Facing any sort of criminal charge can be beyond frightening; especially if you are facing jail or prison time. To make sure you don't serve any more time than is necessary, it's important that you find a criminal lawyer who has a certain amount of experience in criminal law so that you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Because attorneys aren't a sort of one-size-fits-all investment, you may want to consider looking for one that has the following things on their resume. 

1. Federal Vs State Experience

There are several types of courts in the criminal system, but most of the cases will either be stateside or federal. If you are facing federal charges, then you will want to choose a criminal attorney who is not only allowed to practice in federal court, but that also has some experience. Because federal charges are more serious, it does require a different type of expertise with the law, which means you will want someone who has practiced in federal court in front of federal judges before. 

2. What Are Their Specialties? 

Although criminal attorneys specialize in criminal law, they may also specialize in specific types of crimes. For instance, some attorneys may primarily focus on DUI's, while other criminal defense attorneys may only focus on white-collar crimes. If you are facing a really unique kind of charge or charges, then having someone who has knowledge, experience, and expertise in that specific kind of law may be great for you and your case. When interviewing attorneys, just make sure they have dealt with your specific type of crime and see what results they were able to get their clients. While they obviously can't ethically guarantee you any results, just knowing they were able to get good results before may be reassuring for you. 

3. Trial Experience

If your case is going to go to trial, then you don't want to work with a criminal lawyer that has never done one before. When you are looking for a criminal lawyer, look for one that has at least a couple of recent trials under their belts. By knowing how to prepare for trial, how to speak to a jury, and how to work with a prosecutor, you can have a little bit more assurance that you are in good hands and that your trial will hopefully go as smoothly as possible. 

To learn more, reach out to some criminal attorneys near you.