Hiring a criminal defense attorney is not like most decisions. The stakes are high, the timeframe is short, and honestly, there is very little room for second-guessing. Whether you are making this call for yourself or for a family member who was just arrested, the quality of that choice affects everything from the bail hearing to what happens at trial.
And look, it can feel a bit overwhelming. You might not even know where to start. That is kind of the whole point of this, though.
These five questions give you a solid foundation for any consultation with a professional criminal defense attorney in San Bernardino. They are the questions that matter most. They are also the ones we are fully prepared to answer, so you do not have to walk into that first meeting blind.
1. Have You Handled Cases Like Mine in San Bernardino Superior Court?
Local court experience is not just a preference. It is directly relevant to how a case is handled. San Bernardino Superior Court has its own procedural rhythms, its own roster of judges, and its own set of prosecutors who handle specific charge types. An attorney who has appeared there regularly has a realistic picture of what to expect. An attorney who treats San Bernardino as interchangeable with any other courthouse does not.
Ask specifically about the charge you are facing. A DUI case has different dynamics than a domestic violence case. A drug possession charge is handled differently from a felony assault. Ask whether the attorney has experience with your specific offense, not just criminal defense broadly.
Tammy Higgins spent 16 years as a San Bernardino County public defender before opening her private practice. She handled every type of criminal case in this courthouse long before she was on the defense side of the table.
2. Will You Personally Handle My Case?
Some law firms use junior associates or contract attorneys for routine appearances, while senior attorneys take the lead only at trial, or sometimes not at all. For the person facing charges, this matters. The attorney you meet at the consultation may not be the one who knows your file when it counts.
Ask directly: Who will appear in court with you? Who will be your primary point of contact? Who handles the case when something happens?
We handle cases personally. Tammy Higgins is the attorney at our firm. When you retain us, she is the one working on your case.
3. What Is Your Trial Experience?
Many criminal defense attorneys negotiate plea deals competently. Fewer actually take cases to trial. The percentage of matters that go to trial in any defense practice is low, but the capacity to try a case affects everything that comes before trial as well.
Prosecutors know which defense attorneys try cases and which do not. An attorney with a demonstrated record of going to trial, particularly at the felony level, negotiates from a different position than one who almost always settles. That difference is not subtle.
Ask how many jury trials the attorney has tried. Ask whether they have tried cases involving your type of charge. Ask whether they have handled serious felony trials, not just misdemeanor matters.
Tammy Higgins has tried more than 100 jury trials, including homicide cases. That record is relevant to your case regardless of whether yours ultimately goes to trial.
4. Do You Handle Post-Conviction Relief?
Most people hiring a criminal defense attorney are focused entirely on the current case. That is completely understandable. But the attorney you hire now may also be the right person to help with what comes next, whether that is expungement after probation, a resentencing petition under AB 600, a Racial Justice Act claim under AB 256, or a habeas corpus petition.
An attorney who handles both active defense and post-conviction relief can think about the full arc of your case, not just the immediate resolution. That perspective can shape how a plea is structured, what rights are preserved, and how the long-term consequences of the current matter are managed.
We handle expungement under PC 1203.4, resentencing under AB 600, Racial Justice Act petitions under AB 256, habeas corpus, and record sealing, alongside active criminal defense. That scope is not common, and it matters to clients who are thinking about life after the case closes.
5. What Can I Realistically Expect From My Case?
An attorney who promises you a specific outcome before reviewing the evidence is telling you what you want to hear, and that is not a good sign. The facts of a case determine the realistic range of outcomes, and no one can assess those facts honestly without first reviewing the police report, the evidence, and the charging document.
What you should expect from this question is a frank assessment of how these types of cases typically proceed in San Bernardino, what factors could help or hurt your position, and what additional information the attorney needs before giving you a more specific picture.
Results vary by case. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. What matters is that the attorney gives you an honest read on where you stand from the start.
Why Getting These Answers Right Matters
The consultation is your chance to assess whether the attorney is the right fit for your situation. Bring the charging document if you have it. Ask about the specific charge. Listen for whether the attorney is giving you real information or a rehearsed pitch.
For criminal cases in San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, West Covina, Fullerton, and throughout Southern California, having an attorney who knows the local courts, is prepared to go to trial when the case calls for it, and handles the full range of defense and post-conviction matters is not a luxury. It is what your case deserves.
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