Choosing a lawyer is one of the more difficult things to do. A lot of people have never even contacted a lawyer. If you are looking for a criminal defense lawyer, my advice is simple: find someone you can trust. Find someone you can sit across the table from, who you can speak to and feel comfortable with. Someone who has the answers to your questions. You want someone who has enough experience that you can find credibility in their answers, someone who has the knowledge. And you want someone who knows the people that they're going to be dealing with and someone who practices in the area.
It's critical to spend your money on someone whose answers you trust. You should always spend your money wisely and get your money's worth. Those answers can make the difference in the rest of your life. And at the end of the day, go with your gut.