You probably don’t want to hear it, but once you’ve been charged with a serious crime, the best thing you can do is hire an attorney. You might think you’d save money by handling your own case or that the consequences of being convicted aren’t dire enough to warrant hiring a lawyer. Either way, you’ll be wrong. Here are six things your attorney can do for you when dealing with criminal charges:
Assess Your Case
The first thing your lawyer will do is assess your case. They’ll review the details of your arrest and the facts surrounding it. This allows them to determine what your best defense is. Once they know how to defend you, they can start building a strategy for doing so.
There are several steps in assessing your case. First, your attorney will review the facts leading up to your arrest and then discuss these facts with you. They will then look at the evidence against you and determine whether or not it was lawfully obtained by police officers or detectives who were investigating the case against you.
Tell You the Best Way to Proceed
Don’t try to talk your way out of being arrested by telling the officer that you want to speak to an attorney first. Once you are taken in for booking and fingerprinting, ask for your lawyer again. You will then be given the opportunity to speak to him or her privately before your first court appearance.
Your attorney will tell you how he or she recommends proceeding based on the evidence against you and what they know about your case so far. Do you want to plead guilty? Go to trial? The lawyer can explain all your options, including their advantages and disadvantages, so that you can make an informed decision.
Negotiate with The Prosecutor
If negotiations between the defense and prosecution fail, or if they are not appropriate in your case, then the matter will likely proceed to trial. An experienced attorney is usually able to work out some type of plea bargain that will allow you to avoid the worst possible consequences of a conviction.
Explain the Charges Against You
If this is your first criminal charge, the chances are that there are some things about the process that are unclear. Your attorney will explain where things stand at each step of the process, starting with the charges that have been filed against you.
Help You Prepare a Defense
A criminal defense lawyer will explain your rights, advise you on the best course of action, and help you prepare a strong defense to fight your charges. They will also make sure that your legal rights are protected throughout the entire process, from your initial arrest to the investigation, to trial, and even if you are sentenced.
Defend You in Court
An experienced criminal defense attorney will defend you in court and make sure that you receive the best possible outcome for your case. Your attorney will work hard on your behalf, ensuring that your rights are protected throughout the entire process and that any fines or penalties are reduced as much as possible.
Once you have an attorney, they can do all sorts of things for you. If you’ve been charged with a serious crime, ensure you contact an attorney immediately who can help guide your next steps through this difficult process.