You usually go through a scary and stressful experience
when you face criminal charges. You'll likely find the process stressful
whether you are innocent or guilty. Unfortunately, the legal system design
makes it hard to represent yourself in court. So, if you face criminal charges,
a qualified criminal defense lawyer is often your best option.
But, what should you expect from an excellent criminal
lawyer? Read on to find out.
1. Investigation
Agree with your attorney on the scope of the investigation.
That's because your case requires strategy and careful thoughts. Your attorney
addresses any analyses or expert testimony to present a strong defense. So, you
can expect investigative skills from your attorney to dig deep into your case.
Your attorney performs intense research because each case
is unique and has distinct challenges. Valuable sources of information include
consulting other experts and research on similar cases. Also, an investigative
approach can find any hidden clues to prove your innocence.
2. Excellent and Confidential Communication
You likely don’t want to stay in the dark about any matter
related to your case. So a criminal lawyer who maintains consistent, private
communication is paramount. Your attorney should update you on any changes or
new developments to your case that arise with time. Updates and valuable
information inform you on how to prepare for trial.
Privacy is paramount for any information between you and
your attorney. Otherwise, the other parties might get the information and use
it against you in court. Even if the other party doesn't get the information,
you likely don’t want your details to leak to other parties.
3. Practice Area Expertise
Different criminal lawyers have different specialties and
levels of expertise. You likely expect your lawyer to have experience in the
practice area where you need defense based on your case. For example, if you
face drug charges, you should expect your selected attorney to have drug cases
experience. The more your attorney's experience, the more skills available to
defend your case.
Your criminal lawyer garners experience through continual practice.
So, you can expect your attorney to have handled various similar cases before.
Also, your attorney usually knows excellent defense strategies. With a good
plan, you can prepare well for different stages of the justice process.
4. Negotiation
You may believe that the primary role of your criminal
lawyer is only to prove your innocence, but that's not the case. Instead, your
lawyer acts as your negotiator, protects your rights, and battles for a
favorable outcome. So, you should expect thorough knowledge of the legal system
and expert negotiation skills.
Your lawyer should prepare to act when discussions arise
between the prosecution and the defense. Whether your aim is to get cleared of
the charges or get the best deal, you'll find negotiation paramount.
5. Empathy
An absolute necessity for professionalism, empathy means
your attorney lacks judgment. Also, your criminal defense lawyer advocates from
your perspective, position, and experience. So, you can feel more confident to
open up about all relevant information without fear of judgmental sentiments.
Empathy boosts the relationship between you and your
criminal defense attorney. With an empathetic lawyer, you get legal and
emotional support. What's more, you can trust, confide in, and work better with
your attorney if they relate to your situation.
6. Confidence
Your attorney's confidence is often put under consistent
trial at different levels of the legal process. Nevertheless, you should trust
your attorney to represent you well, so you wouldn't want their confidence to
get crushed.
So, expect your criminal defense lawyer to exude confidence
during the trial. Also, high confidence levels at trial convince the jury of
your side of the story.
You
should know what to anticipate from the best attorneys. Therefore, if you face
criminal defense charges, please don't hesitate to contact
Mark J. Geiger, Attorney at Law, for
legal representation. That way, you get assurance of competent legal guidance
and representation.
