When you are looking to hire a criminal lawyer you should first find one that is familiar with the jurisdiction or court where your case is being heard. Most Michigan criminal lawyers practice in multiple counties. For example, because our law firm is centrally located in Macomb County, we are intimately familiar with courts located in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and Saint Clair Counties. You have to ask if your potential lawyer has done several cases in the particular court where your case is located. This is extremely important. Familiarity provides a criminal lawyer with the necessary information. Procedures vary from one courthouse to another. For example, the prosecutor in one county may have a different policy from that of another prosecutor. For example, Bloomfield Hills District Court handles drunk driving cases much differently than Chesterfield Township. Criminal defense attorneys must also know how the prosecutors operate. Some prosecutors are willing to negotiate cases while others do not. Some will go to trial while others prefer to settle the case. A criminal defense attorney should be familiar with the police departments and their officers. An attorney familiar with the police may be able to quickly handle the matter with the officer’s input with the prosecutor. Basically, you want an attorney who operates with a “home field” advantage.
Read More