Is the criminal defense lawyer knowledgeable with the case and the law?

This is very important. The criminal defense lawyer that is going to represent you in court should be well-

constitution that are applied against you. While it is true that he cannot memorize the whole constitutional provisions, he should at least research on similar cases and matters before hand.

These are what you should ask yourself if you are in the stages of hiring a criminal defense lawyer. Better answer these questions right now, than do it when necessary, as you might not have time to prepare.