Criminal law is a body of laws including the punishments due if any of these laws are violated. There is a significant difference between criminal law and civil law. First, the accused and the guilty party in criminal law is punished and incarcerated. In civil law, the guilty party is never executed but is fined with a certain amount due to the victim.
The burden of proof is also a significant difference between civil and criminal law. The burden of proof in criminal law lies on the state. This means that the state has to prove that the accused intentionally committed the crime beyond reasonable doubt. On the other hand, the burden of proof in a civil case lies solely on the plaintiffs or the victims.
There are also specific lawyers that deal with civil and criminal law separately. The basic characteristic of criminal lawyers involves being inquisitive and meticulous. They must be able to pay attention to even the smallest details that could potentially make or break a case. There are states known for their lawyers and law firms as one of the main sources of defense and criminal attorneys of all sort.
Aside from an inquiring mind, a good Jacksonville criminal lawyer should also have a wide range of satisfied clients who can serve as living proofs of the lawyer's experiences. Extensive experience is proof that a lawyer can handle a number of arguments and prepare a variety of rebuttals during cross examinations in court.
A good criminal lawyer should also be able to help clients understand the case. Their responsibility should not be limited to court appearances only but should also involve helping the clients understand legal terms and consequences of the choices they make. Jacksonville criminal lawyers should also be able to provide their clients with several options and angles that are necessary to the success of the case.
Another important trait of a good criminal lawyer is their ability to act on time. The main obstruction to a lawyer's success is time constraint. It is important that they are able to juggle their schedules effectively so they can be able to glide through each proceeding without missing significant details of the case. A good Jacksonville criminal lawyer like many others should be able to meet the deadlines of the court so as not to render their evidences and pleadings inadmissible.