If you’re currently dealing with a criminal legal issue, you may be searching for an experienced criminal lawyer to help you through the process. However, it can be difficult to understand exactly what these professionals do and what they offer to their clients.
To help you find the right criminal attorney, here are five things that you need to know about their role in your case.
What is a criminial attorney?
Criminal law is the body of law that provides for the prosecution and punishment of people who break the law. There are two major types of criminal laws — Felonies and Misdemeanors.
A felony is any crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison, while misdemeanors are crimes that carry less severe punishments. The purpose of criminal law is threefold — punish those guilty of breaking the law, deter others from breaking the law, and rehabilitate those convicted.
A criminal lawyer defends individuals accused of violating the law and is often paid on an hourly basis or as part of a retainer agreement. They may also work as prosecutors or public defenders if they have passed the bar exam.
A criminal lawyer must be familiar with all aspects of the American legal system as well as state and federal laws, in order to offer sound legal advice when needed.
1. Defending the accused:
A criminal lawyer specializes in the legal defense of persons accused of committing crimes. These lawyers defend their clients against allegations that they have committed various types of crimes, such as assault, murder, and theft.
In some cases, criminal lawyers may be able to reduce the charges for their client or even win an acquittal on all charges. In other cases, these lawyers may choose to plead their client guilty to less serious charges.
Whatever route the criminal attorney decides to take, his/her primary goal is usually defending his/her client by identifying any flaws in the prosecution’s case and arguing against it.
2. Researching the case:
A criminal lawyer can be an indispensable part of your criminal case. They research the case and provide you with legal advice, as well as represent you in court.
If you are facing charges for any type of crime, it is essential that you hire a lawyer who specializes in criminal law. It is important that your lawyer has plenty of experience working with this type of case.
3. Negotiating with prosecutors:
A criminal lawyer negotiates with prosecutors on behalf of the client. The goal is to get the best possible outcome for their client, which might mean an agreement on lesser charges or an outright dismissal of the case.
When it comes to negotiating plea bargains, the more information that the defense can provide to the prosecution about mitigating factors, such as mental health issues or traumatic experiences in one’s background, may help sway them towards leniency.
For those who are facing decades in prison because of one momentary lapse in judgment, these conversations may literally be worth a life sentence.
4. Preparing for trial:
Trials can be intimidating. You’re often in the spotlight, and you have to make your case without any room for error or mistakes. But if you’re facing criminal charges, it’s important to know that there are many different scenarios that may lead up to a trial.
Whether you’re on the defense or prosecution side of the courtroom, it’s crucial that your lawyer has an intimate understanding of what is at stake, so they can prepare accordingly.
5. Representing the client in court:
A criminal attorney is someone who specializes in criminal law. The lawyer will work with their client to investigate the allegations, track down evidence and build a defense for the court.
A criminal lawyer’s main responsibility is representing their clients in court. A criminal attorney will help their client to investigate the allegations, gather evidence and develop a strong defense for court.
A criminal attorney may also advise their clients about plea bargaining. Plea bargaining is when an accused person offers some of their freedom in exchange for not facing trial or punishment that would be more severe than what they are charged with at this time.
Some lawyers may take on cases involving civil liberties violations or discrimination against people of certain races or genders.
How much does a criminal lawyer cost?
It is difficult to say what the cost of an attorney will be without knowing more about the case and the lawyer. However, as with most things, you get what you pay for. A good criminal attorney will typically charge more than an average one because they have more experience and are more knowledgeable in this area of law. To find out how much it might cost on your case, contact different lawyers and ask them how much they would charge for a consultation or for their representation on your case.