You are not alone when faced with the daunting task of shopping around for a lawyer. We have never met a client who feels comfortable with this process. Over the decades of helping clients make difficult decisions, we have seen that it boils down to three questions, which are the only questions that can be answered now.
- Do you want to hire a private attorney or use the public defender?
- Is the lawyer you are speaking with the right lawyer for you? (Can you discuss issues and make decisions with them? Do they know the area of law?)
- The fee – is their fee the right amount? (Do they charge too much or too little?)
Every other decision can only be made with the advice of a lawyer after the matter has been investigated, researched, and negotiated with the prosecutor.
Am I Charged with a Felony or Misdemeanor?
The first question in the legal process is what level of offense are you charged with? The court in which the charge is filed will quickly separate felony matters from misdemeanors. Felonies are prosecuted in Superior Court and misdemeanors are typically prosecuted in the District or Municipal Court. Although, it is possible for Superior Court to hear a misdemeanor its not typical-misdemeanors usually get sent to district/municipal court. In order to tell what level of offense your charge is, check the summons or order you have received, the name of the court (i.e. Superior, District, Municipal) will indicate the level of your offense. Additionally, you will often hear the term misdemeanor used to refer to both gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors.
What is the Difference Between a Felony and a Misdemeanor?
Simply put, the maximum length of punishment defines the type of crime. The list below show the maximum jurisdiction the court has (not the amount of time you will serve in jail or prison). It just tells us what type of crime you are charged with.
Class A Felony Life and $50,000
Class B Felony Ten years and $20,000
Class C Felony Five years and $10,000
Gross Misdemeanor One year and $5000
Misdemeanor 90 days and $1000
You may read the statute here.