When you need to hire a criminal defense attorney, you want to hire the best lawyer to get the best results.
Who, then, will be the best attorney for you and your case?
There are many things to look for when hiring a lawyer. You want to make sure your attorney:
- Is in good standing with the Colorado State Bar.
- Has time to devote to your case.
- Tells you about their fee structure and additional costs up front.
- Communicates clearly and frequently.
- Makes you feel comfortable and at ease.
- Is honest about your case and your options.
- Has good reviews and ratings from former clients and peers.
You also want a lawyer who is ethical, smart, focused, personal… and the list could go on and on. One of the most important factors when choosing an attorney, however, is their success in handling your specific charge.
You might find a great criminal lawyer with an excellent background and reviews, but if that particular attorney has never handled your charge, you might not get the outcome you’re hoping for.
Criminal law is complicated and every crime is different – even seemingly similar crimes. Moreover, success in one area doesn’t necessarily transfer to another. For this reason, when you’ve been charged with a crime, you want to ensure that your attorney has experience with that exact crime.
How can you determine if your lawyer has the experience that you need?
Look at Your Lawyer’s Practice Areas
Every attorney should have a website that provides a profile and, at the very least, a list of practice areas. This will not only give you a little background on your, lawyer but also tell you whether he or she has experience handling your charges.
Kimberly Diego got her law degree from the University of Colorado and was admitted to the Colorado bar in 2008. She has been practicing criminal defense in the Denver area for almost 10 years.
Kimberly specializes in a number of practice areas including, but not limited to:
- Assault;
- Burglary;
- DUI/DWI;
- Domestic violence;
- Drug crimes (possession, manufacturing, distribution or trafficking)
- Theft;
- Sex crimes (indecent exposure, invasion of privacy, sexual assault); and
- White collar crimes.
Check out the practice area section of her website to see if Ms. Diego handles your particular charge.
Review Your Lawyer’s Case Results
It’s one thing to have a lawyer tell you they’ve been successful with your charges. It’s another to have them prove their success by providing you with actual results. Your attorney’s website will likely have a section that allows you to view their previous case results. If you can’t find this information online, don’t be afraid to ask a lawyer to show you their results.
Kimberly Diego has been extremely successful with the cases she takes on. Her website’s results page details countless criminal defense feats, including:
- Dismissed charges for a client charged with domestic assault;
- Removing a client from the sex offender registry and the requirement to register in the future;
- Probation for a client with 14 felony counts over the prosecution wanting a prison sentence; and
- Numerous dismissals for assault, theft, and domestic violence charges.
Although prior results can’t guarantee the same results for your case, it should be helpful knowing your lawyer already has success with cases similar to yours.
Handling Your Specific Charge Is another Way to Know a Lawyer Is the Right Match
Don’t risk your life and your future by hiring an attorney on a whim. Do your research to make sure the Colorado lawyer you choose is the perfect match for you and your case. Reach out to Kimberly Diego for a free case review today so you can get started on defending your charges.
About the Author:
Kimberly Diego is a criminal defense attorney in Denver practicing at The Law Office of Kimberly Diego. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her law degree at the University of Colorado. She was named one of Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars of 2012” and “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Colorado” for 2012 and 2013 by The National Trial Lawyers. Both honors are limited to a small percentage of practicing attorneys in each state. She has also been recognized for her work in domestic violence cases.
