The following piece was written by David Hoffman, a local high school student who has been shadowing Avery Appelman to get a better understanding of the daily trails and tribulations of a criminal defense attorney.
Although we didn’t travel down to the courthouse, my most recent visit with the attorneys at Appelman Law Firm was similar to my last trip, in that Avery made it very clear how important it is to have an open line of communication with a client.
I spent the day listening to Avery as he called some of his clients to give them an update on their case or to seek out additional information. I made four key observations throughout this process:
Open Line of Communication: The need for both parties to be open and honest is crucial in criminal law. Both parties need to share all the facts with one another if they are going to work together to achieve the best possible outcome. The objective at hand is to resolve the case in the best possible manner for the client, and sometimes this is aided by taking certain steps before a trial begins. I listened as Avery recommended chemical testing and treatment options for clients to pursue before trial started, as this would help show the judge that the client is committed to making positive life changes. I thought it was interesting to see how much defense is done before the trial even begins.
Details, Details, Details: I also observed the importance of details in criminal defense cases. Avery asked clients to talk about their experience from the hours leading up to the alleged incident to the moment they were released from jail. He also worked diligently to come up with witness lists to help strengthen his client’s testimony. By working hard to uncover all the details, Avery better prepared himself for trial and made sure there would be no surprises once the trial began.
Possible Outcomes: As I noted in my previous blog, talking about the possible case outcomes is a big part of criminal law. Avery wants to make sure his client knows all of their options, including accepting a lesser charge, agreeing to a plea deal to avoid jail, or what could happen if the case goes to trial. He also keeps them informed of possible sentencing guidelines, including jail, probation and counseling or treatment meetings. I thought this was beneficial for the client because it allows them to begin mentally preparing for certain outcomes.
Next Step: Avery always ended the conversations by recapping what they had just discussed and detailing what would happen next. Sometimes he told clients that they needed to be in court on a certain date; other times he simply told them to continue counseling or treatment and to stay away from a specific place or individual. Avery did a good job explaining what he expected of the client, and what the client could expect of him in the following days.
Today again helped me gain a better understanding of what it would be like to be criminal defense attorney. Many of the people Appelman Law Firm defends are going through the justice system for the first time, so keeping clients updated on their situation and preparing them for the possible outcomes helps keep stress levels low. It was a fascinating process to observe, and I again thank Avery for letting me get a glimpse into the world of criminal law.
