Hiring The Services Of A Criminal Defense Lawyer

Law
Source: Roy Blumenthal, cc-by-3.0, flickr

Being charged with a crime can have devastating effects on one’s life. It can jeopardize your social status, your employment opportunities as well your future plans. The whole process of a trial can be really confusing and if you are not aware of the charges initiated against you and of your rights to defend, chances are that you could end up receiving severe punishment for the offense you have been charged with.

Using the services of a criminal defense lawyer is beneficial and helps you be better prepared for the trial. A good criminal defense attorney can help develop a good defense plan, thus increasing your chances of being successful in your attempt to dismiss the trial or seek a trial for a lesser offense (for example, reducing a felony to an act of misdemeanor).

A criminal defense lawyer can also:

• Challenge your arrest by the law officers if the arrest is based on a probable cause.
• Initiate the plea for releasing you on bail.
• Help negotiate with your prosecutors.
• Guide you on what punishment can be expected at the end of the trial and the merits and demerits of pleading guilty to your charges.

When to hire a criminal defense lawyer?

In cases such as over speeding or DUI where the arrest could take place on the spot, you may not have adequate time to consult with a lawyer before the arrest. However, if you are aware of the possibility of your arrest in an ongoing criminal investigation, it is wise to hire the services of a criminal defense lawyer in advance to prepare for a possible arrest.

If you do not have a defense lawyer when your arrest occurs, you would be informed of your right to hire an attorney by the police. Do not hesitate to make use of your right if you plan to challenge your arrest due to a probable cause.

An arrest is usually followed by an arraignment where the charges framed against you are presented in an open court. During an arraignment, you have the opportunity of challenging the charges and pleading your innocence. You also have the chance to initiate a plea bargain for pleading guilty to a lesser crime. Make sure that you have decided on your attorney before the stage of arraignment and discussed with him/her on the strategy to adopt for your defense during the trial.

Things to consider while hiring a criminal defense lawyer

Hiring a criminal defense lawyer in such circumstances can be a daunting task. However, you need to ensure that the defense lawyer you are hiring has adequate experience in handling the type of cases involving the offense charged against you .You may seek the help of your friends or family in choosing your defense lawyer. You can also use lawyer directories such as FindLaw to hire an experienced criminal attorney in your local area. Since the laws and penalties for a crime vary from state to state, make sure that your lawyer has enough expertise in handling cases in your state and local courts.

You may also wish to know if the fee charged by your attorney is affordable and justified considering the nature of the offense charged against you. If you cannot afford to hire the services of an attorney, you also have the option of seeking the services of a state or government appointed criminal defense attorney to represent you in the trial.

About Author:

Daljit Rakkar is an attorney and writer specializing in leagal,career and business topics.He has published many law related articles in web based media and serves as defense attorney at Law Men,Fresno leading defense law firm. You can follow him on Twitter at DaljitRakkar.