What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

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5 Things a Criminal Defense Attorney in Los Angeles Doesn't Want You to Know

 Hiring a criminal defense attorney is one of the most important decisions you will make and most people do it without enough information. The criminal defense industry in Los Angeles is competitive and not every attorney who takes your case is the right fit for it. Before you hire anyone there are five things you should understand that most attorneys would rather you not think too hard about.

Not Every Attorney Handles Your Case Personally

Many criminal defense firms in Los Angeles operate by having a well-known attorney bring in the case and then handing it off to a junior associate or a less experienced attorney to actually handle the work. The attorney you meet at the consultation may not be the attorney who appears in court, negotiates with the prosecutor, or makes the critical decisions in your case. By the time you realize this the retainer has been paid and the case is already moving.

Before you hire any firm ask directly who will be handling your case at every stage. Ask who will appear at arraignment, who will conduct the preliminary hearing, and who will be in court if the case goes to trial. If the answer is not the attorney sitting across from you get that commitment in writing or keep looking.

The Lowest Fee Is Not the Best Deal

Criminal defense fees in Los Angeles range enormously and the temptation to choose the attorney offering the lowest flat fee is understandable when you are already facing financial pressure from an arrest. What most people do not account for is that the fee reflects the level of work the attorney is prepared to do. A low flat fee often means a quick plea negotiation with minimal investigation and no real challenge to the evidence. In criminal defense the quality of the work directly determines the outcome and the outcome determines the rest of your life.

The right question is not what is the cheapest option but what level of representation does this specific charge require and which attorney is actually prepared to provide it.

Most Cases Never Go to Trial and That Is Not Always Good News

Attorneys who never take cases to trial have less leverage in every negotiation. Prosecutors know which defense attorneys are willing to try a case and which ones are not and that knowledge affects every plea offer made. An attorney whose reputation is built entirely on plea deals does not have the same negotiating position as one who has demonstrated a willingness to put the prosecution’s evidence in front of a jury.

When evaluating an attorney ask about their trial experience and their track record not just their settlement outcomes. The credible threat of trial is often what produces the best negotiated resolution.

The Prefiling Window Is the Most Important Stage and Many Attorneys Miss It

Between your arrest and the formal filing of charges there is a window during which a defense attorney can contact the District Attorney’s filing deputy directly, present mitigating information, and in some cases prevent charges from being filed at all. This outcome — a DA reject — means no arraignment, no criminal case, and no record of a conviction. It is available only before filing and it closes permanently the moment charges are formally filed.

Many defendants hire an attorney at or after arraignment having already lost this opportunity entirely. And many attorneys do not pursue prefiling intervention aggressively even when the facts of the case support it. Ask any attorney you are considering whether they pursue prefiling intervention and what their approach is during the period between arrest and arraignment.

You Have More Options Than a Guilty Plea or Trial

Most people believe criminal cases end in one of two ways — a guilty plea or a trial. In reality there are multiple pathways between those two outcomes that experienced criminal defense attorneys pursue routinely. Suppression motions that exclude illegally obtained evidence can result in dismissal without any trial. Diversion programs for drug offenses, domestic violence matters, and certain other charges can result in a complete dismissal upon successful completion with no conviction on the record. Charge reductions from felony to misdemeanor through wobbler analysis can change the long-term consequences dramatically. Pre-preliminary hearing negotiations can resolve cases before they ever get to the stage where a guilty plea becomes the primary option.

An attorney who presents you with only a plea offer at the first court date has not done enough work on your case. Every available option should be identified and explained before any decision about how to proceed is made.

Contact A Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney 

At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi every case is handled personally by Attorney Hashemi from the first consultation through resolution. Prefiling intervention is pursued in every case where the facts support it. Every piece of evidence is analyzed for suppression issues before any plea negotiation begins. Every available alternative to a guilty plea is identified and explained. And every case is prepared for trial regardless of whether it ultimately goes that far because that preparation is what produces the best outcomes at every stage.

If you have been charged with a crime in Los Angeles contact our office today. Attorney Hashemi will give you an honest assessment of your case, explain every option available, and tell you exactly what the defense looks like from the first consultation. Contact our office today for a free confidential consultation.

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We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers serving clients facing criminal charges across Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, and all surrounding communities. Your defense starts the moment you call.