Every year in the United States, millions of Americans attempt to navigate the court system without a lawyer. Unfortunately, such a move can negatively affects a person’s odds of a positive outcome.
A person who has an attorney in their corner significantly increases a person’s odds of securing a positive outcome, regardless of the circumstances of the case. This is especially true when it comes to a criminal case, where an individual has been accused of a crime.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at what a criminal law lawyer does and why it is so beneficial to partner with one if you are facing a criminal case. We will also highlight how to find a good lawyer for your case. Let’s get started.
Defends Their Clients’ Rights
Within the justice system in the United States, there are many safeguards in place to protect citizens’ rights. Authorities are tasked with advising individuals accused of a crime of their rights, ensuring these rights are understood, and respecting those rights. The reality, however, is that these safeguards often fail.
Such failings may lead to inaccurate convictions, unjust treatment, and a betrayal of proper justice. Criminal defense lawyers fight against these type of injustices and errors.
Criminal defense lawyers are there to hold everyone else in the system accountable while working with individuals during a vulnerable and challenging point in their lives. They work to educate their clients on their rights, call out police and prosecutors on their errors, and insist that their clients are treated with objectivity and respect at all times.
A criminal case can be extremely complicated (as we will highlight below). Lawyers work to ensure that their clients understand their options, make the correct choices, and avoid agreements or deals that are not in their best interests.
The bottom line is that criminal defense lawyers work to ensure that innocent individuals are not convicted for crimes they did not commit. For guilty individuals, they ensure that these clients only face penalties that are commensurate with the crimes they committed.
Investigates and Prepares
There is a belief—possibly due to what is often portrayed on TV and in movies—that criminal defense lawyers spend the majority of their days in court. The reality is quite different.
A large portion of a lawyer’s time is spent working behind the scenes. This work involves both building a case for trial and attempting to mitigate damages by trying to obtain the best possible plea deal. Here at Husker Law, we examine each of these paths simultaneously so as to provide our clients with the best possible outcome.
A good criminal defense lawyer is someone who is an excellent listener. They should have the ability to ask relevant questions, communicate ideas clearly, and pay close attention to details.
In the course of their work, a criminal defense lawyer may focus on the tasks below in order to build the strongest possible case for their clients:
- Review evidence of the case
- Review the prosecution’s plan of attack
- Examine evidence
- Work with experts who can make sense of evidence
- Identify mitigating factors and other potential suspects
- File motions to enter new evidence
- File motions to exclude evidence (including evidence unfit for trial)
A criminal defense lawyer uses these steps to build a case for their client, whether they are planning to go to court or obtain a plea deal before this point.
How to Find a Good Lawyer
As we have highlighted in the introduction, an individual’s odds of obtaining a positive outcome in a criminal case are greatly increased if they have proper legal representation. Therefore, it is essential that you partner with the right criminal defense lawyer.
First off, it is important to partner with an attorney who has relevant criminal law experience. Here at Husker Law, we work across a wide range of areas, including:
- Homicide
- Violent crimes
- Sex crimes
- Drug crimes
- Conspiracy
- Aiding and abetting
- Criminal attempt
- DUI’s
- Theft crimes
- Traffic offenses
We will help you understand your rights in Nebraska because we have an acute understanding of the intricacies of criminal law in the state. This includes the use of deadly force and protecting your property.
It is also highly recommended that you arrange to meet with a criminal defense lawyer before agreeing to hire them. That way, you will have a better appreciation for the strengths of that attorney and have the chance to ask any questions you may have about their experience, qualifications, and areas of specialty.
Reading online reviews is another way to find a good lawyer for your case. If you have friends or family members who previously went through a criminal case, they may be able to recommend a suitable attorney to you.
Find the Best Attorney for Your Criminal Case
The bottom line is that a criminal law attorney works to represent their clients to the best of their ability and ensure that they build a strong case, including the potential for appearing in court, as well as trying to obtain the best possible plea deal for their client.
Remember, you should always schedule an initial consultation with a criminal defense lawyer before hiring them. To schedule an initial consultation with an experienced Omaha criminal defense attorney, call Husker Law.
We work across a range of criminal law areas and have extensive experience in Nebraska law. Schedule a consultation by calling us at (402) 415-2525 or by reaching out online today!
