Whether you've chosen a general practice attorney or a specialist for your criminal defense, keep one thing in site: you're considered innocent until proven guilty. If your lawyer doesn't zealously pursue your innocence, find someone else before they hurt your defense.

If you or your business deal in a variety of legal matters, from taxes to real estate law, you'd be best served to locate a good general practice lawyer. As always, you should start by asking your friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations, and build your list of candidates from there.

The law is in place to protect you and society, but in complex matters you'll need an attorney or other legal professional to help you through the maze. Unless your needs are very specific, a general practice attorney will probably be your least expensive option.