When caught with drugs or tested positive on a drug test, you could be potentially charged with a criminal offence in Australia. This is when you need to say, “I want to speak to my lawyer”. Hiring a criminal defence lawyer who specialises in drug offences is a pivotal step in navigating the legal charges against you—so you don’t want just anyone handling your case. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when hiring a lawyer for a drug offence.
- Doing limited research
When you have the weight of the law pressing down on you, it’s easy to scramble for the first criminal defence lawyer you can find. Unfortunately, this might do you more harm than good. Rather, take an hour or two and do your research. You want to find a lawyer with a good work ethic and experience in similar cases.
The more experienced they are, the better. If you can find a lawyer who has been working in your town for a while and has a good reputation, that would be even better! In this case, there’s a good chance that they are familiar with the judges or prosecutors in your region and could probably get you a lighter sentence because of it. Here’s what you need to look for:
- Qualifications
- Reviews
- Track record
- Overpaying
Secondly, you shouldn’t be paying extremely high prices for a lawyer to get you off a DUI. Yes, lawyers need to charge competitive prices to stay relevant and earn an income, but if you can see that they are charging you way over the standard rate, you should try to find a different lawyer. Do yourself a favour and research the standard fee DUI lawyers charge in Australia. This will give you something to work with.
- Hiring the most affordable lawyer
On the other hand, you also don’t want to hire the most affordable lawyer. Normally, lawyers who charge more can do so because they’ve worked up a good reputation. You want a lawyer who’s been in the game for a while and has the experience to be able to provide you with a solid defence. Lawyers who are coming in at extremely low prices are either inexperienced or might not put in the same work in preparing your defence. Remember, you get what you pay for.
- Neglecting to hire a lawyer based on their expertise
Say for instance, you’re caught with heroin. Would you hire a lawyer who deals with tax fraud? If you had no other choice, then maybe. But your goal should be to hire a lawyer who specialises in cases like yours. The reason for this is that they have the expertise in the laws surrounding your case and can create a better defence.
- Not meeting them in person first
It’s always important to meet the lawyer in person when you’re considering hiring them. Meeting someone in person allows you to get a better feel of the personality and whether or not they’re the right person to defend you or not. You’ll also be able to pick up on other skills like negotiation and communication, which are vital to a good defence.
- Not checking their availability
The last thing you want is to hire a lawyer who adds you to the top of a large pile of cases that they’re trying to multitask for. The lawyer you want should be present and available to answer any questions you have as well as walk you through the court process, making it feel comfortable and less stressful.
- Not considering the communication skills
Finally, if you’re consulting a lawyer and you find that they have terrible communication skills, it’s best to keep looking. Being able to communicate effectively is a key characteristic of a good lawyer. It means that they’ll be able to effectively communicate your defence to the judge as well as clearly explain the proceeding to you.
Are you looking for a criminal defence attorney?
Being accused of a crime can be stressful, but having specialised lawyers in your corner can make the situation less intimidating and stressful. As some of the best specialised drug offence lawyers in Australia, we suggest turning to Donnelly Lawyers for help handling your case.
Final Thoughts
Ideally, your drug offence lawyer’s role would be to protect your rights as you’re processed through the legal system. They can do more than this, though. Good drug offence lawyers have a keen eye for loopholes that can help them reduce the consequences of your charges or even get them removed. But this all comes with hiring the right lawyer. Consider the mistakes above and make sure you avoid them. This should get you closer to hiring the right lawyer.
