For defendants facing a hefty fine or extensive prison time, consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer. Things would turn out even better for you if your income qualifies for getting a court-appointed lawyer. Representing yourself in court won’t yield the best results in most cases as well. How exactly will a criminal defense attorney help you deal with your current situation? Let’s find out below.
The General Duties of a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Both court-appointed and private attorneys follow through with various tasks for their clients. These tasks include researching facts, case investigations, negotiating with prosecutors, potential sentence assessments, and many more. If your plea deal gets rejected, you can also rely on defense lawyers to represent you at trial.
It is safe to say that nobody wants to get thrown into the criminal justice system. Overcrowded jails, political pressure, and overloaded calendars are just some of the reasons the justice system requires unclogging. By coming up with the right plea deals, individuals can assist both themselves and the justice system.
Court-Appointed Lawyers or Private Attorneys?
Some defendants might think that one of these two groups is better than the other. However, judging a defense lawyer’s skills basing solely on this aspect won’t be reliable at times. The quality of representation you’ll get from an attorney depends on his or her skills, experience, and commitment.
The majority of lawyers from the public defender’s office get more overworked than private attorneys. With this in mind, you might assume that the latter would provide you better quality service. Why don’t you look into a prospective lawyer’s experience and skills instead? Opting for this method would surely give you greater insight.
Representing Yourself in Court
As a criminal defendant, you can try to represent yourself in court. Going for the self-representation route requires you to read books and documents about punishments, crimes, and defenses. Still, there is a vast difference between studying the law and practicing law in court. Judges also have the power to stop a defendant from self-representing if he or she is not competent enough.
Get a Free Consultation Today
Defending yourself in court doesn’t have to be a challenging task. Why don’t you narrow down your search by choosing SoCal Criminal Law? Their many years of combined experience allow them to offer truly remarkable service to clients. Moreover, The Law Offices of Hart J. Levin is the #1 ranked criminal defense firm in Los Angeles. You can get a free consultation today by filling out this short form.