Dealing with the prospect of an upcoming criminal defense case can be extremely daunting.  Depending upon the extent of the crimes that you are being accused of, you could be facing fines, probation or even prison time.  That's why it's so vital for you to be represented by the most qualified criminal lawyer you can find.  However, it can be difficult to determine just who has the skills to take on your case because there are so many attorneys practicing around the country.  Use this information to learn more about how you can pick the best criminal defense lawyer.

Find Out About Their Team

An important part of being a good criminal defense attorney is working with a competent team.  A lawyer that is a part of a thriving team of paralegals, administrative assistants and clerks has the help they need so that they can be completely focused on helping you win your case.

This is not to say that an attorney who works in a small family practice will not be able to defend you properly.  However, if they don't have a sufficient amount of help, they will have to complete the tasks of researching the laws surrounding your case and reaching out to witnesses for interviews themselves.  This takes away from the time they could be spending building an adequate defense on your behalf.

In addition, when you are consulting with lawyers, be sure to ask them if they have an in-house investigations unit because it's important for an attorney to have the ability to delegate some evidence collection tasks to this part of the team.  A skilled team of investigators knows how to get the permits they need to obtain surveillance tapes, phone records and other forms of evidence that can help you be successful.

Connections Are Important

Another thing you'll want to look for is a criminal defense attorney who is well connected.  This is key because if a lawyer is well connected, they have already formed quite a few relationships with critical players that could work in your favor.

For example, if your lawyer happens to be friends with the prosecutor in your case, they may be able to negotiate a better deal for you, since the prosecutor will already have knowledge concerning the integrity of your attorney.

The best way to find out about connections is to simply ask.  Tell any potential lawyers the name of the judge and prosecutor for your case and ask if they either know them or if they've worked with them in the past.  

Selecting a good criminal defense lawyer doesn't have to be difficult if you keep your eyes open.  Let this information serve as a guide that leads you to the right defense attorney.