How to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney

How to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney
By Jerry L Work

When it comes to defending you or a loved one in a criminal proceeding, you cannot take chances with your legal representation. This is an entirely different situation than if you are hiring an attorney to handle some business or other non-criminal matters.

In a criminal trial, your very life or livelihood could be at stake. The advice in this article will help you hire the right criminal defense lawyer.

Possibly the number one thing you need to keep in mind is that you should hire a lawyer experienced with your kind of case. So it goes without saying that he or she needs to be a criminal lawyer. No business attorneys, no divorce lawyers, no personal injury lawyers. You need a specialist in the area of criminal law. But don't stop there!

Does the lawyer have experience with your type of case? Federal crimes are different from state crimes. Felonies are different than misdemeanors. Is it on record that your potential lawyer has handled cases like yours?

After narrowing down your potential list of lawyers to those who have the right experience, the next step is to set up appointments to go talk to them. Every lawyer is different and does things a different way. So the main thing is to make sure it is a lawyer you feel comfortable with and who will not push you to do something you don't feel is right, such as taking a plea.

Another factor in hiring the right attorney may be your own opinion of how winnable your case is. If the evidence against you is very strong, you might be better off to hire an attorney with a history in negotiating favorable deals for his clients. If the evidence is weak, then you may be better off with a monster in the court room.

And don't forget about the money part. While it probably should not be your number one consideration for a criminal lawyer, you should hire a lawyer whose terms you agree with. Some lawyers will only charge a flat fee for certain types of cases, although a complicated criminal case is generally going to involve an hourly rate.

Hiring the right criminal defense lawyer is a big, big decision. Consider all of the above factors, and then go with your gut. Make a decision that you are comfortable with, and then hold on tight. A criminal trial is a wild ride.

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How to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal Defense - A Criminal Attorney Can Help You Clear Your Name

Criminal Defense - A Criminal Attorney Can Help You Clear Your Name
By Andrew Stratton

If you are in trouble with the law, you might feel very alone. However, you do not have to be alone at all, especially when you find the best criminal attorney for you. If you are wondering whether you need one at all, consider some of the benefits to having a good lawyer before you decide for sure either way.

If your record was clean before the current allegations, you are probably upset to now have something negative on it. It can sometimes reduce your chances of getting a job or license that is necessary for your career. Overall, it can follow you for life, constantly reminding you of one bad decision or misunderstanding.

In many cases, you will not be able to vote, receive student financial assistance, or buy firearms. These issues could obviously impact some people more than others, but in general, you will never be able to forget about your conviction. It will follow you like a shadow throughout life if you do not do anything to fix the problem.

A criminal attorney could help you clear your record. Though no one can guarantee the outcome of your case, your lawyer will likely do everything he or she can to get your record expunged. This simple act could save you from losing money throughout your life from a tarnished record that takes away job opportunities.

Some crimes require that you spend time locked away, whether this means a few months in jail or years in prison. You might be surprised at how heavy a punishment your conviction carries. A criminal attorney can work with you to lessen or even eliminate time in jail or prison.

Aside from just the daily experience of living life behind bars, you should think about the fact that you would be missing your career, family, and friends. Most people will do anything they can to keep their freedom, which is why they hire a qualified criminal attorney.

You might think that since you are not guilty, it will be easy to prove your innocence on your own. However, even if you did not do what you are being convicted of, there is a chance you could be punished for it. Innocent people are convicted everyday, mostly when they do not have experienced lawyers to defend them. If you want someone on your side throughout the whole ordeal, you will select an experienced criminal attorney to help you clear your name.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Criminal Defense - A Criminal Attorney Can Help You Clear Your Name

Criminal Defense - Why Your Lawyer Uses an Investigator

Criminal Defense - Why Your Lawyer Uses an Investigator
By Andrew Stratton

When you've been accused of a crime, one of the first things that your criminal defense lawyer will do is to make contact with a private investigator in order to utilize his or her services. The reason that your lawyer invites one to join your team is a simple and straightforward one.

Your lawyer wants to provide you with the very best defense and one way to do this is by gathering as many details and facts surrounding your case as possible. What exactly does an investigator do?

He specializes in uncovering hidden information. He or she will be able to gather it from unexpected sources, such as computer files and other paper or digital trails. Encrypted files, passwords which have been changed, deleted documents may all be recovered during a thorough investigation.

A detective will look at all the players involved who are trying to build a case against you. Clues, inconsistencies and weaknesses in the opposition's case will be brought to the attention of your criminal defense lawyer.

Public and private records will be traced and scrutinized involving both individuals and businesses. Investigators are able to solve mysteries and bring buried information to the forefront. They will interview both police officers and potential witnesses. Investigators are quite adept at finding witnesses who will enable your lawyer to successfully build your defense.

In order to perform their duties satisfactorily and in a manner that will allow these discoveries to hold up in court, private detectives are well versed in the law. They obtain the necessarily information in a legally appropriate and timely manner.

In order to do their job, detectives use surveillance techniques which include the use of cameras, video equipment and recording devices. All equipment is used in a lawful manner so that it may be presented in court if it is deemed that it will support your case.

The investigator that your law firm uses may work directly for the firm or may be an outside contractor. He or she may be a former police officer and therefore may have exemplary knowledge of the behind-the-scenes workings of the police department and judicial system.

Many states require licensing of detectives but some do not. The level of education varies but they are often college educated. High intelligence, attention to detail and a flair for deductive reasoning are all common traits of a good investigator.

Your criminal defense lawyer has been around the block and knows the value of a skilled investigator. Together they will partner to gather the evidence necessary to provide you with the best defense possible.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Criminal Defense - Why Your Lawyer Uses an Investigator

DUI Attorneys - Criminal Defense For Driving Under the Influence

DUI Attorneys - Criminal Defense For Driving Under the Influence
By Kay Zeeh

If you've been pulled over by the police for a DUI, you have a hard road ahead of you. Driving under the influence, or DUI, demands immediate action on your part to ensure that your license will not be suspended or revoked and you don't end up spending a lot of time in jail.

Why hire a DUI criminal defense attorney? In a number of states, including Arizona, a DUI charge generates two individual cases.

The primary case is filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles, while the other case filed in criminal court. Since criminal defense lawyers have sparred in court with the same prosecutors on many occasions, they are familiar with the strategy the opposing lawyers will be using and know how to defend you.

When a DUI lawyer takes on your case, you'll be asked exactly what occurred from the moment you were pulled over. After you give your account of what happened, they'll explain what's going to happen, including what will take place if the case goes to trial.

Your attorney will review the police report, interview witnesses and examine the evidence. Given that it is tough to manage and review the whole thing on their own, they often have their office paralegals assist them.

You will have to go to criminal court within ten days from the date of the arrest. You will be requested to enter a plea of 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. Odds are, your criminal defense attorney will tell you to plead 'not guilty' to the charges. This will give him time to review the details of your case so your defense can be established.

You attorney has tactics that he'll use to help you get out of a DUI. He may, for example, argue lack of probable cause for the initial stop. If this strategy works, your attorney will then submit a petition to suppress any evidence that the police officer obtained when you were pulled over.

Your lawyer may also dispute the BAC results and claim they are unreliable. BAC stands for the Blood Alcohol Content test that is used by police to see if an individual's blood alcohol level has reached or passed the maximum limit.

The results could be considered faulty if your attorney can prove that the equipment has not been appropriately maintained or the test wasn't correctly administered. If you have a health condition that could affect the reliability of the BAC test, your lawyer will pursue that avenue.

Your attorney will also question the police officers and attempt to prove there are inconsistencies in their testimony compared with the police report they filed. If he can cast doubt on the credibility of the arresting officers, you could get a 'not guilty' decision.

If the arresting officers processed you properly, and things are not working in your favor, then your DUI lawyer may recommend that you accept a plea agreement. However, if you don't want to negotiate, you can choose to go to court. If you're defeated in court, you can attempt to appeal the verdict.

Keep in mind that if you're convicted of a DUI, you can expect huge fines and jail time. All of that is in addition to a huge increase in your car insurance rates, limitations on future employment opportunities, and a permanent felony record. So using the services of a criminal defense attorney is really the only logical approach to defending yourself if you get arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kay_Zeeh

DUI Attorneys - Criminal Defense For Driving Under the Influence

Choose Only the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer to Defend Your Rights and Freedom

Choose Only the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer to Defend Your Rights and Freedom
By Rahul Awasthi

Man is a prey to his emotions and untoward situation which many times come to him without a prior notice. He is not his own master, but lies at the mercy of fortune which sometimes cause bad things happen to good people. No criminal is by birth a criminal but it is the circumstances which make him do so. There is a range of biological, psychological, and social causes that affect human behavior.

There are many situations under which a person can do things that could be considered as crime. They can do an act or behavior that could violate or breach any rule of political, moral or criminal laws subjected to punishment or public prosecution.

However the law is all essential to maintain peace and order in the society, this is the law that sometimes punishes innocent people only because of this that the accused people find themselves unable to prove their innocence; either due to lack of evidences or due to their ignorance of the particular criminal law.

The fact that the law is blind and there are many faults in law also depicts that many times there are different punishments for different people for the same criminal charge. Also there are many criminal charges that present possible punishment ranges of anything from probation to many years or life in prison depending on the severity of charges.

As there is nothing as scary as being charged with a criminal offense, any arrest, criminal charge or even a criminal investigation should be addressed immediately without waiting to see if they go away on their own. When you are facing criminal charges, you can not afford to take chances with your defense.

With so much at stake - your job, your reputation, and also your freedom, you need a criminal defense attorney who could fight for you. Facing criminal charges is an extremely serious situation for a man that could also affect his whole life so it is very important to take professional legal advices to overcome.

As every case is unique (depending on the facts of a case), there are a variety of defenses that an individual charged with a crime may have. There are many criminal defense attorneys who provide legal guidance to people who charged with legal offenses.

A Minneapolis criminal attorney is one such person, who can assist you throughout the legal system. While there is never any guarantee as to the outcome of a particular criminal case, skilled representation of Minneapolis criminal lawyer can often help in navigating the legal system, and avoid the pitfalls people without the skill and knowledge of legal system may find themselves faced with.

Intelligent, aggressive, and experienced, Minneapolis criminal defense attorneys possess each and every quality that a professional criminal defense lawyer should have. A Minnesota Criminal Lawyer is your best defense to pot charges against you.

Equipped with their research tools they have the expertise to find applicable statutes and case laws to support your case. If necessary, they can even hire a private investigator to gather statements from witnesses, to visit the scene of the crime and to obtain expert opinions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rahul_Awasthi

Choose Only the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer to Defend Your Rights and Freedom