Sometimes people who have been charged with a crime decide to represent themselves in court.
Unfortunately, for them, this usually turns out to be a bad decision.
Obtaining a criminal attorney is necessary to navigate the complicated legal system, use established relationships with prosecutors, and to ensure the defendant's rights remain protected.
Their job is to represent the accused to the best of their ability.
Considering the number of legal maneuvers that are available and the fact that they have many years of schooling and experience to help them make the right judgments, there is no reason to go it alone.
When first brought into the case, a lawyer is able to evaluate the charges and explain them to the defendant.
This is important because part of the explanation includes what to expect based on the prosecutor's record, the judges past rulings, evidence, and previous records.
There is no way for an individual that is not part of the legal system to be able to understand and interpret all of this information.
The evidence that is collected can be very damaging to a defendant.
The problem is that the individual may not know what a judge would throw out due to rights violations and illegal collections or handling procedures.
A criminal defense attorney is very familiar with these procedures and often can anticipate what the judges decisions will be, depending on the circumstances.
Legal proceedings can be difficult to figure out.
There are various hearings that will be scheduled, different types of charges that have to be considered, and deciding which witnesses should be called.
Someone who is familiar with the process will be able to understand when to waive a reading, or which juror to eliminate.
Just because there was a witness does not mean he or she will be reliable under questioning.
Having a relationship with the courts and the prosecutors helps the negotiation process.
In fact, long before a plea is considered, the lawyers may get together to negotiate which charges should stand.
The defense attorney will most likely push for lesser charges by arguing with the prosecutor what can and cannot be proven, or discrediting the witnesses.
This can lead to lesser charges from the beginning.
Should a plea deal be advised, the lawyer is also able to negotiate this for a lower penalty.
These relationships are important and often a prosecutor will not even consider negotiating with someone representing himself or herself.
The advice that is offered by the lawyer considers all the factors of the case.
Having spent years in the system, he or she is able to understand and interpret what is going on through experience.
With this knowledge, he or she is able to provide sound advice and steps that can be taken.
They can also point out when the case is lost, and suggest a reasonable plea bargain.
The defendant is often overwhelmed with embarrassment, anger, frustration, and concern.
Having a professional to guide them through the system and provide moral support is a comfort to any defendant.
The trust that is built almost instantly allows the individual to get through his or her emotional state and begin assisting in the defense.
While it is everyone's legal right to defend himself or herself, the smart choice is to hire a professional criminal defense attorney to provide the needed expertise.
The law is on the defendant's side, but if the individual does not know the law, they will be overcome with procedures.
A criminal attorney is able to work through the evidence, charges, and proceedings, and provide a great defense to ensure the best possible outcome.