Whenever anyone is accused of committing a crime, they need to consult with a criminal defence lawyer. Attorneys have a great deal of experience and are familiar with the laws, regulations, and procedures, and they can help people get through this type of situation. If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges, a criminal attorney will know how to protect your rights and get you through the process. Take a look at the top four reasons to hire a criminal lawyer.
1. Lawyers Understand Evidence
If you have been accused of a crime, there is going to be some kind of evidence in play. However, there are rules and procedures for handling this evidence, and a lawyer will know how to go through the evidence and make sure that its handling has followed all of the proper procedures.
If there are any inconsistencies, the evidence may be thrown out in court. A criminal attorney also knows how to ask questions about the evidence during a trial and expose any contradictions. You will benefit from having an experienced professional in your corner during this process.
2. They Follow Procedure
Part of the process in criminal law is following procedures. Every action that you take during this time will be processed and potentially used against you. When you have a top-rated criminal defence lawyer, they will make sure that the paperwork is filed according to the appropriate procedure.
In fact, some prosecutors use paperwork to overwhelm defendants, but a defence lawyer knows how to sort through the materials effectively. In addition, there are many procedures and deadlines within the court system, and you can be held accountable and penalized for missing any of them. Your lawyer will make sure that this doesn’t happen to you.
3. Lawyers Help You Get Better Outcomes
When you are accused of a crime, there are many possible outcomes. Working with an experienced criminal attorney helps people because these attorneys understand criminal law, and they can get you the best possible outcome. There are many different possibilities, including house arrest, community services, and more.
Lawyers know how to present the evidence in the best possible light, and they can often help get sentencing that is better than spending years in prison. If there are extenuating or mitigating circumstances surrounding your reasons for committing a crime, your lawyer will make sure that the judge and jury hear about them and factor them into your sentence. They work to get the best possible outcome for you.
4. Lawyers Can Settle the Case
Before you ever go to trial, there might be pretrial motions and settlement offers. If you have a criminal lawyer, they know how to get cases resolved during the pretrial phase. They may work out a plea deal where you plea to a lesser crime.
Sometimes it works best to make a plea because you could otherwise wait months in jail for your trial to begin. Going to trial also takes more time and costs a lot more money, but working out a deal during the pretrial phase or through a settlement can end the entire situation and allow you to move on with your life.