Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, Australia, has a higher crime rate than some major US cities. According to 2018 crime data, Sydney has the highest violent crime rate (1445.1 per 100,000 people). Many times, people are wrongly arrested and convicted for assault charges when they are not guilty.
If you face assault charges, you need to find the right criminal law firm Sydney to defend you. Here are some tips to find the right one.
Find an Experienced Lawyer
Experience plays a vital role in the way the lawyer will handle your case. Not all experience is the same. For example, years of experience in tax laws will not help when fighting your assault charges. Hence, it would help if you made sure the lawyer has experience fighting the assault charges you are facing.
Also, criminal law is complex and changing. It makes sense to hire a lawyer specializing in a specific crime with which you have been charged. Here are a few questions you can ask the attorney.
- How long has the lawyer been practicing criminal law?
- Does the lawyer have any experience in fighting charges that have been framed on you?
Get Clarity About Fees
As per New South Wales Police Force statistics, Sydney reported 31,698 non-domestic violent assaults in 2020. The higher crime rate is expected to keep the criminal lawyers busy, and you might find a vast difference in the fees charged by the criminal attorneys.
You should always ask about the detailed legal fees structure before hiring the attorney. It can prevent misunderstanding and confusion about the legal fees after the case is filed in court. Here are a few questions you can ask the attorney to get clarity about the fees.
- What are the fees you charge?
- Do I need to pay any fees besides your service charges? For example, some attorneys don’t include filing fees, postage fees, court fees in their service fees. They expect their client to bear this cost.
After getting clarification about the fees, you can ask about the payment options offered. Here are a few questions you can ask.
- How much fees have to pay initially (during filing of the case).
- How much time do you have to pay the remaining fees?
- Do you need to make full payment before the court verdict?
What Do You Think Will Be the Outcome of the Case?
No attorney can predict or assure the outcome of the case. There are so many factors that need to be taken into account. However, an experienced attorney will study the case and might share possible outcomes.
Who Will Fight My Case?
The domestic violence rate is also high in Sydney. As per the NSW police report, 29,572 domestic violence-related assaults were reported in Sydney in 2020. Many attorneys don’t practice independently but are a part of criminal law firms. They play a separate role in the efficient functioning of the law firm.
The attorney who will fight your case might not be the one with whom you discuss the case. Law firms have attorneys to prepare the case while selected few present the case in the court. You can ask a few questions to choose the best one.
- Who will fight my case in court?
- Is the attorney experienced?
- Who will be assisting the attorney in preparing the case?
Can You Provide Some References?
As per the latest records, there have been 2,458 assaults on police and 5,816 sexual assaults in 2020. In other words, Sydney cannot be considered the safest city in Australia. It would help if you did not believe everything the attorney tells about their practice. It always makes sense to check references to find truth in attorney claims.
A good criminal law firm in Sydney will happily share references of past cases to win your trust and confidence.
To sum up, choosing the best lawyer is crucial to prove you are not guilty of assault charges. The tips given above helps you focus on important aspects of selecting a lawyer who will work hard to protect your best interests in the court.