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EnglishWhat to Know Before Contacting a New York City Criminal Defense Attorney
Updated
Before you call a New York City criminal defense attorney, get clear on four things: what you are actually being investigated for or charged with, how early you are reaching out, what documents and dates you can put together, and whether the lawyer handles your specific type of case. The Law Offices of Samuel Gregory, for example, is described as handling drug charges, white collar crimes, and civil rights lawsuits — so if your matter falls outside those areas, that is useful to know before the first call. The guidance below applies to anyone facing a criminal matter in New York City, not just one firm.
Know what kind of case you are dealing with
The single most useful thing you can do before contacting a lawyer is to name the situation as precisely as you can. "I got arrested" and "federal agents contacted my employer" are very different problems with different timelines and different defenses.
Common categories you may be sorting yourself into:
- Drug charges — possession, sale, or distribution allegations, which can be charged at the state or federal level.
- White collar crimes — fraud, embezzlement, and similar financial-conduct allegations, often investigated for months before any charge is filed.
- Civil rights lawsuits — claims that a government actor, including police, violated your rights. These are civil claims, not criminal charges, and they follow their own rules and deadlines.
If you are not sure which category fits, that is fine — describe what happened in plain language and let the attorney classify it. What matters is that you do not guess and then withhold the parts that do not fit your guess.
Timing matters more than most people expect
Reaching out early is generally better than waiting, for reasons that are practical rather than dramatic:
- Investigations often precede charges. In white collar matters especially, people learn they are a subject of an investigation long before an indictment. A lawyer involved at that stage can communicate with investigators on your behalf and help you avoid statements that damage you later.
- Statements you have already made cannot be unsaid. If you have spoken to police, signed anything, or given a statement, tell the attorney exactly what you said and when.
- Deadlines can be short. Court dates, arraignments, and filing deadlines do not wait. If you already have a date on a piece of paper, that date drives everything else.
If you are in custody or have an imminent court appearance, say so in the first sentence of your call. That changes the urgency of the response.
What to have ready for the first conversation
You do not need a complete file to make the first call, but the more of the following you can gather, the more useful the conversation will be:
| Item | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Any charging documents, tickets, or court notices | Shows exactly what you are accused of and the next date |
| Dates and locations of key events | Establishes the timeline the attorney will work from |
| Names of officers, agencies, or investigators involved | Identifies whether this is state or federal |
| A written summary of what you told police, if anything | Prevents surprises later |
| Names of anyone else involved or present | Helps assess witnesses and conflicts |
Write your summary down before the call. Memory under stress is unreliable, and a written account you can correct is more useful than trying to recall details live.
How to judge whether a lawyer fits your case
Fit is not only about whether the firm advertises criminal defense. Ask yourself, and ask the attorney, these questions:
- Does this lawyer handle my specific charge type? A firm that lists drug charges, white collar crimes, and civil rights lawsuits is signaling those are its areas. If your matter is a different category, ask directly whether they take it.
- Who will actually work on my case? Some offices have the named attorney handle everything; others delegate. Either can be fine, but you should know which you are getting.
- What is the plan for the next 30 days? A concrete answer — appear at arraignment, request discovery, contact the prosecutor — tells you more than general reassurance.
- How will I be kept informed, and how do I reach you between meetings? Criminal cases move in bursts; you want to know the channel before you need it.
- What does this cost, and how is it billed? Ask explicitly. Pricing is not something you should assume from a website.
Before you dial
Contact information for the Law Offices of Samuel Gregory is listed as 718-804-5208 on samgregory.com. When you call, lead with the two facts that shape everything else: what you are facing and when your next deadline is. Then let the attorney ask the rest.