Defending someone against criminal charges is an extremely stressful experience. It’s best to involve a criminal defense attorney as early as possible, preferably before talking to the police and even better, before answering any questions from prosecutors. A good lawyer will be able to work with prosecutors to have the charges against you reduced or dropped.
While many people choose to represent themselves, statistics show that parties represented by attorneys fare much better in court than those without representation. A criminal defence lawyer can help with all aspects of a case from beginning to end, from gathering evidence, dealing with witnesses, and ultimately negotiating a plea bargain or going to trial.
It’s important to find a criminal lawyer who has the right track record and is familiar with your type of case. For example, the way a criminal attorney approaches a murder case is very different from how they would approach an assault or theft charge. A good criminal lawyer will be able to explain this clearly and answer any questions you may have about their track record.
Many criminal lawyers find their passion for the career through a combination of law school courses, experiential learning opportunities and mentoring relationships. Students often discover new, untapped interests through these experiences and, as a result, change their course of study or decide to switch practice areas. Whether they start law school focused on criminal law or another area, most individuals who are passionate about the field go on to pass the bar exam and become a criminal lawyer.