Why Waiting Until the Last Minute to Hire a Criminal Lawyer is Not a Good Idea
Find out how Criminal Defense Attorney Woodbury MN help make data-driven decisions, stay competitive and make strategic client recommendations.
A client who was served with a restraining order ten days ago has a hearing in Woodbury, MN District Court tomorrow. This prompted to blog about why waiting until the last minute to hire a criminal lawyer is not a good idea.
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Give Your Lawyer Enough Time To Adequately Prepare Your Defense
Good criminal defense lawyers ant to be prepared to address a judge or prosecutor an informed manner. They want time to investigate the validity of the allegations their client is facing no matter what stage the proceedings are in.
For example, summons arraignments typically notify the defendant of an arraignment date a couple of weeks in advance. Criminal lawyers hired early might be able to provide information to the district attorney that will result in a dismissal before arraignment. Or perhaps a prosecutor concerned with fairness might agree to continuing the arraignment so that you can demonstrate why charges never should have been filed.
If a case needs to be tried or motions need to be filed and argued your lawyer will want to meet with witnesses, visit the crime scene and view evidence to best defend you. All of this takes time and getting the lawyer of your choice engaged early in the process facilitates these efforts. Probation violation hearings can be won if your lawyer has time to show that you were in compliance with the terms of your probation or by giving him time to meet with your probation officer and negotiate a resolution. Waiting to the last minute is never in your best interests.
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At a Minimum You Should Consult With a Lawyer Immediately to Protect Yourself
Criminal Defense Attorney Woodbury MN
In Woodbury, MN restraining order case the defendant was told by the police that he would not need a lawyer at the hearing and that the case would go away. So, the client decided to go alone until he panicked over the weekend when a friend told him to call. Had he been more diligent with the effort it would have been able to get a copy of the restraining order application affidavit before the hearing. This would let me know if it needed to call witnesses or have my investigator meet with the complainant to see what she is alleging against this man. From this story readers should take a couple of things away with them. One, don’t rely on advice from police officers where your rights are involved. Their purpose is not to help you with criminal problems. Two, at the very least consult with a criminal defense lawyer anytime you think you might have a criminal legal problem. Most criminal defense lawyers in Woodbury, MN will give you a consultation. It will be time and money well spent. You can reach us at (651) 800-4842. We can talk to you now.
Selecting a Criminal Defense Attorney
If you’ve been arrested for or charged with a crime—regardless of how serious—it’s a good idea to talk to an attorney. Depending on your financial situation, you might consider hiring a private criminal defense lawyer. (Another option, again depending on your finances, is court-appointed counsel; self-representation is also possible but usually a bad idea.)
Hiring a criminal defense attorney is an important decision and there are lots of attorneys who handle criminal cases. Below you’ll find some information that might help you navigate the process.
Don’t Delay
It’s usually best to talk to a criminal lawyer as soon as possible after being arrested. Although your first court date may be a ways out, finding a lawyer can take some time, and there might be things you can do in the meantime to improve the outlook of your case. For instance, if your case involves drugs or alcohol, an attorney might advise you to get into treatment or start going to 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), even before going to court for the first time.
Finding the Right Attorney
Because there are so many criminal defense attorneys out there, the task of selecting one can be daunting. Here are some suggestions and considerations that might help you make the choice.
Free Consultations
Most criminal defense attorneys offer prospective clients a free initial consultation. Taking advantage of this opportunity to meet the attorney and get some of your questions answered doesn’t obligate you to hire the attorney. But an in-person consult will often give you a good idea of whether you can work with a particular attorney or firm.
You should come to your consultation prepared—bring all your case-related paperwork and a list of the questions you want to ask.
Contact Details
Ambrose Law Firm, Criminal Defense Attorneys
680 Commerce Drive #271
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 800-4842
https://goo.gl/maps/V7AgSCgytPr
AMBROSELEGAL@ICLOUD.COM
Website: https://ambroselaw247.com
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/site/criminaldefenseattywoodburymn
Google Folder: http://bit.ly/2JDZt6i
Questions to Ask
There’s no surefire way of picking the “best” criminal defense attorney. But asking some questions can help to inform your decision. Below are some things you might want to ask about.
Practice areas. You should ask how much of the attorney’s practice is devoted to criminal defense. Some attorneys will occasionally take a criminal case, while others do all or almost all criminal defense. An attorney who focuses on criminal defense is more likely to be up to date on criminal law and familiar with how things run in criminal courts.
Within criminal law, there’s also a difference between state and federal cases. The two court systems follow different laws and procedures. It’s a good idea to ask whether an attorney you’re thinking of hiring has experience in the court system where you’ve been charged.
Experience. The number of years an attorney has been practicing criminal defense is an important consideration. But keep in mind, lots of experience doesn’t always equate to quality representation.
You should ask how much experience the attorney has defending against the kind of charge you’re facing. Criminal defense attorneys often have niche areas that they focus on. For example, many criminal lawyers do primarily DUI cases. And there are other attorneys who concentrate on more serious felony charges, like homicide. Chances are you’re going to want to go with an attorney who is familiar with the type of case you have.
Local knowledge. Also, ask about whether the attorney is familiar with the court you’ll be going to. An attorney who regularly practices in a certain area is more likely to know the prosecutors and judges and their tendencies. For example, an attorney might know that a particular judge is especially harsh with DUI offenders and to therefore avoid that judge’s courtroom when defending against drunk-driving charges.
Fees. To avoid disputes in the future, it’s important to know ahead of time how much you’ll be paying for your case. Typically, attorneys either charge an hourly or flat rate. An attorney who charges an hourly rate bills for the actual time spent working on the case. With flat-rate fees—which are perhaps more common in criminal cases—you just pay a set amount for your case. For example, a lawyer might charge $2,500 to handle a DUI case, regardless of how many hours of work it takes. But you should always ask what the flat fee covers. Sometimes attorneys do a pretrial flat fee but there’s an additional fee if the case goes to trial. It’s also a good plan to ask about whether the attorney anticipates any other costs such as expert witnesses or investigations.
To avoid disputes in the future, it’s important to know ahead of time how much you’ll be paying for your case.
Who’ll be handling your case. When you hire an attorney who’s a solo practitioner, you can be fairly certain about who will be working on your case. But if you hire a law firm with multiple attorneys, you’ll probably want to ask who will be responsible for your case and coming to court with you. Clients are sometimes dissatisfied when they think they’re hiring one lawyer—the lawyer they speak to when hiring the firm—but another attorney from the firm ends up being in charge of the case. Read more on https://www.devorelawoffice.com/blog/
People or organizations embroiled in lawsuits due to accusations of criminal misconduct need to engage the services of a attorney to defend themselves.
It is the duty of a lawyer to carry out research, do the paperwork, prepare for and argue a case on behalf of his clients, and defend them from the criminal charge levied against them.
Whether a person has been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, the Constitution of America guarantees representation to all those charged with committing a crime.
A criminal defense attorney works closely with his client and develops a strategy that ultimately results in proving if his client is guilty of the crime or not, and a verdict is passed by a judge or a jury accordingly.
If the client pleads guilty or is found to be so by the judge/jury, the attorney will seek to minimize the sentence meted out to him.
If you’re expecting to be sentenced to prison time or a hefty fine, you should waste no time in looking for and hiring the best lawyer under your jurisdiction, as he can be your best ally. If you’re being tried in Will County, Chicago, for instance, you will need to hire a Criminal Defense Attorney Woodbury MN to represent you.
Skilled lawyers come at a price, and if your monetary situation isn’t encouraging, you can work with a lawyer appointed for you by the court. While you can represent yourself, it is highly recommended that you work with an experienced professional as representing yourself in a criminal trial in a competent manner is extremely nerve-wracking and difficult.
Why Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
No two criminal cases are the same. Hence, it is crucial to understand all the nuances of your case, and the laws and arguments that can work in your favor. A seasoned criminal defense lawyer would be trained and have ample experience and will know exactly how to present your case in the court.
Additionally, your lawyer may be able to pinpoint certain arguments and factors that could mitigate or even negate an allegation. If you’ve been charged with a major offense and the possible verdict is the stuff your nightmares are made of, then getting an attorney to represent you in your trial may just be a necessity.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help You
A criminal defense lawyer wears many hats. Apart from gathering evidence and witnesses in your defense and cross-examining those that the prosecution presents, he can be helpful in the following ways -
→ Get You a Plea Bargain
Your lawyer can negotiate a plea bargain for you by working with the prosecutor. Plea bargains can lead to the reduction of your potential sentence and even eliminate a few or all of the charges against you. Prosecutors may be uninterested in negotiating with defendants who represent themselves.
→ Work Out a Sentencing Program
Depending on your charges, your lawyer may be able to work out a suitable sentencing program. Even if you’re found guilty, he may be able to get your sentence structured in a way that would keep you from crossing paths with the judicial system in future. For example, if you’re facing a 10-month prison sentence for a drug offense, your criminal attorney may suggest that you go to prison for just 6 months and spend the remaining 4 months in a rehabilitation center to treat the drug problem that got you in a soup to begin with.
→ Show You the Real Picture
Your criminal lawyer will know how things work in the court and is going to be aware of the ground realities of your trial better than you will ever be. He will also be objective in providing you with cognizance of the goings-on of the trial and what to expect from it.
→ Make You Aware of Rules and Regulations
Law is an intricate field and many a time, there may be certain infinitesimal aspects entwined within the major ones. You will probably never be able to decipher these details on your own. Do you have enough knowledge of the various laws and amendments of the American Constitution? Are your sure that the search which the police authorities carried out at your place was lawful? Can you be sure of the lawfulness of any process, if you decide to represent yourself? If not, you know what to do.
→ Help You Adhere to the Unwritten Rules
While all courts have several rules in writing which must be adhered to by everyone, there are a number of unwritten rules as well that may apply to a particular jurisdiction. Only an experienced lawyer would be aware of such rules as well as who would be the right person to meet with when trying to get a certain task done. His services may be able to help you save time (maybe even jail time).
→ Explain All the Consequences
A lot of people agree to plead guilty, if doing so would lead to a shorter sentence, without taking into account all the consequences that come with doing so. Because a criminal lawyer will be well-versed with the legal system, he can explain to you exactly how difficult it is to get back to normal life even after doing time, and other concerns related to it.
→ Gather Statements and Evidence
Not all witnesses may be comfortable speaking with or giving statements/information to people who are accused of committing a crime, fearing their personal safety. They may, however, feel better about talking to an attorney (who’s a professional), thereby helping your case. Further, your lawyer can also identify and hire investigators who can scrutinize the witnesses to be presented by the prosecution. They can then start to find evidence that can reduce their credibility in the court, which can help your case immensely.
Ultimately it would be only you who can decide whether or not to hire a criminal defense attorney for your case, or represent yourself. If you’re going to do the latter, do retain the best lawyer possible to act as coach for you during your trial, at the very least. That should help you get a professional and an objective view on your case. Read more on https://www.mckameydefenselaw.com/blog/
If you're looking at prison time or a hefty fine, it's a good idea to look into hiring the best criminal defense lawyer possible, unless your income qualifies you to get a court-appointed lawyer. To put it simply, the legal system is designed in such a way that, even if you have a great mind and a high IQ, representing yourself in a criminal trial in a competent manner is almost impossible.
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Because no one criminal case is exactly like another, criminal defense lawyers are trained to pick out the special portions of each case that make them unique. In addition, the best criminal defense lawyer for you may be able to spot certain arguments and factors that could mitigate or even negate any potential crime. When all is said and done, hiring an attorney to represent you in your criminal trial is a necessity.
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help
A criminal defense lawyer has many jobs. In addition to calling witnesses in your defense and cross-examining the prosecution's witnesses, your criminal defense attorney may also:
Work with you and the prosecutor to negotiate a "plea bargain."
A plea bargain can reduce your potential sentence or eliminate some of the charges brought against you. However, prosecutors are often unwilling to negotiate with defendants that represent themselves.
Figure out a good sentencing program for your situation.
In the event that you're found guilty, your criminal defense attorney may be able to work your sentence in a way that would prevent you from winding back up in the criminal justice system. For instance, instead of going to prison for 10 months for a drug possession conviction, your criminal defense attorney may suggest a prison sentence of 6 months and 4 months in a drug treatment facility to help you with the drug problem that landed you in trouble in the first place.
Provide you with a reality check.
Defense lawyers often know what's going on much better than you will during your criminal trial and what's likely to happen in the near future. Defense attorneys have the advantage of remaining objective throughout a proceeding and can offer insights into how the trial is actually going. These assessments and reality checks are often essential when a criminal defendant is trying to decide whether or not to accept a prosecutor's plea bargain.
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Point out important legal rules and regulations that you most likely wouldn't find on your own.
Many rules about criminal prosecutions are buried within regulations and laws, and even prior court decisions. For example, if you were to represent yourself, you may never know if the search that the police conducted of your apartment was lawful or not without understanding the many nuances and intricacies surrounding the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Navigate your case through the state legal system where your case is being heard.
In addition to written rules, such as the local rules of court, that must be obeyed and followed, there are often many "unwritten rules" that go along with each jurisdiction. For example, if only certain prosecutors are able to make and approve plea bargains, your criminal defense lawyer may save you time (and maybe even jail time) by talking to the right person the first time.
Explain about some of the "hidden costs" that come along with pleading guilty.
Many people that represent themselves never think about the consequences of pleading guilty if it could lead to a shorter sentence. For example, if you plead guilty, you may find it very hard to find a job once you've completed your punishment.
Be able to more easily gather evidence and statements from witnesses that are going to be called by the prosecution.
Many witnesses, understandably so, refuse to give statements or information to people that were allegedly involved in a crime, for fear of their own safety. However, these witnesses are often much more willing to talk to an attorney about their upcoming testimony.
Find and hire investigators and expert witnesses.
Investigators can investigate not only the alleged crime but also the prosecution's witnesses. If these investigators can find evidence that would make a witness's testimony less believable, this could help your case tremendously. Similarly, expert witnesses may be able to present evidence that would tend to show your innocence or rebut evidence that the prosecution presents, making the prosecution's case less credible.
Reading Books Can't Replace Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Unbeknownst to many criminal defendants that seek to represent themselves, reading books that spell out crimes, punishments and defenses probably won't lead you to victory in your case. As any seasoned lawyer will tell you, there's quite a vast difference between reading about the law and actually practicing the law in court. Understanding the ebbs and flows of a criminal trial can make the difference between winning and losing your case.
"Prosecutorial discretion" is a prime example of these ebbs and flows. The simple decision of what to charge a criminal defendant with can make the difference in how a case is handled. For example, what may appear to be a simple crime on paper could realistically be cast to be a multiple count indictment, or a simple misdemeanor. Criminal defense lawyers are skilled at negotiating with prosecutors to figure out what counts to charge.
So, if you're really set on representing yourself in court, you should, at the very least, retain the best criminal defense lawyer possible to act as a coach during your trial.
Get Professional Help from a Criminal Defense Expert
As you can see, a good criminal defense lawyer can not only make your job easier, but also improve your chances of winning your case or obtaining a more favorable plea bargain. Even if you qualify for a court-appointed attorney, there's nothing keeping you from speaking with an experienced attorney to obtain a second opinion on your case. Get started today and find an experienced criminal defense attorney near you. Read more on https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-legal-help/what-you-can-expect-from-the-best-criminal-defense-lawyer.html
Contact Details
Ambrose Law Firm, Criminal Defense Attorneys
680 Commerce Drive #271
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 800-4842
https://goo.gl/maps/V7AgSCgytPr
AMBROSELEGAL@ICLOUD.COM
Website: https://ambroselaw247.com
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/site/criminaldefenseattywoodburymn
Google Folder: http://bit.ly/2JDZt6i
