Question 1

Why should I choose Robert Mooradian as my criminal defense attorney?

Accepted Answer

Robert's ideal client is someone who wants top quality representation, attention, and responsiveness for their case. He does not take on too large of a caseload, so he can focus on building the best defense he can for his clients while being responsive to their needs and communications. You will never hear from a former client of Robert's that he did not return their calls or answer their questions, or that he failed to work diligently on their case. This is because Robert sets very high standards and expectations for himself. To provide this top-level representation, Robert specializes only in criminal defense.

Having a highly experienced former prosecutor like Robert on your side is extremely valuable. Robert is able to efficiently and accurately assess your case for strengths and weaknesses, so he can determine whether the prosecutor has a good case or not. He also has over a decade's worth of experience making plea recommendations as a prosecutor and observing how local judges tend to sentence people for different crimes. This inside knowledge allows Robert to better advise his clients on how to proceed to try to achieve the best outcome for their case.

Additionally, Robert has seen from the other side which approaches defense attorneys try that work and do not work when dealing with prosecutors. Some defense attorneys lack this inside understanding and unknowingly act in ways which are ineffective or even harmful to their client's case.

Click "Send a Message" above or call (678) 345-8855 to schedule a free consultation with Robert.

Question 2

What questions might I ask a criminal defense attorney before hiring them?

Accepted Answer

It can be difficult finding a qualified and experienced attorney to help you with your criminal case. Here are some questions you might ask an attorney you are considering hiring.

Communication and responsiveness:
1. How many open cases are you currently carrying?
2. How long should I expect to wait to hear back from you if I reach out with a question?
3. What kinds of updates should I expect from you as the case is pending?

Local experience:
1. How familiar are you with the judge who is handling my case?
2. How familiar are you with the prosecutor or their office handling my case?

Experience with your kind of charge:
1. Have you ever handled a charge like this before?
2. Have you ever gone to trial on a charge like this before?

Legal knowledge:
1. What exactly do you do to keep up with changes in the law?
2. What tool(s) do you use for legal research?

Trial experience:
1. How many trials have you had?
2. What kinds of cases have you tried?
3. When was your last trial?
4. Have you won any trials? Can you describe any of them?
5. How do you organize and prepare for hearings and trials? 
6. How comfortable are you with using technology at trial, such as creating and using PowerPoint presentations?

In addition to asking these questions, read client reviews for more information.

Another way to get neutral, helpful information about a potential attorney before you hire them is to ask a bailiff or deputy in the courthouse what they think of a particular criminal defense attorney. Bailiffs and deputies are always in court assisting with various functions, so they tend to have a front row seat to observe different attorneys who appear in court. While they may not be allowed to explicitly recommend hiring a particular attorney, you can still ask them for information about the attorney you are considering hiring.

Click "Send a Message" above or call (678) 345-8855 to schedule a free consultation with Robert.

Question 3

What are some warning signs to look out for when hiring a criminal defense attorney?

Accepted Answer

When looking for a defense attorney, be on the lookout for the following.

• Avoid any attorney who promises or guarantees you a particular result, whether it is a bond, a particular sentence, or a dismissal. No matter how good a defense attorney is, there are simply things beyond their control. At the end of the day, it is up to a judge to determine a sentence or whether to grant a bond. If it is a trial, you never know what a random jury will do. Attorneys who promise a particular result are often just trying to say what you want to hear to get hired. An honest and experienced attorney tells you the possibilities and estimates their likelihoods and avoids overpromising a result. You need an attorney who tells you the truth and not just what you want to hear.

• Be wary of attorneys with no trial experience or who have not tried a case in a long time. Being able and willing to try a case is often an important component of plea negotiations. If the other side believes your attorney will either never try the case or will not do a great job at trial, they will be less motivated to give you the best offer.

• Be cautious about hiring an attorney with little to no experience practicing in the jurisdiction your case is in. It is preferable to hire an attorney who is familiar with your local prosecutors and judges. This is mainly because a local attorney will better assess your case with an understanding of local norms. When going to trial or arguing legal motions they will know how to best present the case to the judge and be better able to better advise you of the risks of going to trial in that jurisdiction. Additionally, when a prosecutor is already familiar with and respects your defense attorney, that can facilitate productive plea negotiations and better communication.

Question 4

Why hire a private defense attorney over a public defender?

Accepted Answer

While some public defenders may be young and inexperienced, many public defenders are excellent attorneys and have the benefit of being familiar with the local court system. However, their biggest problem is that they have far too many cases and are stretched too thin to give their cases the attention they would like to. For those looking to get the best defense possible for their case, there are a number of benefits of hiring a qualified private attorney, which include:

1. A private attorney with a smaller caseload can give your case the time, preparation, and attention that it deserves. They will be more available and responsive to your questions and needs. A private attorney with a smaller caseload can more proactively work on your case to try to help you resolve it faster so you can move on with your life sooner. 
2. By choosing your own attorney, you can ensure they have the skills and experience you need for your defense. You can also ensure that your attorney is someone who understands your goals and truly cares about you and the outcome of your case.

Question 5

What you need to know about many lawyer "awards"

Accepted Answer

It is difficult to find a well-qualified attorney you can be confident will provide you with the excellent representation you are looking for.  As a result, a market has emerged for lawyer "awards" that attorneys can display in advertisements and on their website in order to objectively appear highly qualified to attract potential clients. In fact, Robert regularly receives marketing emails from these companies trying to sell him attorney "awards." He just deletes those emails, but not all attorneys do.

While positive reviews and some credentials and awards are legitimate and must be earned, many lawyer "awards" simply require an attorney to pay an annual fee to "earn" the award.  While these award badges look good on a website and are good for marketing, the truth is that many of these "awards" require no actual demonstration of qualification, performance, or skill.

At the end of the day, the best way to find an excellent attorney you can count on is through reading real testimonials from prior clients, speaking with attorneys, deputies, or court staff who have observed their performance in court, and asking the right questions of an attorney you are considering hiring. An excellent reputation cannot be bought and can only be earned through years of consistent hard work, performance, and producing great results.

Click "Send a Message" above or call (678) 345-8855 to schedule a free consultation with Robert.

Send a Message
or
Call (678) 345-8855
for a Free Consultation

Send a Message
or
Call (678) 345-8855
for a Free Consultation

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