For most criminal cases, an experienced criminal lawyer should be able to handle your case from start to finish.
However, if your case looks like it is headed for a long Supreme Court trial, you should consider engaging the services of a criminal defence barrister to be part of your defence team.
If you determine that you do need a barrister, the next thing is to find one.
Searching for good criminal defence barristers can be quite challenging due to the number of barristers out there. You may not know exactly where to begin.
If you have already hired a criminal lawyer, it is likely that he or she has regular barristers that they brief. He or she probably knows of the best barristers for a specific type of case.
Obviously, you need to choose your barrister independently, regardless of what your lawyer recommends, but it is advisable to go with your lawyer’s choice since he or she understands the best barrister for your case.
The following are some other important considerations:
Compatibility
Always remember that just as with your lawyer, you will be better off choosing a barrister you can get along with well.
Obviously, your barrister does not have to become your new best friend but it is good to have a person that you feel confident in and are comfortable with.
Cost
Not every person can afford an expensive barrister such as Queen’s Counsel or Senior Queen’s Counsel. You probably have a budget you need to stick to.
Luckily, great differences exist between barrister’s daily fees and they have to inform you of how they calculate their fees. Normally, barristers charge by the day and are usually not cheap.
In case your case is headed towards trial, the barrister can charge several days to prepare for the case as well as the daily fee for every day they appear in court.
Courtroom Skills
You need to choose a barrister that speaks differently when with you in conference than when inside the courtroom.
The last thing you want is to be impressed by a barrister leading up to trial and suffering disappointment due to a poor performance in court.
Good performance in court is a very different skill from court preparation, research, and negotiation.
To get a better idea of how a particular barrister has performed in the past, it is advisable to talk to your lawyer and conduct your own research. Reading testimonials from people that have actually used the services of the barrister are all great places to start.
Expertise
The expertise of your chosen barrister in your particular case type can be vital to the success of your trial. In case you have a case coming up before the courts, choosing a barrister experienced in the case type you are charged with is quite important. Particular skills and knowledge may be needed depending on the type of case. Style is also very important.
In conclusion, this article has looked at the criteria to use for choosing criminal defence barristers. The important thing is never to make your choice hastily. Use the tips in this article and you will find the best barrister for your needs.