When you’re facing criminal charges, it is in your best interest to hire a criminal lawyer in Singapore as soon as possible. Although they won’t be cheap, you have the assurance that they will use their skills and expertise to help you win your case. After all, they spent years specialising in the field of criminal defence.

However, your first step toward hiring a criminal lawyer is to find one and do an assessment. You wouldn’t want to pay a hefty sum of money only to discover that you are working with an incompetent or inexperienced individual.

With that being said, there are several questions you can ask a criminal lawyer in Singapore to help you decide if they have what it takes to handle and win your case.

Continue reading this article to learn more about these 6 questions you need to ask a criminal lawyer before hiring them.

6 Questions You Need to Ask a Criminal Lawyer in Singapore

1. Do you offer a free initial consultation?

A 1-on-1 consultation is the best way to determine if a criminal lawyer in Singapore has the right skills and experience to handle your case. Although some experts provide free phone calls where you can ask questions, this method may not offer the same benefits as meeting them in person. You won’t be able to assess if you are comfortable working with them throughout your case, which is important since it could last months or even years.

Generally, here are some of the things you can expect to happen during a free initial consultation:

• A review of the charges against you and the specifics of your case
• Assessment of your criminal history
• Overview of your educational, employment, and family history

After your free initial consultation, your criminal lawyer will suggest several ways you can proceed with your case. Additionally, they will be open to questions you may have regarding the charges against you. It is during this time that you should begin assessing if this expert is someone you’re comfortable with and if you can trust them to handle your case.

2. How much is your legal fee?

Apart from asking for a free initial consultation, you also need to know how much is their legal fees. Although it is not unusual to think that lawyers are expensive, some individuals offer cheaper arrangements without sacrificing your chances of winning your case. Remember that it is advisable to hire someone who can resolve the charges against you. However, it shouldn’t cause financial problems. After all, you still have bills to pay, utilities to worry about, and possibly a family to feed.

Ideally, you should look for a criminal lawyer in Singapore who offers a flat or fixed fee since you will be able to know the exact amount of money you need to prepare. This mode of payment won’t have surprises, ensuring that you won’t have to make sudden changes to your budget to accommodate these new expenses.

3. What are your credentials?

Similar to job applications, credentials are crucial in determining if a criminal lawyer is eligible to handle your case. You can ask them questions about their educational background, such as their law school, organisations they belong to, and honours they got while they were a student. Additionally, you shouldn’t forget to ask for their licence. After all, you wouldn’t rely on someone without a professional licence to handle your case. It would be similar to entrusting your body to a medical practitioner who doesn’t have a medical licence to practise their profession.

Additionally, you also want to inquire about their experience. Do they have cases where they received a sanction for misconduct? As much as possible, you want a criminal lawyer with no history of unprofessional behaviour. Otherwise, it might affect the proceedings of your case.

4. Do you have experience handling similar cases?

Although credentials are crucial indicators of a competent criminal lawyer, you want to rely on someone with experience handling similar cases. Otherwise, you can expect mistakes to happen throughout your case.

While it isn’t a guarantee that someone who lacks experience with your particular case will end as a failure, you want someone with a history of handling similar cases since they can save you time and money. Not to mention, they could also improve your chances of having a satisfactory ending to your case.

5. What is your success rate?

Whether you’re looking for professionals such as a probate lawyer in Singapore or other law practitioners, you want to know their success rate regarding previous cases similar to yours. Although it is crucial to note that every case is unique and different, they will have some similarities to yours. You want to know if the criminal lawyer you intend to hire has some success when dealing with them.

While credentials and experience are crucial, the success rate of a criminal lawyer is another factor to consider, which determines if they have what it takes to win your case.

6. Will others be handling my case?

Generally, lawyers belong to various criminal law firm organisations in Singapore. Therefore, you can expect them to allow other legal team members to handle some of the necessary tasks. However, there are pros and cons to this method.

Allowing junior associates and paralegals to handle your case means cheaper fees since their rates will be lower than your criminal lawyer.

On the other hand, this method could mean your lawyer isn’t paying attention to your case. It would be detrimental to your success if they start letting their team handle crucial decisions.

Therefore, you should assess your criminal lawyer and see if they can provide adequate time and attention to your case. Otherwise, you might be better off looking for another expert.

Takeaway

Hiring the right criminal lawyer in Singapore can make a significant difference in determining the success of your case. However, finding the right expert can take a lot of time. Hopefully, these 6 questions will help you distinguish which professionals are worth your time and money.

Check out Aspect Law Chambers LLC if you’re looking for a criminal law firm. Learn more about its areas of expertise, such as criminal, family, and probate law services. Additionally, it has a team of experts who can answer questions you might have about divorce or personal protection order in Singapore.