Selecting a criminal defense attorney is one of the single most important decisions you will ever make. Your choice may affect you for the rest of your life.

You should carefully evaluate a prospective attorney's credentials. Does he handle primarily criminal matters or is he a general practitioner? What advanced training has he completed in criminal law and trial practice? What types of cases does he generally handle?

Consider the prospective attorney's personality. Is he someone you will be able to work with? It is essential that you are able to develop a good working relationship to ensure aggressive representation.

You should always meet with a prospective attorney in person before making any decisions. Often your "gut" feeling is good guidance.

You should discuss costs in advance. Most criminal defense attorneys will require a substantial amount of their fee before undertaking representation. Good quality criminal defense is not inexpensive. Be sure that you understand the fee arrangement before actually engaging an attorney.