subject: Hiring A Criminal Defense Attorney [print this page] When a person is arrested or charged with a crime, they will need to have a criminal defense lawyer by their side. It is the right of the criminal suspect to remain silent until they have an attorney present. This is because a good criminal defense lawyer can help the suspect understand their rights and the criminal process. The criminal defense lawyer can make a difference between a dismissal, reduced plea bargain, or lessen a jail sentence.
A person who is faced with a prospect of going to prison must never be without a criminal defense attorney. The charges that will need the help of an attorney include assault and battery, indecent exposure, theft, harassment, sex assault, kidnapping, negligent operation and many more. A person facing any kind of criminal charges also risks severe penalties and consequences such as getting a criminal record which will then affect future job opportunities and relationships. For this reason, it is best to have a credible and reputable criminal defense attorney present because they have the training and experience to handle legal issues involved. A reputable and credible criminal defense attorney can help the person understand the nature of the criminal charges filed against the person and they can also help the arrested suspect to understand their plea bargains. The defense attorney can also help in reducing the criminal charges to a lesser offense and can also lessen the severity of the punishments.
When a criminal suspect selects a criminal defense attorney, he or she must feel comfortable with speaking to their attorney concerning all areas of the criminal charge. The criminal suspect must ask necessary questions to their defense attorney such as their experience with dealing with similar cases, the number of cases they have handled and won, and their experience with plea agreements. Getting to know the defense attorney is necessary for criminal suspects since this will help them decide whether or not the defense attorney can help them. It is also important for the criminal suspect to ask about the legal fees involved when hiring a defense attorney.
There are also criminal defense attorneys who provide free consultations for their clients. This will enable them to fully understand the nature of the crime and they can discuss with their clients the defense strategy that they can make to ensure a successful case. However, if the suspect cannot afford to hire an attorney, a public defender can be provided for him or her.
