5 ways a Criminal Defense Attorney can Improve a Client's Case

No one ever plans on being arrested. Unfortunately, many people find themselves in scenarios where the situation quickly escalates out of their control. Others may be facing charges of which they are innocent. The law attempts to be fair and impartial but the system is far from perfect. After getting arrested, a person has the best chance to beat their conviction when they invest in a professional criminal defense attorney.

The legal system is designed so even a person with exceptional intelligence would have difficulty defending themselves in front of a judge and prosecutor. There are many reasons why a criminal lawyer can help improve a client’s case beyond someone representing themselves or choosing the public defender. Here are the top five.

Top Reasons to invest in a Criminal Lawyer

1. Reduced Bail
2. Attention to Detail
3. Experience to Succeed
4. Fight for your rights
5. Superior Negotiating Power

1. Reduced Bail

One of the first things a private attorney can achieve is a reduced bail for the defendant. If the attorney is hired by the time the accused makes his or her first appearance, the attorney can typically get a substantial reduction in the bail amount. Even if the defendant has already pleaded guilty or innocent, a private attorney can still request a reduction in the bail amount. There is no guarantee that a judge will grant the motion, but the private councilor will certainly help the defendant’s chances.

2. Attention to Detail

Public defenders represent many clients with a variety of criminal charges. Due to the high volume of cases a public defender has it is impossible for them to give the quality attention to the smallest details that can mean the difference between conviction and innocence. Having a lawyer who is focused on fewer cases gives a defendant a much better chance of walking from the court room as a free man or woman. Many aspects of a case are time sensitive and they have to be handled in a timely fashion. Privileges, like the right to a speedy trial, may be denied if they are not requested within the proper window of opportunity so it is imperative to hire an attorney as soon as possible.

3. Experience to Succeed

Most private attorneys have spent years cutting their teeth as court appointed attorneys and even prosecutors. For this reason, they're already familiar with the inner workings of their state's legal system. Sometimes understanding and being able to quote precedence in other cases can be enough to get evidence admitted or dismissed. After a state's Supreme Court has ruled a judgment on a certain aspect of the law, that ruling becomes the guidelines for further rulings in circuit and county court. This is why an experienced, private attorney is such a valuable asset because he or she has argued enough cases to be familiar with precedence. This crucial skill can work heavily in the defendant's favor.

An experienced attorney will also know key experts that may have to be called. Sometimes evidence can be misleading until an expert on a particular matter is called upon to clarify. An attorney with the keen eye to recognize that the available evidence is being misinterpreted can make or break a case. Many cases in recent memory have swung on the testimony of an expert witness, but it takes an attorney who has the experience to think outside the normal parameters and introduce the evidence to the expert.

4. Fight for your rights

The police are some of the bravest, most important members of society. However, they are still only human and they're certainly capable of making an error. A good attorney will review the evidence and file any necessary motions or paperwork to ensure the defendant gets a fair trial. The police may accidentally do a number of things to in their investigation which need to be properly scrutinized. A motion to suppress certain evidence can completely alter a criminal case so it's best to hire a lawyer earlier rather than later.

An attorney can also speak for the defendant without having his or her words twisted into a confession. Police interrogators will attempt to take advantage of a person's ignorance of the law and they even admit to this when they read Miranda Rights to the defendant. Anything you say can and WILL be used against you in a court of law." Therefore, it’s best to say nothing and allow an attorney to speak to the law enforcement officers.

5. Superior Negotiating Power

A private councilor has the ability to negotiate with prosecutors and even point out to them that the defendant has actually been charged with the wrong crime. Sometimes, this can mean the difference between going to prison or getting probation. A private attorney understands which statutes were actually violated and he or she can sometimes get a person's charges dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor. Private council can also negotiate shorter sentences in exchange for the defendant's testimony.