Having your child charged with a crime can be a traumatizing thing. We think it will never happen to us, but it’s got to happen to someone. In fact, in 2014, 4,025 juvenile arrests were made in Arizona for every 100,000 children between the ages of 10 and 17.

In these times of need, there is any number of attorneys specializing in Arizona juvenile law who will stand to defend your child in a court of law. But choosing one can be confusing, and even seemingly impossible at times.

That’s why we’re here to help you familiarize yourself with the possible pitfalls to hiring a criminal lawyer in Arizona, and give you some helpful hints to get you started. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

About Hiring a Criminal Lawyer For Your Child

The first thing you should know about hiring a criminal lawyer for your child is that any child can be sucked up into crime. The charge could even be the result of something innocent- like a party- that turned bad.

Crime happens all across Arizona, and children aren’t exempt from it. In Phoenix alone, crime was on the rise from 2014 to 2018 and only started falling after that point.

There’s no shame in hiring a lawyer for your child, and it doesn’t make them ‘look guilty’ as many people might think. Finding a criminal lawyer should be the first step for anyone with a child charged with a crime. Here are a few things to keep in mind when hiring a lawyer in Arizona.

1. It’s Unlikely That Your Child Will Go to Jail

While your child could be sent to a juvenile detention center, Arizona juvenile courts most often opt for rehabilitation over incarceration for minors. This is because minors are more likely to not commit a crime after a period of rehabilitation.

With crimes like gang violence present across the state, law enforcement and courts see a lot more heinous crimes than what your child is likely to be charged with.

So, breathe easy. Your child will likely not see jail time for something like a shoplifting charge. The best thing is to stay calm and start researching your options. Having a good attorney is the first step to getting a good defense.

2. Background Matters

Just like with adults, there is a whole litany of crimes juveniles can be charged with in Arizona. Not all crimes are like the others, and some lawyers might have more experience defending clients for a certain crime.

This may not seem like it should matter. After all, a lawyer is a lawyer, right? Wrong.

After years of defending people for a specific kind of crime, lawyers will gradually collect a more and more effective knowledge of the laws and statutes surrounding that crime. After a while, they may even be more effective than other lawyers in defending for that kind of crime.

3. You Can Ask to Speak to Former Clients- and Should

Asking to meet a former client is important when you’re hiring anyone- from mortgage brokers to attorneys. Figuring out whether or not your selected attorney has a good past with his or her clients can tell you something about what it might be like to work with them.

Just a few magic words- “Could I speak with a former client?” Will get you enough knowledge to decide whether or not this specific attorney is right for you. Think of it like reading reviews before going to a restaurant.

4. Consider Case Management

Case management is all the nitty-gritty little details about how your selected attorney manages their cases. It’s questions like- how many clients will you have? Will you be the only one looking at my case? And will you personally be representing me in court?

Asking these questions can tell you a lot about what kind of lawyer you’re hiring, and how they’ll be managing your case. You want a lawyer who’s organized, straightforward, and honest, and inquiring about case management can help you find one.

Before hiring a lawyer, ask these questions:

• How often are you available?
• Do you belong to any professional organizations?
• What kind of background do you have in the charges against my child?

To make a long story short, just make absolutely sure you get to know your lawyer before paying them. It will benefit you and your child in the long run.

5. What’s it Going to Cost?

Lawyers are people, just like us, and they need to make money. Because of this, they often have to charge their clients. IT’s an unfortunate fact of the world, but it’s gotta happen for them to stay afloat.

Some lawyers charge a lot for exceptional services. Some charge a little, hoping to use their skills to attract many customers. Either way, it’s good to know exactly what your lawyer will be charging you in the end and whether or not you’ll be able to defend them.

When you call a lawyer, make sure to ask frankly about how much they charge and any extra possible fees. If you’re doing your research online, make sure to be incredibly thorough when looking at how much you might be charged. You don’t want to end up getting charged for something you didn’t see coming, and having to pay more than you expected.

6. You Should Always Ask One Question: Why Juvenile Law?

This is one most people don’t think of, but it can tell you a lot about your lawyer and whether or not you can trust them.

Asking your lawyer why they choose to handle juvenile cases can tell you where their head will be at while representing your child. If it’s because they genuinely care about children and their parents, they’ll likely be more zealous about getting a better outcome for your child.

Of course, no lawyer is going to tell you they’re just doing it for the money, so make sure to defer back to reviews.

7. Always Ask About Response Time

This is probably the single most important factor when choosing a lawyer. When it’s your child on the line, you want timely answers and representation. If you place a call, you don’t want to be waiting for days on a callback.

Because of this, it’s good to ask your attorney just how long you can expect on return calls and responses to emails. Knowing that you’ll get quick, timely answers can give you enormous peace of mind and help you navigate your child’s trial much easier.

No one wants to be in a situation where they have to hire a lawyer for their child. Unfortunately, though, it happens more often than we’d like. In these times, it’s important to have someone who will get back to you sooner rather than later to answer questions and allay fears.

8. Ask Who Will Actually Represent You

Finally, if you’re hiring from a firm, make sure to ask who will be physically representing you. Getting information about the lawyers working on your case will help you determine whether or not you want to hire from that firm.