Criminal convictions can follow you throughout different areas of your life, carrying a stigma as you apply for jobs or seek housing. An expungement clears your criminal record, setting aside any past convictions.
Expungements can be life-changing, which is why you need a qualified expungements defense lawyer California. Clearing your criminal record is a complex topic, so here are the basics of what the process involves.
How Does Expungement Work?
Expungement seals or erases your legal record, meaning that you are not legally required to disclose it. This process can open up doors of opportunities by making background checks easier.
Applications for jobs and rental properties typically include questions about your legal record, and disclosing an arrest or conviction can hurt your chances. However, landlords and private employers won’t be able to see your expunged legal records.
There are only a few situations where an expungement won’t hide a previous conviction. Federal employees may still be able to access your records. Additionally, you may have to mention your expungement if you are speaking under oath. However, you won’t have to get into the specifics of your conviction or arrest.
The details of how expungement is carried out varies between jurisdictions. Some areas will prevent access to your records, but keep the physical copies. Others will actually destroy the paperwork and electronic copies completely.
Choosing The Best Expungements Defense Lawyer
Because of the complexity of the expungement process, experts recommend working with a lawyer to guide you throughout the process.
A knowledgeable lawyer can help you determine if you are eligible for expungement. Certain qualities will set expert expungements lawyers apart from the rest. Here are some of the most important features to look for in a lawyer as you pursue expungement.
1. Experience in Expungement
When hiring a lawyer to handle your expungement, you’ll want to seek out someone with experience in the area. Expungements vary between jurisdictions, and someone who has worked in your area will be able to offer useful insights into the process.
Ask your attorney how they handle expungement cases and what sets them apart from other lawyers. You can also inquire about their amount of experience with expungement cases. They can tell you the number of years they’ve worked on expungement cases and the number of cases they’ve handled.
2. Clear Communication
Good communication skills are the mark of a skilled, dependable lawyer. If you’re going to work closely with someone on such a life-changing legal project, it’s critical that they are dependable and willing to answer questions promptly.
A responsive lawyer will help address issues as they come up and keep you informed every step of the way. If your lawyer is hard to reach and make appointments with, they may not be the best fit for your needs.
Additionally, clear communication is essential in court. When you meet, look out for clear speech and confidence in your lawyer. Your lawyer’s demeanor will reflect upon you if you continue on to a working relationship, so choose wisely.
3. Straightforward Payment Plan
Payment agreements are one of the most common sources of disputes between lawyers and their clients. If you can start off on the right foot regarding the payment plan, then the rest of your attorney-client relationship is sure to be smooth sailing.
Before you commit to an attorney, make sure you ask detailed questions about the payment plan. There are many payment options for lawyers, ranging from a retainer fee to hourly fees.
Instead of waiting until later on in your relationship, you’ll want to get this clear right away. If your lawyer is cagey about answering your payment questions, that’s a potential red flag. Do your best to find a lawyer who is honest and up-front about fees.
4. Good Track Record
Before you hire a lawyer, request to see their track record. Attorneys can refer to awards, the number of cases they’ve won, and other markers of success to prove their skill.
While a history of winning cases doesn’t guarantee that you’ll win yours, it suggests that your lawyer will do everything in their power to help you win. A powerful legal team and a great legal strategy can work wonders, and these qualities will help you get the expungement you’re seeking.
When choosing an attorney, look for someone knowledgeable and passionate about winning cases for their clients.
5. Positive Reputation and Testimonials
Another way to choose a great defense attorney is by taking their reputation and client testimonials into account. Check review websites for honest, thorough reviews, and take note of any mentions of unethical or unprofessional behavior.
If you know anyone personally who has worked with a lawyer you’re considering, that’s even better. You can discuss what the lawyer was like to work with and if they were satisfied with the service. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and it can tell you much more than a testimonial.
6. Choose a Lawyer with a Strong Legal Team
Most lawyers work closely with a team that helps them with research, administrative duties, and more. Ask your lawyer about their legal team and how work is delegated at their firm. You may want to know who will be working on your case, as well as their experience.
Good lawyers hire qualified and skilled employees to support them. That way, they’re able to provide an overall higher quality of service. A lawyer with a talented support team can deliver the results you’re looking for.
When you choose a lawyer working with a firm, you typically get comprehensive services and quality support. If you have a question, a staff member may be able to answer it even if your lawyer can’t get back to you right away.
Get a Free Consultation With LibertyBell Law’s Experienced Attorneys
LibertyBell Law Group is a top-notch firm offering expungement services and much more. We’ll match you with an experienced attorney to help you through your legal journey. Our team includes lawyers with many different specialties, including a research lawyer.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and how we can help!
Gina Tennen
Founder
At A Glance
- Expert legal strategist.
- Experienced in both prosecution and defense.
- Relentless fighter for her clients with results to prove it.
- Received the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers Award
- Featured in Time Magazine’s “Leaders of Criminal Defense” in the 100 Most Influential People edition.
Executive Managing Attorney Gina Tennen is a renowned leading advocate of personal liberties. Her meticulous trial preparation and exceptional ability to pursue every possible defense has earned her the admiration of clients and respect from prosecutors, judges, and other criminal attorneys all over the nation.
Lawyer Tennen began her career as a Senior Law Clerk for one of the toughest District Attorney’s offices in the country where she gained remarkable experience in juvenile crimes, elder abuse, parole hearings, child abuse, sex and other serious crimes. Her experience at the District Attorney’s Office armed her knowledge and case strategy in exploiting the other side’s weaknesses for the client’s advantage and building a rock solid defense. Criminal attorney Tennen’s experience on both sides and brilliant maneuvering throughout is evidenced in her winning track record. In fact, even before earning her law degree, she was instrumental in getting excellent results on several criminal cases outshining her peers.
A consummate strategist and top criminal attorney, lawyer Tennen works tirelessly on many high profile criminal cases. She is known as a relentless fighter who never gives up on any case. Whether the case is hers or handled by another criminal defense attorney from LibertyBell Law Group, no matter how small the case may seem she asserts that every client deserves the right to the best legal representation.
It is her deep belief and what she has built her entire career and lifelong dedication to that there is always hope for every client and every avenue should be pursued regardless of the time and energy it takes. For criminal attorney, Gina Tennen, devoting the finest criminal defense for clients is a habit and talent that you must apply and do all the time.
You demand the best defense. Take hold of your life and speak to our defense attorneys by calling 855-LAW-PRO1 (855-529-7761) now.
Founder Gina Tennen and all the sex offender attorneys at LibertyBell Law Group uphold that when the bell rings, it rings for life and liberty for all.
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