If you are charged for a criminal offense, hiring a reputable lawyer is the safest way to get out of this highly unpleasant situation. Considering you are facing jail time for a serious crime like driving under the influence of drugs, criminal fines and penalties and a record that will follow you for the rest of your life, hiring an experienced attorney seems like a great idea no matter the price.
Specialized criminal defense lawyers know how to assess your case and all the evidence against you in order to find any errors, exploits,and weaknesses in your charges that they can use to form a defense strategy to prove your innocence, dismiss the case or at least reduce your charges.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly how a criminal defense attorney can help.
Examine the Evidence and Evaluate the Charges
First of all, after careful analysis of the presented evidence, a criminal defense lawyer will lay your cards on the table and tell you what the most likely outcome of your court trial might be.
Stop the Charges from Being Filed
In many cases, a good criminal attorney can halt the criminal process completely. In a meeting with the District Attorney before the charges were filed, the attorney may present witness statement and evidence that may help release you from the charges by offering a complete picture of what transpired.
As a result, prosecutors can choose to file for a misdemeanor instead of a felony or even convince the DA to drop the charges completely.
Develop a Defense Strategy
If this fails, your criminal attorney will go through the police and witness reports, the evidence presented and your charges and develop the best course of action for your trial. He will be able to tell you right away whether they might be able to help get the charges dismissed, reduce your charges or fight the charges in the court.
Negotiate a Bargain
If your attorney decides to negotiate the charges, they will sit down with the district attorney and try reducing the consequences you’re faced with. Naturally, your attorney will discuss all the possibilities with you before meeting the DA.
Help You Cope with the Trial
Your attorney will explain how the trial looks and what you can expect. People facing a trial often develop depression or have trouble coping with the embarrassment of a trial. Experienced defense attorneys know what to expect and how to help clients prepare better.
Explain how it Works
Your attorney will explain what to expect from the criminal trials. They will update you whenever necessary on the state of your trial and potential outcomes. They will explain what to expect from the trial or advise if it’s wise to accept a plea bargain.
Provide Insight into the Laws
Criminal law is not easy to understand, therefore don’t expect to understand everything that’s happening. Fortunately, criminal lawyers have spent a lot of time training to understand the law and are going to try and explain everything that’s happening so you can understand the course of your trial better.
Represent You in the Local Court
State rules apply in every court, therefore trials differ from state to state. Criminal attorneys are familiar with how laws work in each state and will provide appropriate representation in the court where your case is heard to deliver the best results.
Compile Evidence and Statements
Preparation is key for any criminal trial, which is why attorneys spend a lot of time interviewing witnesses, going over the evidence and developing strategies in order to discredit or rebut any witnesses the prosecution calls to testify.
Hire Expert Witnesses
Similarly, the witnesses the defense calls to stand can change the outcome of a trial. That is why criminal attorneys identify expert witnesses to help defend your case by discrediting the prosecution.
Work with Private Investigators
Criminal defense attorneys often hire a private investigator to assess the alleged crime, investigate the witnesses and find any inconsistencies in their statements or find evidence of your innocence.
