Committing a crime is serious. If you’re thinking that the only ramification of such activity is imprisonment, then you are wrong. In fact, being charged with a crime can tarnish how you are perceived by your friends and community, your income and earning capacity should you be sentenced to prison, along with your ability to gain future employment. Indeed, if you are charged with a crime, you should definitely consider the services of a criminal defence lawyer in developing your case for your court appearance. This is because hiring a solicitor possesses many advantages for the defendant, which will be outlined in the following.
Court professionalism
In essence, a criminal defence lawyer knows what’s going on in a court room. They understand all the legal rhetoric, the relevant procedures and all the paperwork that needs to be filled out in preparation for your court date. At this time, you’re probably really scared about your future. You don’t know what is going to happen, which is likely stressing you out even more. Having a professional criminal defence lawyer by your side can help minimise that anxiety as you face trial, guaranteeing that you never feel out of place in the courtroom and are confident in how your case will fare in the jury’s mind.
More likely to get bail
With a criminal defence lawyer, you are more likely to be granted bail and not have to await trial behind bars. Indeed, this can help alleviate any stress you may have leading up to your court appearance, while allowing you to spend cherished time with friends and family before your trial begins. More importantly, it often allows you and your criminal defence lawyer to begin building your case in an environment that is more suitable and comfortable for you.
Less waiting
Sometimes, people charged with a serious crime can be left waiting for months and months for their trial. Enlisting the services of a solicitor will go a long way in saving you time. This is because barristers can often leverage the judge presiding over the case to move the trial date forward or backwards (depending on your choice) so as to better suit your needs. Indeed, you may want to bring you trial date forward so you don’t have to agonise over waiting on an outcome. With a criminal defence lawyer in your corner, your odds of winning your case and moving on quickly are dramatically increased.
Practical legal knowledge
Clearly, acquiring the services of a criminal defence lawyer means you have access to someone with an in-depth knowledge of the law and its applications. If the law changes, they will know. By having someone who is well-informed regarding the current legal framework, you will be well aware of any legal course of action and the desired effects of that action. Quite simply, if you want to reduce your sentence or avoid punishment, you’re better off hiring a solicitor as opposed to representing yourself in court. Be smart by getting a barrister, which will put you in a stronger position when contesting your charges.
Flexible repayments
Hiring a legal practitioner can be expensive. Having said this, many solicitors will offer flexible methods of repayment to assist your financial needs and situation. Sometimes, if you are from a low-income background, your criminal defence lawyer may offer their services on a pro bono basis, meaning they will offer their services without charge. It should be noted that this situation is rare and heavily dependent on the nature of your trial and case, particularly in terms of publicity and news exposure.