Criminal defense attorneys like the ones at Gary L Rohlwing Law Offices have to wear many hats when working for their clients. Today, we take a closer look at some of the roles and duties a criminal defense attorney has during a normal day at the office.
The Many Tasks of Defense Attorneys
Here are just a few of the roles a defense attorney has throughout his day.
1. An Outlet For The Defendant – If you’re placed under arrest, you may not know where you can turn for help. Odds are you’ll be facing the prospect of fines or even jail time, and challenging the prosecution’s case on your own will be an uphill battle. A criminal defense attorney will be your main source of information throughout the legal process. They’ll listen to your story, ask questions of their own, and come up with ways to challenge the prosecution’s story. Listening to clients and crafting a defense is one of the main roles of a criminal defense attorney.
2. Researcher – Many new cases are decided based on similar rulings or holdings, so when an attorney hears about your case, they’ll begin sifting through old cases to learn if people have ever challenged and won on similar grounds. They’ll hear your story and immediately begin formulating ideas where they could challenge the legality of the state’s case. Aside from researching old cases and precedents, an attorney will collect other details, like police reports and witness statements to ensure they understand the full scope of the evidence against their client, because if you can guess what the state is going to say, you can be prepared to counter their points.
3. Negotiator – Sometimes the best result for your case involves pleading out before trial ever begins. If you have a great attorney, they can leverage their prepared case against the state to achieve a favorable deal. Ideally you’d win your case outright, but sometimes pleading guilty to a lessor crime like disorderly conduct is a smarter and safer option than attempting to beat felony assault charges in a lengthy and expensive trial. Even if your case looks like an easy dismissal, a good attorney will always listen to what the other side has to offer.
4. Supporter – Sometimes a criminal charge can turn friends and family against you, and that can make a difficult situation even tougher. A criminal defense attorney is not there to judge you, but they are interested in ensuring you get the help you need. A criminal defense attorney often has contacts in the counseling community, so if you need alcohol or substance abuse counseling, or you just need a support group to talk to, your attorney can help ensure you have the outlets you need.
If you need an outlet, researcher, negotiator or supporter, give the attorneys at Appelman Law Firm a call today.
