Criminal charges in Atlanta can arise in a variety of situations. Hardworking, otherwise honest people often find themselves on the wrong side of the law and facing serious criminal penalties. To protect yourself in this situation, you need someone with legal knowledge and expertise fighting on your side. At Ghanayem & Rayasam, we explain important factors to consider in choosing a criminal defense attorney.
Qualities to Look for in an Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney
Penalties for even seemingly minor criminal charges have the potential to be severe. Depending on the exact type of crime you are accused of committing, you could be facing heavy fines, a lengthy jail sentence, and a criminal record that follows you for the rest of your life.
To help protect yourself against a criminal conviction in Atlanta, you need an experienced Georgia criminal defense attorney on your side. The following are some of the qualities to look for:
- Thorough knowledge of the law: In order to build a strong legal defense, you need a criminal defense attorney with a thorough knowledge of the Georgia Criminal Code and how it applies in various cases.
- Familiarity with local criminal courts: If you are facing criminal charges in Atlanta, you need someone who has previously represented clients through the Fulton County Criminal Court
- Experience in handling a variety of criminal cases: Your criminal defense attorney should have years of experience representing clients and legal expertise in handling a variety of different cases.
- A strong, effective communicator: You need someone with the communication skills needed to negotiate and make strong arguments in court while providing you with frequent status updates and addressing all questions and concerns.
- Choose someone you can trust: Look for a criminal defense attorney with strong ties to the community, who is respected among their peers, and who has affiliations and accreditations with various professional organizations.
Questions That Help Ensure You Get Professional Legal Representation
Selecting a criminal defense attorney is one of the most important decisions you could ever make. It has the potential to impact your career, family life, financial security, and overall freedom, both now and for years to come. When making your selection, questions to ask include:
- What legal degrees do you have and where did you obtain your education?
- How many years have you been practicing in the state and in this area of law?
- How many clients have you represented?
- Will you be representing my case, or will it be passed off to someone else?
- Who will I have contact with: you or a paralegal?
- Will you attend all court appearances?
- What are the costs and how much will I need upfront?
- Do you provide free consultations?
- Do you have client testimonials I can read?
Current Client Lindsie Chrisley
Musa Ghanayem, the attorney for Lindsie Chrisley, tells PEOPLE that he thinks Savannah is using his client as a "punching bag" and that her motivation is "anger and frustration" over the imprisonment of their parents. Check out more about this case here.
Contact Our Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorneys Today
When facing criminal charges in Atlanta, get the experienced, professional legal representation you need at Ghanayem & Rayasam. To request a free consultation with one of our Atlanta criminal defense attorneys, call or contact our office online today.