON COUNTY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER
Being charged with a crime is often the most stressful time in a person’s life. Not only does the criminally accused find themselves worried about their life, liberty and reputation but suddenly everything is disrupted, and you don’t know where to turn. You have questions, concerns and trepidation about who to hire and how can you be helped restore your good name. The criminal defense attorneys at Roth Davies, LLC have answers and are willing to stand up for your rights from the moment you step foot in the office. When your life is in turmoil due to a criminal accusation, we want to help.
If you have been accused of a crime you need to be selective and diligent about the qualifications of your counsel. You need to be involved in so much more than just selecting a lawyer and putting your faith in that lawyer. You need to be involved in the decision making in your case, the strategy and the “nuts and bolts,” work that your lawyer puts in to get you the best possible outcome. This type of emersion in your case can be difficult because you are not a trained lawyer. You might not have decades of legal experience to rely on. You can rely on your criminal defense lawyer to assist in explaining the complexities of the law but you should also take the time investment to become well-versed in the applicable law that is relevant to your case. The criminal defense lawyers at our firm understand that there is a need for “base-level” information about the legal system and the client’s role in that system. This is where the RothDavies.com sites can be an invaluable tool. Actual experienced lawyers authored nearly all of the information on this site. The criminal defense lawyers at our firm make the enormous time investment to answer hundreds of questions about broad and specific topics. We want you to be educated when it comes to your case and we are giving you the power to do so, simply by browsing the rothdavies.com site.
WHAT DO I LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A JOHNSON COUNTY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER?
Knowledge: Make sure your prospective lawyer has the requisite knowledge in the area of the law that is relevant to your case. Don’t sit down with a divorce lawyer if you picked up a DUI case. Most lawyers focus their area of practice to s specific area of the law. Do your research, sit down with a lawyer and ask tough questions about the area of law you need help with. Most knowledge able lawyers can answer your basic questions in an initial consultation.
Experience: Your prospective lawyer should have experience. You don’t want to be someone’s first case in a complicated area of the law. Ask about your lawyer’s experience, ask if they’ve taken cases to trial. Ask who the “primary actors” are in the Court in which you are in trouble and how they approach cases like yours. Listen to the criminal defense lawyer and evaluate their level of experience before you hire.
Reputation: When you are looking for a lawyer you need to evaluate that lawyer’s reputation. This can be a difficult task. The best place to start is by looking online. Look at review and ranking sites. Always value actual reviews over any specific number or “star” rankings that an attorney might have. You’re looking for reviews of people that actually used the lawyer you are thinking of hiring. Look for words like, respected, understanding, knowledgeable, available, and prepared. You want other lawyers and prior clients to respect both your lawyer as an advocate and as a person.
Communication: Make sure your lawyer is talking on your level. No one likes to be talked down to so make sure your lawyer is treating you with respect, but also make sure they are conveying information to you in a way that you understand. Remember, a large part of a lawyer’s job is simply communicating with clients and the court.
Location: When you have a criminal case, it is very important to hire a lawyer that practices in the court in which you have your case. If you have a case in Overland Park Municipal Court ask the lawyer you are interviewing, “Do you go to that Court often?” It is entirely appropriate for a person accused of a crime to ask a lawyer, “Who is the prosecutor or judge in this court?” and “How do they handle these types of cases?” Part of lawyer’s job is to know the law and the facts, but also how different judges or prosecutors handle their cases and dockets.
Temperament: It is important to have a meeting of the minds with your lawyer on how your case will be addressed but it is also vital that you and your lawyer have the ability to communicate and be understanding of the difficult dynamic of the lawyer/client working relationship. Having a compassionate lawyer who takes the time to explain difficult and complex problems is vital. It doesn’t matter how smart your lawyer is if they can’t help you understand a complicated problem whilst maintaining a professional and understanding demeanor.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS I NEED TO KNOW WHEN I HAVE A JOHNSON COUNTY CRIMINAL CASE?
1. Understand the Basics:You need to have a basic knowledge of how the criminal justice system works and both you and your lawyer’s role in that system. Knowing how the process works will put your mind at ease and give you a sense of awareness and security as you navigate the system. Your lawyer should be your ultimate guide through a criminal case, but it is also important to educate yourself. Take a look at our Step-by- Step guide to a criminal case.
Step by Step Guide to a Criminal Case
The criminal defense attorneys at Roth Davies, LLC break down a criminal defense case into a 16 part, easy to understand guide. Each of these specific sections dive deep into the process and give real world examples and cases for you to get a good understanding of what stands ahead of you.
2. Get more specific:After you have laid the groundwork and get the basics take a deeper dive into the specific crime in which it is alleged that you have committed. It’s good to have specific knowledge of the inner workings of the crime in which you are facing. This will give you a good springboard to ask intelligent and specific questions to your lawyer. Look at a full breakdown of many common crimes by clicking on the “Information on Specific Crimes” link below.
Information on Specific Crimes
3. Dig for answers:Very rarely is there a criminal case that does not involve research. There will always be some question as to how the law applies to a specific set of facts. Part of your lawyer’s job is to do the necessary research to analyze possible defenses that may be available in your case, as well as, get guidance as to what evidence will be presented or may be suppressed in any criminal case. Undertaking research is your lawyer’s job and never falls on the client. However, it is always appropriate for a client to ask about these issues and how the products of a lawyer’s research might impact their case. Most lawyers are happy to explain the research they have done on a case and how it impacts both the client’s case and their decision making. The attorneys at Roth Davies do this often and have painstakingly compiled research on specific cases that have helped answer specific client questions that come up regarding criminal cases. Take a look at the Commonly Asked Questions to answer some specific questions.