Getting the right attorney when it comes to protecting yourself or getting someone for a loved one, is a trying time. The hardest part of any accusation or arrest is to convince yourself who to hire. There are many lawyers and popular search engines will give you the most popular law firms; but that doesn’t mean they are the right ones for you.
If you are faced with a criminal charge, no matter how major or minor, then it is a good idea to contact a defense attorney. Even if you ultimately decide not to have a lawyer represent you in court, it would still be better if you get in contact with one so you can understand the charges against you. This will give you a better grasp on your case so you can understand how to proceed and what plea bargains can be offered to you. If you have a serious charge, then it is highly advised that you have a defense attorney represent you rather than just give you consultation and guidance.
Know What Your Attorney Does
Criminal lawyers are attorneys who represent men and women who have been charged with a criminal law suit. They concentrate on their practice and never stop educating themselves, which means they are up to date with all the regulations regarding criminal law. Getting in touch with a criminal law attorney will get you concessions and deals which you were previously unaware of. Criminal attorneys can also educate you on laws and motions which can work in your favor, thus giving you the best advantage possible.
Determine Who You Need
It is not enough to get a defense attorney; you need to find someone who can help you, in your unique situation. This is what you need to know about breaking state or federal laws.
- If you have been charged with breaking federal law, then you have to find someone who can dedicate a large amount of their time to your case. Cases dealing with the federal law are more complex, thus requires someone who has a good grasp on how to deal with those laws.
- If you have been charged with the federal law, it means that you will be trailed by the State Attorney’s Office. This means that a prosecutor from the State Attorney’s Office will have more time and resources that they can dedicate to prosecuting you. This makes it likely that the prosecution will be a longer process than it is in a state case.
Once you have the attorney you want, you should confide only in them. Keeping details of the case confidential is very important. Make sure that the lawyer you eventually end up hiring is loyal to you and will not be swayed. This will require research on your part, but at the end of the day, it will pay off. Being criminally charged is a serious situation, so you should make the time and effort to get the best help you can possibly get.
Ian Hamish has been working closely with lawyers and legal aides to help people who have been either falsely charged or charged with minor crimes. Mostly, they are first time offenders, so his work has been a valuable guide to them. For more on what to do in a similar situation, he recommends you seek out http://www.djpsolicitors.com.