What To Ask When Vetting For A New Jersey Expungement Lawyer To Represent You
A criminal record can affect your life in ways you never anticipated. From robbing you of a chance to get employed to denying you the right to purchase insurance, a criminal record will undoubtedly cripple almost all aspects of your life. Luckily, you can clear your records by working with an experienced New Jersey expungement lawyer.
The kind of expungement attorney you choose to represent you will, however, make or break your chances of success in your expungement process. The perfect way to pick a competent expungement lawyer among countless law firms is by vetting them. Here are some of the questions you should ask when vetting a potential New Jersey expungement lawyer.
Do I Qualify for an Expungement?
Before going into the specifics of your case with your prospective expungement attorney, it’s essential to find out whether you are qualified for expunction under the New Jersey law or not. After all, why should you be looking forward to expunging your criminal record and yet you aren’t qualified for expungement? By asking your attorney a few questions, you’ll be able to know if you qualify for expungement or not.
Here are some expungement requirements you should be aware of:
- You should not have severe convictions such as felony, murder, rape or child abuse in your record.
- You must have completed the required probation, sentencing, fines, and community service.
- At least three years must have passed since you were arrested or convicted.
- You must not have any pending court cases.
What Makes You the Best New Jersey Expungement Lawyer for My Case?
You have to be sure that the attorney you choose to represent you possess qualities that make them stand out from other expungement attorneys in New Jersey. Depending on how a prospective expungement attorney answers this question, you can evaluate their suitability for your case. As the lawyers provide you with answers, make sure that they elaborate on the following areas in detail.
1. Qualifications: The attorney should possess accredited skills. They must also be licensed to offer legal services in New Jersey.
2. Experience level: The lawyer should demonstrate proven experience in handling expungement cases. This is a guarantee of getting a positive outcome for your lawsuit.
3. References: The attorney should provide you with referrals to their previous clients. To determine whether these references are credible or not, contact all the clients and ask them detailed questions regarding the suitability of the attorney and the experience they had with them.
What Types of Expungement Lawsuit Do You Typically Handle?
Different expungement attorneys handle different expungement cases. It will be imperative to deal with an attorney who has the experience and firm grasp of the specific expungement case you are grappling with. Working with an attorney who has a specialization in the type of expungement case you have at hand will guarantee you an overall better experience. Most importantly, it will significantly improve your chances of succeeding in clearing your criminal record.
The average expungement lawyer should be able to handle the following expungement cases:
- Traffic violations
- Drug convictions
- DUI/DWI offenses
- Misdemeanor offenses
- Nonviolent convictions
What Should I Expect from My New Jersey Expungement Lawyer in the Process?
This question helps the lawyer you’re vetting to outline the entire expungement process for you clearly. Once you have understood the process, you will be able to handle your expectations realistically. Again, you will be able to work hand in hand with your attorney for the best possible outcome.
Here is a breakdown of what you should expect from your expungement process:
- The attorney will ask you to provide them with all the documents relating to your case.
- Your attorney will help you fill out a petition or an application that will be submitted to the relevant criminal court.
- The attorney will assist you with reviewing and filling out the paperwork.
- The attorney will file your expungement case and represent you in court to demonstrate that you are of good character.
- If the court grants the expungement upon reviewing your application, your attorney will file a motion with the relevant court.
How Much Will You Charge for Expunging My Criminal Record?
Please don’t be reluctant to ask your attorney about the legal fees they are going to charge you for helping you clear your criminal record. This is paramount when budgeting as well as help you to plan well in order to avoid experiencing financial issues later. The attorney should provide a breakdown of their fee structure, specifically listing amounts in areas such as cost of filing the case, legal fees, and other expenses.
Find the Right New Jersey Expungement Lawyer at Lord & Kobrin, LLC
If the idea of clearing your criminal record has crossed your mind at some point, call us at 908-379-8642 and meet our experienced New Jersey expungement lawyer. We will work to assist you clear your impending criminal record so that you can reclaim your life once and for all.