When you're looking for an Arizona criminal defense attorney to represent you in a serious matter, be it in state or federal court, you want an individual who has experience in not only working with prosecutors, analyzing complex issues, but someone who also has decades of experience trying cases before federal and state juries.
Non-Lawyers Now Owning Law Firms in Arizona
In recent years, the Arizona Supreme Court has allowed non-lawyers to own law firms. This is a huge departure from decades of history wherein not one penny of fees could be shared with a non-lawyer. So why the change now and, what does it mean to someone who's looking for a criminal defense attorney?
Why Venture Capital in Law Should Concern You
A lot of venture capital groups have made their way into Phoenix, if not all of Arizona, and taken ownership interests in law firms. They provide large amounts of capital for advertising and, like any other business, try to hire the most inexpensive attorneys possible so that in the end, the company's ownership can make the most profit from the situation. But where does that leave the consumer? While a law firm or company may have splashy advertising and saturate the internet, this is really no more than putting lipstick on a pig.
Is Your Lawyer Qualified to Represent You?
Ask the lawyers in a big company whether or not they're experienced at handling federal white-collar crimes or serious offenses such as conspiracy and homicide. Chances are the answer is no, and they will brag to you about how well they do representing their clients in speeding tickets. Now that's not to downplay the need for a vigorous criminal defense in every case, including going 11 miles over the speed limit. But let's get real. There's a very big difference between a surgeon who can assist you with your ingrown toenail and one who can do neurosurgery when your life is really on the line. The companies that hire these inexperienced criminal defense lawyers package them in such a way that they seem very enticing, but their work is disappointing in the end, and likely won’t get you the result that they over-promised. But is that what you really want and is that what you really need when you need a criminal defense attorney?
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney
Look at the, Individual lawyers' credentials. Have they been practicing less than 10 years? Do they have experience as a major felony prosecutor? How many cases have they tried to a jury? How many appeals have they pursued to the Arizona Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court?
These are all key questions that you need to ask yourself in the world of big box law. My opinion is that Arizona made a big mistake allowing non-lawyers to own law firms. Simply put, it puts profit over people, and at the end of the day, people who are seeking representation ultimately get shortchanged.
Work With an Attorney - Not a Big Box Firm
If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, an individual, not a company, not a marketing product, who has three decades of experience practicing law with real proven results for good people in bad situations, give me a call and we can talk about your situation. We can have honest discussions that don't take place in giant conference rooms with big fish tanks on the top of skyscrapers that, at the end of the day, you are paying for. Give me a call at 602-663-9100 if you want to set up a confidential consultation.